In short
Having a set of edited photo selects ready to view during your own banquet is possible when a photographer plans for it specifically, usually by editing a small batch of images on site while the event is still running. It works best as a curated slideshow or a few featured images rather than a full gallery, since the full edit typically follows afterwards.
- A same-day selects display usually covers a small curated batch, not the full gallery.
- This is achieved by editing on site during the event, in parallel with ongoing coverage.
- It works well as a slideshow or screen display rather than printed material during the programme.
- The full, complete gallery is still delivered separately after the wedding.
- Brief your photographer early if this is something you want, since it needs to be planned into the day.
Why some couples want selects ready during the banquet itself
Some couples like the idea of guests seeing a handful of edited photos from earlier in the day while the banquet is still underway, whether that is shots from the ceremony, family portraits, or the couple's own preparation. It adds a sense of the day being captured and shared in real time, rather than everything being saved for a later reveal.
This is different from wanting the entire gallery finished quickly, since a same-day display generally focuses on a small, curated set of standout images rather than every photo taken across the day. It also gives out-of-town relatives or guests who leave early a glimpse of the day before the full gallery is ready.
How a quick edit turnaround is achieved on site
To make a small batch of selects available during the banquet, a photographer typically sets aside time earlier in the day to review and lightly edit a handful of standout shots, often working from a laptop on site rather than waiting until after the event. This runs alongside ongoing coverage rather than replacing it.
Because this adds an extra task into an already busy day, it works best when discussed and planned with your photographer in advance, so time for the quick edit is built into the schedule rather than squeezed in at the last minute.
Displaying selects without disrupting the programme
Where couples want a same-day selects display, it usually takes the form of a slideshow running quietly on a screen during a lull in the programme, such as while guests are seated for a course, rather than a dedicated segment that takes up scheduled time. This keeps it as a background element rather than something that competes with speeches, toasts or other planned moments.
Coordinating with your emcee or banquet coordinator on timing helps make sure the display does not clash with other parts of the programme, particularly if a same day edit film is also being screened at some point in the evening.
What to brief your photographer if you want this
If a same-day selects display matters to you, raise it clearly when you first discuss your wedding day plan, rather than mentioning it as an afterthought closer to the date. Let your photographer know roughly how many images you would like included and whether you have a preference for which parts of the day they come from.
It is also worth confirming what equipment is needed on your end, such as a screen or projector at the venue, since this may need to be arranged separately from your photography booking.
How this differs from a full same day edit film
A same-day selects display and a same day edit film are related ideas but not the same service. A selects display is generally a handful of edited still photographs shown as a slideshow, while a same day edit film is a short edited video, typically screened once during the programme, built from footage shot earlier in the day.
Some couples choose one, some choose both, and some prefer neither and wait for their full gallery and film after the wedding. Our guide on same day edit wedding films covers how that video format works in more detail.
Setting expectations for the full gallery afterwards
A same-day selects display is not a substitute for your complete edited gallery, which still follows the usual editing process after the wedding day. The photos shown during the banquet are a small preview rather than the finished body of work, so it helps to be clear with yourself and your family about what to expect on the day itself versus later.
If having some images ready quickly matters to you beyond just the banquet display, raise your timing expectations directly with your photographer when booking, rather than assuming a particular turnaround. Being specific about which moments matter most to you also helps your photographer prioritise what to edit first.
A same-day selects display is a detail worth raising early with your photographer if it appeals to you, since it needs to be built into the day's plan. Get in touch to discuss how this could fit into your wedding day coverage.