Why You Should Have An Unplugged Wedding Ceremony
What is an Unplugged Wedding Ceremony?
An unplugged wedding ceremony is a special request made by the couple to their guests, politely inviting them to power down their electronic devices or set them to silent mode. This includes phones, tablets, and cameras, ensuring that everyone focuses their undivided attention on the ceremony unfolding before them and keeping their devices put away. I always suggest this approach to my clients that want to create an intimate atmosphere during their special day.
Reasons For Having An Unplugged Wedding Ceremony
Phones do not ring and interrupt the ceremony.
Guests do not get in the way of the photographer.
Guests can be present in the moment and watch the commitment you two make to each other.
You can see the reactions from your guests instead of seeing a device in their face.
Photographers can capture guest reactions and not a device in front of their face.
You get to see people’s faces when you walk up and down the aisle and not their devices.
Guests get to see your faces with their eyes and not through a screen.
Guests can join in on the applause instead of holding an electronic device in their hands.
In the photograph below, almost every guest is taking in the moment, cheering and applauding as the bride and groom exit down the aisle. There is only one guest with their cell phone in their hand recording the bride and groom walking down the aisle.
I took a few more photographs of the couple walking down the aisle and ended up using the one below where the lady is covered by the groom’s body. But what if I was unable to get more than one shot or the lady’s phone came out in every photograph I took?
I would then have to edit out the phone which is time consuming and takes longer for me to deliver the photographs to the bride and groom. Or I would hope that the second photographer got the shot and I could use their photograph (This photograph is featured on my Why You Need A Second Photographer blog post which discusses why it is important to have a second photographer).
You do not have to worry about guests posting photos of your ceremony on social media.
You do not have to worry about a precious moments being ruined (e.g., a guest gets in the way of the professional photographer you hired because they are trying to capture the same precious moment).
Photographer can deliver the photographs faster because they do not have to take the time Photoshopping guests with cell phones, tablets, and cameras out.
How To Announce You Are Having An Unplugged Wedding Ceremony
Put it on your save the dates if you know from the start you want an unplugged ceremony.
Type it out on your wedding invitations before printing and sending them.
Include it in your wedding program.
Add it to your wedding website.
Display it on your wedding sign.
Have the officiant announce it before the wedding ceremony begins.
What If We Know Guests Will Not Listen / Want Guests To Take Photos?
You can have the officiant announce that the ceremony will be unplugged before it begins. Wait until the bride and groom are together in front of their guests. Then have the officiant announce that the bride and groom are allowing guests to take as many photographs of the bride and groom as they want. Time it anywhere from for 3O seconds to 1 minute and then have the guests put all their electronics away. This way guests still get to photograph the bride and groom on their own personal cameras and the bride and groom can still continue with their planned unplugged wedding ceremony. Everyone enjoys!
