Put Your Damn Phones Away-Your Guide to an Unplugged Ceremony
From wedding hashtags to digital guestbooks and live-streaming ceremonies, technology has made wedding experiences more accessible and convenient. However, with couples opting for an intimate and personal ceremony, unplugged weddings are becoming more and more on-trend and there’s no confusion as to why. You would think tying the knot would grant your guests the gift of some device-free time, but pulling them away from the gram may pose a #problem for some. Screen-free ceremonies aren’t for everyone, but for couples ready to take the plunge, we’ll cover everything you need to know to enforce a no-phone policy politely and without taking the fun out of the affair.
What Is an Unplugged Ceremony?
An unplugged ceremony is one where the couple requests that all guests put away, silence, or turn off their cell phones, cameras, and other devices for the duration of the ceremony. Some soon-to-be newlyweds may even take it one step further and host an unplugged wedding – where no devices are permitted during the ceremony and reception (which is obviously a little harder to do but not impossible).
Why Go Unplugged?
If you’re looking for an instant boost of intimate and heart felt moments on your special day to look back on, you might want to consider an unplugged ceremony. When your guests aren’t fixated on capturing the perfect shot of the bride walking down the aisle or the first kiss, they’re forced to be completely present with you instead of nose-deep in their Instagram feeds or checking the football score (yeah, we’ve seen it).
Not only will your guests be soaking up your vows with smiling faces and teary eyes, but eliminating phones and cameras is also a blessing from a photographer’s perspective. Do clear shots without random tablets and limbs obstructing the pictures sound ideal?
Additionally, an unplugged wedding gives you professional pictures without any unwarranted (or unflattering) shots hitting Facebook or Instagram. Most photographers send or can offer teasers to appease the gram’s need to see some of your wedding photos with immediacy. After the ceremony, there’s no reason your guests can’t resume their normal phone activities but sometimes just putting the phone down for the ceremony carves out the vibe for the evening and phones get picked up less often. That wedding hashtag content won’t create itself and if that’s something you want, a little signage promoting it usually gets the ball rolling.
How to Have an Unplugged Ceremony
If announcing an unplugged ceremony gives you cold feet, you’re not alone. One of the main concerns people have over unplugged nuptials is how to announce it to guests without offending them or dashing someone’s hopes of getting “the shot”. Here’s a few ways to communicate your wishes to your guests.
Give The Heads Up Early – If you want your guests to remain in the moment, you’ll need to plan ahead. Mention in your wedding communication (funny or formal, depending on your style) that you hired a professional to document the day. Don’t forget to send reminders just to be safe and let folks know they’ll have access to all the professional photos later (if you plan to share). The more direct and clear you are about what you want, the better the chances your guests will understand and follow your requests.
Wedding Signs – Some guests might think they’re exempt from the no-phone rule, like grandma who must get a photo from the aisle and usually with her iPad. Having a sign at the entrance of your wedding and some more scattered throughout the venue can help spread the word. If you have ushers bringing people to their seats or guiding people to the ceremony have them drop a subtle reminder too.
Your Officiant – If you want to take the heat off you, most officiants can and will gently ask your guests not to take photos. This is a great way to remind your loved ones that you did, in fact, hire a professional photographer and that you’d prefer their phones stay in their pockets and their presence stay in the moment. This is probably the best way to get results and usually the last chance to remind folks. Not everyone reads or sees signs, but they are attentive and excited at the beginning of the ceremony.
At the end of the day, if you’re choosing to have an intimate elopement, you’ve been intentional about the few people you bring for the big day, and asking guests to set aside their phones should be a no-brainer. They’ll be so focused on how happy they are to be witnessing you and your partner make a commitment to each other in a beautiful location they won’t even miss a beat (cue the happy tears).