NO Pictures, Pretty Please! {Gainesville, FL Wedding Photographer}

Hi TAP fans! I think we all have either seen photos or have been to a wedding where wedding guests pull out their phones, cameras, or even their IPads to take photos of the bride & groom at one point or another during the wedding day. While this might not bother some, there are couples out there who have cringed at the photos of them walking down the aisle or kissing at the altar and like, 10 people are in the shot with their own cameras. I'm sure we've all done it at least once - I know I have! We get so caught up in the moment and just want to take that photo. But I think that we need to be mindful of the professionals hired to photograph the wedding and the couple who most likely spent thousands of dollars to have those memories captured. You can't "do-over" those moments. 

No matter how much you love photos and may think that the "more is better" approach when it comes to people snapping away, hear me out and weigh the option on having an unplugged ceremony. You might just find it's exactly what you've been dreaming of! 

So you've spent months (or maybe years) planning your wedding day. After careful consideration, you've chosen your dress and by the time you hit the ceremony processional, you are perfectly made up and ready for that moment when you look down the other end up of the aisle and gaze at the love of your life. At that very same moment, I'm standing in the aisle ready to capture it all with my camera; after all, you've been dreaming about that moment and assume I'm going to capture it for you to look back on.

And then your Aunt Sue, wearing a red-sequined dress, steps directly into the aisle, point and shoot camera in hand and completely blocks my camera's view of your grand entrance as she snaps away. She might even continue backing up down the aisle to ensure she captures every.last.moment. This is unfortunately the scene I see at almost every wedding I photograph. People nowadays have an obsession with taking photos on their iPhone's, iPad's and pocket cameras and seem to forget the fact that when they lunge into the aisle to grab their shot, they are compromising the professional photos for someone they care about.

I think what makes it hard for me is knowing what could have been if people didn't interfere with my photo taking. You can never go back and recreate and so it's sad to see a beautiful moment completely blocked by someone standing up to take a photo. For me, those beautiful, spontaneous moments are the reason I love what I do. And so I'm encouraging my couples to consider an unplugged ceremony where guest sit back and take in the sanctity of the marriage vows and the ceremony as it unfolds.

To ensure this happens, I have a few suggestions you might want to consider for your unplugged wedding:

1. Ask your photographer to make a few photos available. While you're negotiating with your photographer, ask if they can make a few (five or so) shots available to your guests as shareable electronic files soon after the wedding. 

2. Make the request in your invitations. Keep your wording brief and to the point, but gracious. Include an icon of a camera if you can so it catches the eye. Here's some possible wording:

We are excited to share this special occasion with you. In that spirit, we ask that you refrain from taking any photographs or using your cell phones during the wedding ceremony. Our photographer will make photos available to you free of charge soon afterwards. Thank you so much for respecting our wishes!

Ideally, this would be a separate note you include with the invitation. Offbeat Bride has loads of examples of wording you could use to request an unplugged wedding.

3. Include a note in your program. If you do distribute programs for your wedding, repeat your request near the bottom. Again, a visual will help your guests notice your note better.

4. Post a sign that's too adorable to disregard. Search in Pinterest under "unplugged wedding," and you'll see loads of charming signs that remind guests to turn off their phones and/or refrain from taking photos. I think getting a child to hold the sign is extra effective, provided that child does not drop it and run off.

5. Assign a photo bouncer. Before the wedding, ask the pages or someone else outside the wedding party (not the photographer) to look out for shutterbugs and politely, ever so politely, remind them to put their phones away. 

6. Make a verbal announcement. Once guests are seated, but before the ceremony begins, have the officiant make a polite request to turn cell phones off, put them away, and enjoy the wedding.

7. Thank everyone. Sometime after the wedding, and toward the beginning of the reception, thank everyone for respecting your wishes for an unplugged wedding -- and be sure to let them know how they can get those professional photos you promised.

I think what's most important to remember is that guests don't stand up and intentionally try and ruin your professional photos! They just get excited and caught up in the day. By having the note in the program or the officiant announcement, they are given that little reminder they need to remember that they should probably put down their iPhones and experience what is happening in front of them. Here's to being in love, beautiful moments and unplugging!