No pictures during ceremony

I’m definitely putting up a sign and making an announcement. I love our photographer and his style is amazing. He has told us that he’s lost photos because of guests leaning out into the aisle with an iPad or phone to take a photo. Plus, I just hate when photos have a bunch of people with their phones out in the background looking distracted and not paying attention. It’s not rude at all to ask people to put their devices away!

Have you ever seen the video of the girl who knocks over the aisle decorations RIGHT in front of the bride's procession to take video--- and she keeps filming from the ground?! I'd like to think my guests won't be that rude, but I'm still having an unplugged ceremony. I want my family and friends to see and experience everything, and not through their screens.

I'm asking really for advice from those who are on the same page as me. If you enjoy it when people take photos that's is great. I guess I'm a little extra and picky about photos at the reception take as many pictures as you want. More so I just want people to wait till the photographer I hired posts the initial photo. I have found time and time again when someone will post a picture on social media during the ceremony, when that is what I hired the photrapher for.

My ceremony was unplugged. This was mainly because I didn't want to see a sea of devices as I walk down the aisle. The announcement was on my wedding website so all the guests knew in advance. There was then a sign at the venue and the celebrant also announced it to the guests.

However, the celebrant suggested to us that at the END of the ceremony (after we sign our certificate and are announced husband and wife) that we should stand at the front so people have an opportunity to snap a photo (as they weren't able to before this). I was a bit against this at first, but the celebrant explained that people would be less inclined to try and take a sneaky photography if they KNOW that they will have an opportunity at (effectively) the end of the ceremony to take a photo. Immediately, I saw what a great idea that was!

So we did that, and it worked a treat! Nobody took any photos and were really happy they could take one at the end.

I didn't mind people posting photos on social media, and it was nice to see some photos of the ceremony before getting the pro ones back!

View Quoted Comment

Well, it's also rude to stick your phone up in front of the bride to take a picture while the expensive photographer is trying to get a professional shot.

View Quoted Comment

I personally think it is rude to disrespect the bride and groom's wishes. They have spent thousands of dollars on this day and maybe even a thousand dollars on a professional photographer. You are there to support them and if you can't give them your undivided attention and accomadate such a simple request then maybe you should just stay home.

Here’s what I came up with:

Our Photographer was hired to capture the events of today, so please put your Cameras and Phones away (and stay out of his way).

We will share photos once they are provided to us.
Anyone that takes offense to it can leave.