Unplugged Weddings – How to Control the Cyber Frenzy

Hyperconnectivity – this term is becoming fairly common now that most people have smart phones, tablets, and digital cameras with Wi-Fi. These days it’s common to sit through a meal or special event with family and friends where someone pulls out a device to check their email or update their status on a social network. While some brides welcome the numerous devices capturing their special moment, the “unplugged” wedding is gaining favor with the newly hitched.

Unplugged weddings started with celebrity couples getting married and wanting to keep the details under wraps in order to have some privacy during the ceremony, and some even to sell the images from their wedding for large sums of money. Now the trend is trickling down to the non-celebrity bride. The Huffington Post, The New York Times, ABCNews and others have covered the unplugged wedding trend. While an unplugged wedding may not be for everyone, some brides simply want to be the first to post the best possible pictures to their social networks rather than a play-by-play by their guests.

From a photographers view-point, an unplugged wedding can be game changing. A professional photographer knows how to set-up a shot and capture the best from the subjects. They have high-quality equipment and know how to use it. The average wedding guest snapping away pictures on their mobile phone camera and instantly uploading them to Facebook and Instagram can not only be a distracted guest and a potential distraction to the wedding party, but they are also uploading low-quality images to the web. These guests could also be getting in the way of a shot the paid photographer is trying to get, or worse, have their phones or other devices up to their faces in a shot that a photographer is trying to get of the guests. A photographer can do very little about an overzealous guest who gets in the way of pictures or uses a flash which causes the professional image to be washed out.

So, how does a bride politely ask a guest to put their phone and camera away during the ceremony? First thing would be to make an announcement on your wedding website. Spread the word through your guests so they already know to expect the unplugged policy. A nicely worded and decorative sign and a note in the program at the ceremony serve to gently remind guests that you want them there enjoying your special day with you and not documenting it. Or, before your nuptials, the officiant can ask guests to put their cameras down and be completely present during the ceremony. Offbeatbride.com offers some great tips on wording so you can still get the unplugged wedding you want and not alienate your guests.

The flip side to the unplugged wedding is the very much plugged in reception. This can even take place of the cheap and terrible quality disposable cameras on the guest’s tables and allows guests to participate and take pictures from their view-point. You can encourage your tech-loving guests to take as many pictures as they want during the reception celebration and then share the pictures with you using hashtags or on your wedding website – thus controlling the cyber frenzy. Many photographers now offer digital copies of your wedding pictures that you can share with your guests. Regardless of whether you feel that an unplugged wedding is the way to go or a connected wedding is right for you; remember that your wedding day is about you and your fiancé and the love between you both – your guests will fall into the vibe you set and celebrate along with you both.

Author:  Jennifer Armstrong, Blogger,  Perfect Planning Events