Was my dad wrong for not putting his phone in the phone bowl?

Phones are the dirtiest thing we touch in our lives. I wouldn't put my phone in a bowl with others any more than I would rub it around on the floor of a public restroom. But if he had taken a call during the ceremony that would definitely have been completely rude unless he had reason to believe it was a serious emergency. I think not giving it up is fine but being willing to interrupt the ceremony just so one of his kids could say "hi" is awful.

Is you cousin a celebrity and didn't want photos leaking to the paparazzi. I'm going to go with no. So to ask adults to give up their phone is absolutely ridiculous, they are adults so treat your guests accordingly.

I'm with you dad and a lot of others who've replied. Respect the brides request and sounds like your aunt made a bigger scene as it is still bothering her.

I too don't want my guests getting in the way of my photographer but I would never even consider asking guests to put their phones in a bowl!

I agree with everyone on here that the whole fish bowl was absurd but most importantly, your Aunt took on a heck of a liability taking 60 phones. They are expensive, contain tons of personal information and especially men, look a lot alike. (at least us girls have fancy cases lol) I also believe without a doubt most people were shocked but didn't know what to do so put there phones in the bowl. I hope someone reminds your Aunt she dodged a bullet with that stunt. I also think that because it was a relative that refused and not just an acquaintance it's still bugging her. I most certainly believe all our phones should be on vibrate or silent during someone's ceremony and I also believe there are people who don't but maybe the officiant reminding before they started would have sufficed.

I am most definitely on your dad's side. If this would've been such an enforcement on the day of wedding they should have wrote this on their invitation and let all guest know prior to the RSVP. Even then that is such a ridiculous requirement given that they are not children but full grown adults. I can see why they would want no noise interruptions or photos taken. They could have definitely had a different alternative for that like having an unplugged ceremony sign or no photos until they say I do etc. The ones in the wrong were your aunt for trying to treat him like a child and enforce something without any prior notice. A lot can happen in 20 minutes let alone a minute so regardless of the time it could've been a better outcome to this.

Reasons people can't put their phone in a phone bowl:

1. Family emergencies

2. Work emergencies

3. Health trackers (and prying into this would be RUDE)

4. Uh, these things are expensive, and full of our private information. Got a banking app on there? Your work email? Your social media passwords? YEAH.

Just request that people turn them on silent and put them down.

I stand with everyone else, dad was correct.

If aunt broaches it again and still acts pissed? I'd be the one to tell her it was rude to ask that in the first place and that there were much better ways of handling it than treating their guests like children and forcing them to handover expensive property. The only one who made a scene (and is continuing to) is your aunt.

I mean really, the audacity.

I totally agree to be honest. I know that they mostly have photographers and just respect that. Although there was a wedding I attended once that had Polaroid cameras that asked for us to help capture their moment so that was a fun game during the reception but not the ceremony. I think that is good enough for your guest to know your wishes and hopefully they can respect that 😊 Another idea would be to have a sign that says unplugged ceremony or something similar like we would love for you to be present in our day so we ask that you help us keep our ceremony unplugged 🙂 I am looking into something like this for our wedding day. Best wishes 🥰