Grooving on the dance floor is a great time to photo-bomb the selfies your guests are taking, but consider facing a sea of wedding guests awkwardly taking photos of your ceremony with their iPads. Probably not the personal, romantic vows you imagined.
Every single moment at your wedding is impossible to recreate. It’s a once in a lifetime event. Period. How would you feel if “Uncle Bob” stepped into your wedding aisle with his point and shoot just as you become husband and wife?
Yeah. Not so great, right?
So consider politely asking guests to put the phone, camera and iPad and enjoy the moment. After all, weddings are best experienced by being present, not via your Instagram feed.
Social media etiquette is murky, so we’ve gathered some inspiration in case you were thinking about pulling the plug on your wedding (digitally, that is) and remind your guests your ceremony is social media-free.
Unplug Your Wedding With Signage
Signs at the ceremony entrance politely informs guests as they arrive of your desire to unplug.
Credit: Soder Wedding Photography (left)
Credit: ChelsiLeeDesigns
Unplug Your Wedding With Program Notes
Include a small note in the program to tell guests of your wishes as they wait for the wedding to begin.
Unplug Your Wedding with Guest Cards and Program Notes
A small note slipped into the program or setting a fan (double duty!) on each guest’s chair will kindly ask them to turn off their phone and open their eyes and heart to your vows.
Unplug Your Wedding with Flowergirl and Ringbearer Signs
Soften the request to unplug by sending it up the aisle via cute messengers in a humorous way.
Can’t Bear to Unplug?
Have your officiant announce a “social media break” and give your guests a minute or two to snap a photo or video to share on Twitter, Vine, Facebook or their favorite social media tool. This keeps the phone madness contained and gives your guests a feeling of inclusion.
