Today's weddings are hardly ever a private event. In the era of social media, videos, and phones with high-quality cameras, who doesn’t want to capture those special moments from a family member or a friend’s wedding? Even before the couple can say “I do”, a fairly good amount of pictures have already been uploaded on someone’s Timeline or Story. But who really takes into account if the couple looks good or not? Or if the venue, that was supposed to remain private, has been tagged? Or have you seen pictures of Grandma with her tablet up in the air, trying to catch a shot of the first kiss?

An Unplugged Wedding Ceremony is when a couple getting married has decided to request their guests not to take photos and/or upload them to social media. The term is becoming more common, and couples saying no to technology at their wedding is becoming increasingly more popular. But how do you say “No Pictures” at the wedding ceremony”?

What are the Pros of having an Unplugged Ceremony?

You want your guests’ undivided attention: Instead of walking down the aisle to guests buried behind their phones, you want to see their smiles, and even their tears of joy and excitement while they celebrate with you.

Let the Professionals you hired work: Most likely, you’ve invested a good amount of your wedding budget to hire a professional and experienced wedding photographer. An unplugged ceremony will ensure your photography team won’t need to face obstacles like cameras or cellphones from guests, or even a tablet from one of the couple’s aunts.

So how do you make your guests aware of your Unplugged ceremony?

Make it clear beforehand – Add a couple of lines in your printed invitations or on your wedding website, to say ‘Please no photos during the ceremony, we’d love your presence and your full attention to our wedding. This will be an unplugged wedding.’

Unplugged Signs – Have some signs up to remind guests to keep their phones off and no photos during the ceremony. 

Announcement – Ask the Officiant to make a brief announcement prior to the start of the Ceremony asking guests to turn their phones off, reminding them you have a professional wedding photographer to capture this special moment.

There are some variations of an Unplugged Ceremony Announcement:

• Full Unplugged. In this announcement, the officiant asks guests to put away all cell phones and electronics before the ceremony starts. The main reason couples choose this announcement is to prevent cell phones (or even tablets!) from showing in their wedding pictures. Full unplugged weddings aim to provide guests with an uninterrupted experience, allowing them to focus fully on the couple and the special moments of the ceremony.

• Partial Unplugged. In a Partial Unplugged announcement, couples request guests to only silence their electronic devices. With this, couples are sure to get candid shots of their ceremony from their family and guests, especially if they don't have a big budget for video and photography.

• Fun Unplugged. If you've opted for a no-electronics ceremony but want to give your guests the chance to take some shots, then a Fun Unplugged announcement is a great option! Before the ceremony begins, the officiant will request that guests put away all electronics. As the couple and their wedding party are all lined up at the altar, the officiant will tell guests they have 10 seconds to take pictures, after which they will put their electronic devices away. Remember, a professional officiant will always know which announcement works best for you and your guests.

Choosing to have an unplugged wedding ceremony is a beautiful way to make sure everyone is present, enjoying each special moment with you. If you're considering an unplugged approach but aren't sure how to communicate it to your guests, let us help! From personalized announcements to engaging ways to share this request, we’re here to ensure your ceremony unfolds exactly as you envision.

Ready to talk about your ideas? Schedule a call with us, and let’s make your ceremony unforgettable in all the right ways!

Let’s talk and make your Ceremony Vision come to life!