No Phones? No Problem! Lets face it, Social Media and Digital Technology is everywhere today. Your guests will want to do their part to capture your big wedding moments but they may be in the way.
Unplugged weddings are becoming ever so popular. Saying no to digital technology during your Ceremony is a great idea and I’ll explain why.
What is an Unplugged Wedding Ceremony?
An “Unplugged Wedding Ceremony” is a ceremony without digital distractions. Asking guests to limit their use of phones, cameras and iPad’s will help keep everyone engaged. The photographer will be able to capture better photographs without having devices in the middle of a good shot.
We have all seen the photographs from a wedding with a perfect shot ruined by a hand holding a cell phone in the middle. I don’t think it is a good idea to ban phones from your wedding but having a technology blackout time during your ceremony will make it way more enjoyable.
If you still want guests to capture and share photos outside of the ceremony make sure you find an unused hashtag for use of posting on social media. This way you can find your shared wedding photos with a simple hashtag search. Here
How do I ask my guests not to use their phones during our ceremony?
Telling your guests about your digital etiquette can be done several ways. After all this is just a request and you will have some that have to use their phone for personal reasons. But doing this will cut down on the famous cellphone blocking the photographer shot.
One of the most popular ways to tell your guests is to place the message on a sign. Put this sign in an area where you know guests will walk by and see it. For example when the guests first walk into the venue or near the gift drop off. Here is an example of signage from Amazon. Checkout the price on Amazon by clicking here. You can also click directly on the photo.
How easy would it be to tell your guests in the invite. I would not place the message directly on the invitation but I would insert a note with the card. I would simply say, “We kindly ask that all devices be silences and no photographs be taken during the ceremony.”
Advise by Announcement. This is the a great way to let your guests know just before the ceremony. Have the best man, or Officiant or the DJ ask the guests via announcement. Sometimes being asked to withhold using your cellphone for photos will best work coming from an authority figure involved in the wedding ceremony.
An example verbiage for this announcement could be, ” Thank you for sharing this memorable day with us, If you could please refrain from using your smart devices during the ceremony it would be appreciated.”
Advising with the wedding program is also another way you can ask that guests refrain from using their devices. This will be an easy way to slip the wording in under the ceremony block.
Limit the urge to take photos during the ceremony by having your wedding officiant set aside 30 seconds where you and the wedding party turn and smile to the guests. Have your officiant announce this when you and your partner first arrive at the altar. This may help purge the built up pressure to take a photo of you all.
You can also create an announcement on your Wedding Website that explains your wedding is going to be unplugged. This will be a quick and passive way to ask guests to keep their camera phones away for the ceremony.
Share your professional Photos with guests after your wedding. This is a great way to make sure your guests feel included and can remember the beautiful day. Be understanding and realize that your guests are not trying to hijack your wedding by taking photos during the ceremony.
Most everyone that will be taking photos believe they are taking them for your benefit and to share them on social media and directly with you. Have a chat with your photographer prior to the wedding and explain to them the importance of capturing guest photographs so that you can share them later.
Have a Photo Booth or Selfie Taking Station
This is a great way for guests to have photos taken of their own that will be sure to encourage your guests to have fun! Having a photo booth good for mingling and having guests take photos with each other in a fun way. You can go full in with a photo booth setup and a photo booth attendant. This setup will encourage guests to take more photos and the helpful attendant will keep things photographs flowing.
Another option is to have a selfie station, a polaroid station, or even just a backdrop setup where people can take photos themselves.
A selfie station is a place where the user can take photographs from a camera provided by you. You could have a polaroid camera, old cellphone, or a digital camera at a central location where the guests can take photos. Here is an example of a Polaroid camera you can have guests take photos with. Here is a link to it on amazon.
Setting up a backdrop with a sign or a chalkboard explaining to take a photo with the backdrop is a cheap and easy photo booth alternative. You can find cheap photo booth backdrops on amazon or you could make your own.
Guests will appreciate this and you will see more photos taken during these activities that can be shared on social media and with you.
I got invited to an unplugged wedding, What does that mean?
Guest etiquette for an unplugged wedding ceremony can be different depending on the request from the couple. Some couples will only want this during the ceremony and others will want it throughout the wedding. This is similar to having an adult only wedding.
The couples prefer to limit distractions and for this instance it means no cellphones to interrupt the ceremony. Whether it is a ringing cell phone or someone leaning into the photographers photo with their phone out, the reasons will vary by couple.
Some of these considerations will go along way to make the couples wedding the most enjoyable by respecting their wishes.
- Try not to take photos during the ceremony whether this is an unplugged wedding or not. This includes when the bride or groom walk down the aisle. I’m sure they would rather see your smiling (or crying) face instead of your phone.
- If you are sharing photos on social media try to only share photos that others would want to be shared. What does this mean? Don’t take a drunk or embarrassing photograph and post it. A lot of planning went into making this wedding beautiful and this would upset the couple.
- Be respectful of the couples culture or religious beliefs during the ceremony. What does this mean? Don’t use your phone during the mass or if there is a religious practice that would be disrespected.
- Don’t bury yourself in your phone. No one wants to see you finding your phone more interesting than their big day.
- Stay out of the Professionals way. The photographers were hired for a reason. They know when and how to take the best shot. Don’t get in their way during their photo taking. If you would like a particular photo taken then ask them nicely.
- Last but not least.. Don’t bring the Ipad.
I hope you have a Beautiful Wedding with perfect Photographs. Don’t forget to schedule a Photo booth! Be Safe, Be Happy! Goodluck!
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