You really wish you just didn’t have to say it! Letting your guests know that your ceremony will be unplugged, ahead of time, is a great way to prevent potential hazards.

 

 

If you have hired me as your photographer, you’ll have all your images in a format that can be easily shared with your friends and family. This way, with confidence, you can ask for your guests to remain unplugged throughout the ceremony, while assuring them that they will receive ceremony images!

Here are a few ideas to help you get the word out.

 

Have the officiant announce it. 

Once the officiant is mic’d up, and right before the groom comes to join him or her is a great time to make some housekeeping announcements. 

“Welcome, friends and family! Good evening, everyone. Please be seated. Dan and Jennifer invite you to be truly present at this special time. Please, turn off your cell phones and put down your cameras. The photographer will capture how this moment looks — I encourage you all to capture how it feels with your hearts, without the distraction of technology. If Dan can do it, then so can you.” – Huffington Post

 

Create (or purchase) a sign.

“As we tie the knot, please be our guest. Our photographer will take care of the rest!”

 

 

“Welcome! We’ve hired a photographer to capture how this moment looks with their camera, so you can capture how it feels with your hearts.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Welcome to our unplugged wedding! We invite you to be fully present with us during the ceremony. Please turn off all cell phones and cameras.”

Include it in your invitation and/or program.

“The bride and groom kindly request an unplugged ceremony.”

“We’re happy to share our professional wedding photos later, but the greatest gift you can give us today is just being fully here with us in this sacred and special moment.”

 

 

If you’d like to go a bit more direct, include an easy to understand graphic in your program. If you’d like this one, you can download it!

 

Assure them that while the ceremony is unplugged, the reception is plugged.

 

“We’re so glad you’re here! Please stow away your phones and cameras until the reception. We promise to share the beautiful pictures taken today.”

 

Wondering if you should have an unplugged ceremony?

 

Check out this hilarious, and a little shocking, compilation of images from weddings where cell phone usage got way out of hand. 23 Reasons to have an Unplugged Wedding.