Having an ‘unplugged wedding’ is when couples ask their guests to stay off mobile phones or tablet devices during their ceremony and/or reception. Here are 3 reasons why this option may work for you!
GUESTS ARE MORE PRESENT
Without the distraction of their phone or camera’s, your guests will be able to fully immerse themselves in the experience that you’ve spent months planning. Ask your MC or Celebrant to make an announcement at the start of your ceremony. Here are some polite ways of making the announcement to guests.
“The Bride and Groom kindly request an unplugged ceremony. We ask you to please turn off all devices and enjoy being fully present in this moment with us.”
“The greatest gift you can give us today is to be truly present, so please turn off all phones and cameras and enjoy this special moment with us. ”
LEAVE IT TO THE PROFESSIONALS
If you’re hiring a professional photographer, leave it to them to get the best shots of your wedding day. An experienced wedding photographer will make the best of any lighting situation so you can skip the unflattering, inappropriate, or blurry photos that some guests think are okay to upload to social media.
Your photographer will have more space to get the shots they need, instead of competing with Uncle Bob who also wants the same spot for taking photos. I have seen so many great moments ruined by a phone or iPad sneaking into the side of my shot. I love taking photos of guests and their reactions, this always looks better when they don’t have their phone in front of their faces.
You can add this to your announcement at the beginning of the ceremony.
“We’ve asked a professional photographer to capture this special moment so that you can sit back, relax and enjoy it with us. Our beautiful images will be available after the wedding.”
LET’S BE SOCIAL, NOT ANTISOCIAL
You may want to be the first to share any images on social media. Having an unplugged wedding encourages guests to put their phones down for the day and stay offline. Instead, you want everyone to be social in and present in person.
“We ask our guests to hold off posting any images on social media. We will share our professional photos with you all after the wedding”
HOW TO HAVE AN UNPLUGGED WEDDING
Your MC or celebrant can announce your requests at the start of your ceremony but you can also set this expectation sooner by including a note on your wedding invites. Signage or chalkboards are another popular way of displaying this message as guests arrive.