WEDDING HINTS & TIPS | UNPLUGGED WEDDING CEREMONY?
A wedding guest filming the wedding ceremony on his mobile phone (the couple paid for a videographer..but an iPhone film will be better, right?)
What is an unplugged wedding ceremony?
An unplugged wedding ceremony is one where your family and friends are asked not to use their mobile phones, iPads or their cameras during a wedding ceremony.
A wedding guest using a very large and loud camera during the wedding ceremony
Why would I want an unplugged wedding ceremony?
For some couples they want their family and friends to be present during their wedding ceremony, to be able to see their faces as they walk down the aisle and not to just see a see of mobile phones.
A sea of wedding guests pointing their phones at the bride as she walks down the aisle with her son
How do we go about asking for an unplugged wedding ceremony?
There are a few ways of asking your family and guests to refrain from using their devices during a wedding ceremony, one is to have a little sign asking people, but for most couples they ask the Registrar, Vicar or Celebrant to make a little announcement before the start of the ceremony.
This little intro by the person conducting the ceremony is now standard practice along with asking people to not post any pictures to socials before the couple has had a chance to do so.
Should we ask for the whole wedding day to be unplugged?
From experience, I think most people are happy to not use their devices during the wedding ceremony, to ask them not to use their phones all day is unrealistic; you might ask people not to use their phones for the speeches as, again, you want people to be listening, watching and being present during the speeches.
Sometimes, however, if the couple hasn’t paid for one of my Photofilms or a Videographer, then you might find people filming the speeches, but best not to let someone on the top table film as, well, just look.
A Bridesmaid filming the wedding speeches, despite the couple having paid for a 2 person video team to film the wedding day
Advice for wedding guests
Don't worry about getting an image for your Instagram / Snapchat or whatever they are called.
Be a guest, relax and enjoy the wedding ceremony, be present and experience the love of two people and if you must get a shot, do so with the knowledge that you might ruin a perfect moment.
If you feel the need to film the ceremony on your phone, do so only after you have checked that it is ok with the happy couple and try not to be in the eye-line of the photographer, so you do not get in the back of important shots.
Also, if you do take a picture, don't instantly upload the picture to socials; some couples want to see the evening guests without them having already seen the dress!
If you are to use your phone during a ceremony, best to remove the reflective cover
FINAL THOUGHTS
Ultimately, there is no right or wrong here; it's down to you; I have seen plenty of weddings where mobile's, IPads and phones have been used during a wedding ceremony, and it's been fine.
However, I have seen people watch the whole wedding ceremony through their phones, I have seen and heard other photographers clicking away with their loud cameras, and I have seen people step out in front of the Bride and her Father as they are walking down the aisle.
Whether you choose to have an unplugged wedding or not, I will still be working my butt off to get the images that tell the story of your day, every tear, every joyous hug and every different type of mobile...
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