Unplugged wedding ceremony yay or nay?

We’re not going “unplugged”. Reason 1, we talked with our photographer and he is a professional who knows how to work around guests who may have thei phone in the face. Reason 2, we know our crowd and most weddings we’ve been to, we haven’t noticed a large amount of people on their phones. Reason 3, even though our photographer has a fast turn around time, I’m impatient and if someone gets awesome shots at our ceremony, I’d love to have them to look at literally the next day when I get a second to chill. We just didn’t think it was worth asking guests to keep their phones away. Hopefully we know our crowd and they’re pretty respectful of weddings.

Team unplugged. I find it rude to view anything through a camera unless you're being paid to be there. Be absent all you want, but don't ruin someone else's enjoyment by having a phone or light in their face. Also, don't ruin professional photos lighting because of your flash.

Personally, I appreciate unplugged ceremonies. I appreciate the reminder to truly be present and engaged with the couple who invited me to be a witness at their union. They mentioned it would be an unplugged ceremony on their wedding website (FAQ section), they had a cute sign at the ceremony venue, and the officiant kindly reminded us before the ceremony started. No one was offended and from what I could see, everyone complied (100+ people). I don’t think asking people to not take pics or video for 30 minutes is too much to ask. 🤷🏽‍♀️

I'll definitely be having an unplugged wedding! For one, I don't want everyone's cell phones in my wedding photos, but I also don't want to see everyone's phone in my face as I walk down the aisle either. Some brides may not care about this at all, so I think it's really just a personal preference.

I plan to have wedding programs which will include a little note about the fact that it's unplugged.

My fiance and I feel like it's really not necessary. Our friends are reasonable adults. We don't like the message it sends to tell people not to be on their phones, like we don't trust them to make good decisions. The only time I plan to have any kind of announcement is before karaoke starts to remind everyone that there are children at the reception and to be considerate.

We are doing unplugged for several reasons. One big reason is my fiancé has a job that requires discretion. Also I just don’t want my special day spread across social media, we intentionally planned a small and intimate ceremony and I just feel like people who aren’t there shouldn’t have access to my special day unless I give it to them. We may allow photos during cocktail hour and the reception but I doubt that. We will however provide a photo booth.

Daughter was in a wedding where there isn't ONE professional photo of the bride and her dad walking down the aisle without multiple cameras/phones in the shot (and they cannot be edited out without losing the bride in the pictures...). After that, she and FSIL are ADAMANT ABOUT UNPLUGGED. I don't think they care about guests "being present"; be as mentally distracted at you want, but don't ruin the professional photos they are paying 1000's for. After the ceremony? Take whatever pictures you want to, as long as you don't get in the way of the pros.