Unplugged Wedding Request and Guest Complaints

Do you have security or a DOC? Ask your officiant to announce it to everyone before the ceremony starts, if FMIL persists, have the DOC or someone remind her there are no pictures to be taken.

I will say the worst part was walking down the aisle seeing phones and not faces. Will she get that feeling? We put no phones nicely the program but a few didn't have time to read it so there were some people with their phones out.

Does your FH have a trusty aunt that could be seated next to FMIL and relied upon to elbow her in the ribs when she tries to take her phone or camera out?

There's no refusing, it's your wedding. Have your FH have a serious talk with her. If you've made it clear and she's still being inconsiderate and selfish, have her escorted out of the ceremony. 100% I wouldn't care who it is, even my own mother. If she can't listen to a simple request on your wedding day, she doesn't need to be a part of it. Unplugged is common courtesy anyway and shouldn't even be a discussion. Hire a bouncer 😂

Get your FH to intervene? It's not going to be the end of the world if people can't use their phones for a few hours. I'd make an exception for anyone dealing with family that has a critical illness, or other potential emergencies where they might need to be reached, but other than that - people ask all the time for phones to be turned off during funerals, concerts, so why not a wedding?

If it's what you really want just put your foot down. I considered it but in the end just figured I didn't care enough to put in the effort of enforcing it. I will have my officiant ask for people to put their phones on silent for the actual ceremony, but other than that I really don't feel strongly enough about it to make it a general policy.

I totally understand the desire to have an unplugged wedding - phone addiction is legit. Weddings are for spending time with people and focusing on the moment!

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No Security or DOC. We have planned everything on our own to help keep costs down. I could ask the owner of the venue to make sure no one carries devices into the ceremony. I have even thought about having his mom escorted down the aisle prior to the groomsmen and groom walking out. Maybe explain to her that she would look better without a big bulky camera hanging from her neck in all of our pictures.

We are doing the same. UNPLUGGED during our ceremony so guest can really be intune with our vows and not their devices. Asking the pastor to announce it as well as it well be a nice sign posted EXAMPLE.."welcome to our wedding ..please put all devices away during ceremony" You and your husband should sit and have a serious conversation with her

This isn't a phone, She is wanting to bring her big expensive camera like a professional photographer would use. I may have to hire someone to enforce this rule.

View Quoted Comment Yikes! Can you sit her down and explain you want her to enjoy the ceremony rather than worry about lighting and whatnot?

Since this isn't a phone and it a camera... maybe you could fib a little. For example, my photographer has in her contract that people cannot take photos of any that she is posing. So if she puts me and my family together for a photo, someone else cannot take a photo of that "pose". IF she really isn't getting the message and is still choosing to... inconsiderate... can you lie and tell her that she can't? My only other thought is that you have your Fiance has a SERIOUS conversation with her and if she still refused... she would be getting one cold shoulder from me for quite some time.

View Quoted Comment Does she know she isn't a professional? I'm so confused 😂

I think this is kind of one of those things that you can request, even strongly suggest, but when it comes down to it, what are you really going to do? Stop the ceremony or have her thrown out?

Your FH should express to his mom how important it is to him, and how sad it will make him if she disrespects your wishes. If she chooses to do it anyway...well, that shows you where you rank in the order of things.

Make a sign, include it in your program (if you're doing them) AND have the officiant announce it. If she whips it out anyway, she will look the biggest ass in the room, and EVERYONE will see it.

I would sit down with her and explain that you want her to enjoy the wedding not be taking photos the entire time.

My photographer said having an unplugged weeding isnt a thing, in her experience people ignore it

I would have a very serious sit down conversation with her and explain that you are paying a lot of money for your videographer and photohrapher. You're not paying all this money to habing pictures of her taking pictures. You are paying them to have pictures of your guets fully engaged in your moment not with their face hidden behind a camera. If worse comes to worse pur someone on duty to watch her like FH's dad to make sure she does not have a camera on her person during rhe ceremony. Or just tell you she's not invited if she won't respect your wishes. Maybe that will scare her into submission.

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She really plans on walking down the aisle with that big thing around her neck? Does she not know how ridiculous that will look?

Let me just give you a bit of advice, from experience (my first wedding.) I was ADAMANT that I wanted an unplugged ceremony. I threatened all of my family (who were addicted to their cameras, and I was the first to get married) that it would ruin my day if all I saw was cameras in my face walking down the aisle. Even though the pastor said it, here we are walking down and all I hear is my mom & dads neighbor lady clicking and flashing away..I was furious! She even caught one of me giving her the "cut throat" motion as I was walking down the aisle, that is how upset I was! I spent the whole time at the alter thinking about how rude these people were and how mad I was, instead of why we were there. Cue to 6 weeks after the wedding....professional photos come back and they are awful. Like the worst. Terrible lighting, so far away you couldn't tell who was who. More than half I had my eyes closed and she tried (very poorly, I might add) to photoshop them open. It was a nightmare. I was SO sad that I put all of my trust in a "professional" (she had amazing reviews and portfolio, not sure why she bombed so bad for us) and I had nothing to show for it....except the pics that my moms neighbor took.

Moral of the story....don't put your eggs in one basket. You might be disappointed. And second....if someone does pull out their camera, ignore it. It is not the end of the world. Remember the real reason why you are there.....your love for FH. Don't let any "rule-breaker" ruin that moment for you guys.

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I'm kinda thinking THIS.

Our guests were cool because we explained it was more important that we had beautiful photos of them enjoying our ceremony and cocktail reception, not photos of them blocked behind cameras (pre-ceremony and post-cocktail reception guests could play paparazzi!). We forgot to tell one guest--she was fine during the ceremony but during our welcome speech stood up at the dining table, blocking everyone's view (including our photographer's) and thrust her iPad in our faces. None of her pics turned out. None. Your FH needs to talk to her in a way she'll listen.

I am having an unplugged wedding ceremony as well. Absolutely no cell phones! Only person that is allowed to take pictures is the Photographer. Guest can take pictures at the reception. I wouldn't stress if people are upset about it they will get over it. It's your day!

Don't ruin your day worried about ONE person... focus on your FH... if your eyes are on her... that's what will come out in your pictures... smile... look forward and enjoy your moment!

Oh i kind of like the idea that it against the rules of venu to have more than 1 photographer