Brides, I have a suggestion that I’d like all of you to seriously consider.\u00a0 As I edit weddings, I am noticing more and more that you can’t see many of the guests’ faces because they are blocked by their phones, cameras, and Ipads!\u00a0 Everyone wants that emotional picture of their dad wiping a tear away, but you can’t have it if dad is holding a tablet up in front of his face to try to get a picture!\u00a0 Getting a picture becomes more important than just being there in the moment.\u00a0 There are times when you cannot even see the bride and groom because of guests focused on getting a picture or holding their Ipads up to get a shot!\u00a0 Guests are so eager to take a picture that they have stepped in front of Jason just as he was trying to capture the first kiss, or they go into the aisle for a better shot, meaning they are in all of the pictures that Jason takes of the bride and groom.\u00a0 The picture of the bride coming down the aisle is framed with all the cameras and phones guests hold out to get that picture too.<\/p>\n
Google “unplugged wedding ceremony” and you’ll find many examples of couples asking their guests to put down their cameras and phones and really experience the ceremony.\u00a0 It is becoming a trend that I cannot endorse enough!\u00a0 At our church, the Mass begins with an announcement asking everyone to turn off their phones.\u00a0 This can easily be done at a wedding as well.\u00a0 Include it in your programs or have a sign.\u00a0 Let guests know that you want them to be there as a witness of your vows, to share in the experience, not to watch it through their Iphone!\u00a0 They can take all the pictures they want as they party at the reception, but make the ceremony a time to experience the emotion of the day.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Many wedding bloggers have featured this topic and have great ideas on not only why you should have an unplugged ceremony, but how to tell your guests.\u00a0 Check out the RichmondWeddings.com blog<\/a><\/strong> with with ideas on wording to include in your program, or even signs to put on the ceremony chairs:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.richmondweddings.com\/blog\/wedding-planning\/theme-thursday-the-unplugged-wedding\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The Wedding Lovely Blog<\/a><\/strong> featured a post by Love Above Photography on the topic as well:<\/p>\n http:\/\/weddinglovely.com\/blog\/guests-behaving-badly-and-how-an-unplugged-wedding-may-be-the-cure\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n And the Every Last Detail blog<\/a><\/strong> featured Cape Cod Celebrations sharing ideas on how to have an unplugged ceremony:<\/p>\n http:\/\/theeverylastdetail.com\/2012\/10\/16\/pro-insight-how-to-have-an-unplugged-ceremony-2\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n