Unplugged wedding ceremony yay or nay?

I have mixed feelings about this. Pros, your real photographer can get all the shots they need, everyone is focused on the ceremony and being in the moment, which are of course wonderful things. Cons, not everyone listens so it’s like you’re babysitting adults, I’ve heard horror stories of things happen to your pro shots and the guest photos are all you have. Which is a scary thought for me.

I'm thinking of doing this for the ceremony and just writing a line in the program about it like "Please turn off your cameras and devices until after the ceremony." No explanation, no sign, just a simple request. Our crowd is pretty adherent with stuff like that (at least I hope).

I hadn't really thought about the concern about something happening to the pro shots, but that's a good point! I guess I'm willing to risk it.....

We did this! We told all guests (only 15) by phone or email. Several family members have pro cameras and would hide between them instead of listening, enjoying, socializing. We said no paparazzi during ceremony/cocktail hour but before/after that time, go for it! Forgot to tell one guest who ruined our “welcome speech” photos by standing in front of us with her iPad in our face! (None of hers turned out anyway, too dark.) Happily, those were only 5 minutes of ruined pics compared to the whole night.

We had a 2nd shooter during the ceremony & cocktail hour who got amazing photos of guests (candid & posed). Even if you can get one (ask your 1st shooter for assistant or recommendation) for 1-2 hours you’ll get so many more photos during the most important parts of your wedding that just fly by.

I totally get the unplugged thing! But as someone who takes a TON of pictures I always still feel super engaged. I personally wouldnt do it because I do love waking up and seeing party pictures the next day and your pro ones wont be ready for weeks! Second you're a star ! Let everyone gush and take photos of you like a celebrity!!! Lastly horror stories! In the age before cellphones my sisters quinceanera photographer was robbed of all of his equipment and the footage from her event so the non pro things are all we have. Not so lucky we had a family friend have a beautiful wedding think military Sargent sobbing with joy as his bride came down the aisle, everyone dancing, ice sculpture it was nice! The photographer/videographer had his place burn down! It was before the smartphone era but everyone was still requested to not use their cameras so NOTHING exists.. it's super sad my mom says she regrets not taking any pictures of me and my sister because we were flower girls and looked gorgeous!

My phone is like a limb to me, so I’m not going to ask guests to not use theirs. I’d be annoyed if someone told me to not use my phone. And then you could have a wedding hashtag for guests to post their pictures.

We didn’t (kind of accidentally), and I’m so happy about it. Our guests got lots of really wonderful photos that I am thrilled to have. No one ruined our pro photos with phones and no one looked “unpresent” during our ceremony , so the fact that they could take pics had nonnegative effects on our day, only positive.

Unplugged for us. Just the ceremony. I don’t think it’s too much to ask. People put their phones away for a two hour movie. I’d like to think they’d like to honor the wishes of a loved one for 20 minutes. I’d also like to SEE the faces of my guests as I look out at all of my nearest and dearest. I happen to be the shutterbug of the family, so I do understand the impulse of wanting to capture the moment. But a wedding ceremony is not about anyone but the couple. The reception is the thank you for the guests.

I keep leaning towards having an Unplugged ceremony more and more every time I go to a wedding ceremony. I usually will sit in the back of the pews or rows and I never fail to see rude family members whip out their phones, get up from their seat, and get infront of the photographer as if the photographer doesnt exist. It sucks to see photographers getting frustrated whenever this happens and then cant get their job done.

An unplugged ceremony (just ceremony was all I asked!) was important to me, but we weren’t heavy handed enough with telling our guests this (only made on announcement immediately before ceremony start) and many ignored our wishes. We have phones in the aisle and above heads in our pro pics and video, it’s heartbreaking. Even a close immediate family member front row, aisle seat ignored our wishes so he’s in SO MANY of our ceremony pics with his 🤬 phone in his face. Including the photo of my Dad walking me down the aisle to my husband, there he is right to the right of my husband (so not cropable) leaning into the aisle spoiling the shot with his phone. 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️ If an unplugged ceremony is important to you, mention that everywhere!! And brace for people to still ignore you... and they will likely not even share their shots with you...

It’s becoming super common for the ceremony. The last wedding I went to they did this and it was nice for people to not be holding up their phones at all. The officiant just made an announcement at the start. It’s not like people NEED to be taking photos at the ceremony anyway.

I'm hoping for an unplugged ceremony. I put a line in the program saying we would like for you to be fully present during our ceremony, please keep your cell phones and cameras away during the ceremony.
If people want to ignore it so be it as long as they stay out of the aisles!

I dont feel like it's so much of people not being engaged if they are picture taking, as it is letting your photographer get the best shots. But I personally am not extremely concerned with pictures as others are. I have a friend who is taking my pictures and has never shot a wedding, and I do look forward to seeing all the candid photos people will capture as well. I do have to add that I'm not very ocd/stressed about details or things going wrong like most either because this has been a 16 year relationship with 4 kids and I just want to party with my loved ones! Lol

We're planning to have an unplugged ceremony, and are looking into having a sign at the ceremony location and will most likely ask our officiant to make an announcement before the ceremony starts as well. We want everyone to be fully present with us at the ceremony and experience it with their own eyes and not behind a cell phone screen! No problem with guests taking pictures during cocktail hour/reception, though!

Definitely team unplugged. We are going to have our officiant say something and I am putting it on the website. I think most of our guests will understand.

I will add it in the programs as well if I decide to make them lol

I’m doing an unplugged ceremony, I wanted this moment to just be about my new husband and I and everyone can take all the photos they want at the reception party and my photographer was thrilled with me. Sometimes guests without knowing ruin wedding photos due to having their phones out.

For selfish reasons, part of me wishes we had asked our guests to out their phones down for the ceremony. We have so many pictures of people holding up their cellphones. But... The other part of me loves that our guests have their own memories of our day and even though they might be holding phones/cameras in our pictures, they all have such great big smiles!

As for the reception, we have ONE picture of a cellphone anywhere. I don't recall anyone having their phones out taking pictures - everyone was having so much fun dancing and mingling.

I think it is very important because of photos - no one wants a picture of them walking down the aisle with people's phones blocking the view. That's why we pay the money we do for the pros! I say unplugged for the ceremony and then I don't mind what people do for the reception. I am getting married in a Church so I want the photos to look very nice and respectful, as you wouldn't have a phone out in church normally anyway.

I’ll be having an unplugged ceremony. Reception, I don’t care. And I’m not shy about it, I don’t give a flip if people are engaged during my ceremony, it’s 100% because I don’t want them to ruin my pictures. I don’t care if people pay attention, I just don’t want their face in my shots. Lol.

I’m MILITANT about an unplugged ceremony for all the reasons others have shared here. Here’s the sign I made to request it, and I’m also planning to ask the officiant to make an announcement before the processional starts.

Everyone is not focused on the ceremony with an unplugged ceremony. They could be thinking eight million different thoughts that are making them not “present”. The baby sitter, the sore stomach, the bird out the window, did I remember to pay a bill, did I forget the card .... there is nothing you can do to make someone present. You cannot force it. In fact, using a camera can make someone more present as they are framing the shot and focusing on what they are seeing. I am a yoga and meditation teacher - my job is to help people be present. But it cannot be forced, because no one has control over another’s thoughts.

Now, if you don’t want videos and pics of you posted or people getting in the way of your photographer, then by all means, unplug. The reason of having people be present is not a reason to do it and won’t get the results you want.