The Dilemma
So you’re planning your wedding… you found the ideal venue, picked the perfect flowers, hired amazing vendors and toiled over each and every detail to make your day just right! You hired an incredibly talented photographer to capture the important moments that you will revisit for the rest of your lives: your parents seeing you for the first time, the impromptu hug with your best friend, the look on your groom’s face as he sees you for the first time, the love in your eyes as you adore each other as you exchange vows, your first kiss, first dance, your loved ones expressions in the background as they see you share in the happiest moments of your life… It’s all so romantic.
Instead, when many couples are getting their wedding pictures back, they are faced with pictures of their guests’ smiles blocked by their phones and camera, doing their best to capture the moment rather than enjoying the moment with them.
You have to ask yourself, while your guests are there with you, when they are snapping pictures are they really present and listening to you exchange vows and the first special moments of your marriage? Isn’t that what you hired a photographer for?
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To add to it, not only can you not see your guests’ faces or expressions (you don’t want photos that look like an iPhone advertisement) but the more your guests feel driven to take their pictures, they will at all costs! Guests are known to get up and stand in front of your very talented, high priced photographer to get the shot before them, or take their shot with flash at the same time, resulting in your photographer’s shot being ruined. Your photographers have milliseconds to capture your most cherished moments during your wedding day, if they miss the opportunity because Aunt Jane got a new DSLR and insists on standing in the middle of the aisle or Uncle John takes a flash photo at the perfect moment, over exposing the shot of your first kiss, those moments will be lost forever.
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Unfortunately, nowadays, people struggle to live in the now. We are constantly attached to our phones, posting on social media, viewing life through a screen, forgetting to sit back and be truly present in the beauty around us. Sometimes, we need a reminder to sit back, put down the devices and take it all in. What better reason than to witness two people you love begin a lifetime of love with each other??
The Solution
Not to fret, there is a solution! It has become increasingly popular to have an “Unplugged Wedding”. This doesn’t mean that guests need to leave their phones at home or you need to collect them in valet. It just means you ask guests to be truly present during the most important parts of your day, such as your ceremony, first dance and maybe cake cutting. Here are some examples of ways to ask your guests to “unplug” and enjoy! For more ideas, click here!
There’s Still Room for Social Media Fun…
All of this being said, there is still tons of room for your guests to help document your day! A great way to collect your guests’ pictures throughout the night is to create a wedding hashtag for guests to use when posting their pictures. Tip: Be sure to search it on Instagram first to ensure your hashtag is unique so only your photos end up there!
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And there is always room for a #selfie…
While the obsession with selfies knows no bounds, we think there is one time that a selfie can be a timeless photographic memory… your first married selfie!! You did it – You are officially married! First kiss is over, now document that momentous moment forever with the cutest selfie you’ll ever take!
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As the title of this blog suggests, it’s all about finding the right balance so your guests are present and allowing your photographer to do their job while still allowing tons of opportunity for them to have fun and get those great pictures your loved ones will certainly take. The best way you can do this is to set boundaries for your guests from the start. They will appreciate the break from their camera, enjoy the sanctity of your ceremony, then have the rest of the night to hashtag your awesome party!
