Reasons to Have an Unplugged Wedding Ceremony
According to The Knot, one of the biggest growing trends we are seeing as we venture into 2020 is the unplugged ceremony. If you haven’t heard of this idea yet, it’s basically when couples ask guests to put away their cell phones and devices while they say ‘I do’. Here are a few reasons why we, as photographers, love this trend so very much.
You have hired a photographer to take gorgeous images of your wedding day. The blurry, grainy photos that come from a guest’s cell phone simply aren’t needed. Not only that, but people often get carried away trying to get a great photo from their phone or iPad and often block the photographer trying to capture the moment. I can’t tell you how many times guests have stepped in front of me, into the aisle during the ceremony to capture the bride walking towards her groom or the first kiss between husband and wife. No one wants that moment to be missed by the professional because of an eager family or friend. Guest photos are great at other times throughout the day, but during the ceremony, having a phone or other device out can be distracting for everyone.
Another reason to keep it tech-free is to keep your guests present and in the moment. Our phones and other devices can be distracting. Even a quick glance at a text can cause you to miss an important moment during a wedding. When your guests keep their focus on you, they can truly be a part of what is going on. Instead of trying to open their camera app and get a photo to post, they will keep their attention on the moments unfolding in realtime. This is one of those times when experiencing life with all of your senses is much better than experiencing it through the screen on your phone. It’s literally the reason everyone gathers together for a wedding.
Having guests put down their phones and engage in the moment also makes for great photos. If you think about the photo gallery that you will get back from your photographer, try to envision what an unplugged ceremony would look like. Your family and friends are fully present in what is going on. They are laughing, crying or cheering- whatever the moment may be. No one is zoned into their phone, or worse, holding it up to take a photo and accidentally blocking the person behind them from being a part of the image your photographer takes. Instead of a sea of devices, you see all of your family and friends gathered around you in support of the most important day of your life. It just honestly looks great in ceremony photos.
Photographers love unplugged ceremonies because they have such a positive impact on your wedding photos. Ultimately it’s always up to the couple and what they envision for their big day. If you were hoping to have as many photos of your everything from every angle that you could possibly get, then maybe the unplugged ceremony just isn’t for you- and that’s totally ok! It’s just something to think about while you plan out your wedding day.
What do you think? Would you consider having an unplugged ceremony? Drop your opinions in the comments below!
How to Get Guests to Unplug:
-display a sign
-make an announcement
-add it to your programs