The idea of an unplugged ceremony has become pretty well-known in our modern, phone-addicted times, and I am completely here for it.
As a wedding photographer, I’ve had the privilege of capturing so many stunning wedding days, and to me, there is no better occasion for you and your guests to be fully present.
So what actually is an unplugged ceremony.
Simply put, it’s when couples ask their guests to put away phones, cameras and iPads during the ceremony so everyone can be truly present in the moment. An unplugged wedding, where no devices are allowed throughout the day, is a whole lot more uncommon.
There are plenty of reasons more and more couples are leaning towards unplugged ceremonies. On the emotional side, it creates a more intimate atmosphere, and primarily, guests are watching you instead of peering through a screen. They’re seeing it, in real life, living in the moment.
Why I love an unplugged ceremony
On the practical side, it means that as your photographer, I’m not dodging arms during the ceremony or ending up with a sea of phone screens in the background as you walk down the aisle. I can move freely, capture the real emotion of your guests and focus on what matters most (that’s you!)
And respectfully - does everyone need their own individual photos of your wedding ceremony, on their old iPhone, or from a tricky angle in the seats? Or would it be best for them to relax, really enjoy the moment, and leave it to a photographer? (I’m biased, but I know which one I’d be choosing!)
How to plan an unplugged ceremony
If you’re considering going unplugged, communication is key! A few simple ways to make sure guests are well aware of the rules.
Signage: A sweet or cheeky sign at the ceremony entrance to make sure people know what they are and aren’t allowed to take photos of
Your celebrant: Ask them to make an announcement before things kick off (right at the start during the ‘housekeeping’ chat is always a good idea!)
Invites or wedding website: Pop in a note so guests know what to expect well in advance and aren’t surprised.
You don’t need to be heavy-handed either. A polite “we’d love you to be fully present with us” usually does the trick, and most of the time I find people respect the couple’s wishes!
Relatives overseas who want to watch the ceremony?
If you have family members who are keen to take videos on their phone to send to people who couldn’t attend the wedding, why not consider live-streaming the ceremony by setting up a phone on a tripod or getting in professionals to do it? That way, people will feel less inclined to capture it on their own phone.
The pros of an unplugged ceremony?
Your family and friends get to live in the moment and truly be present for your wedding ceremony. And with guests more engaged, I find there are so many more gorgeous, emotional moments to photograph professionally
You don’t have to worry about relatives diving into the aisle during your first kiss to get ‘the shot’
No ringtones interrupting your vows (yep, I’ve seen it happen before!)
No unflattering, low-res photos of you during your wedding ceremony getting posted to Great Aunt’s Facebook page
You get to see your loved ones’ faces when you walk down the aisle, instead of having phones pointed at your face (you’ll want to see their beaming smiles and happy tears!)
You get to choose what gets posted to social media. A lot of couples will include an announcement saying that guests are welcome to take selfies and other photos throughout the day, but to please not post any photos of the couple to social media until they have done so themselves
So, what do you think… would you go unplugged?
