I hate to say it, but nowadays attending a wedding is no longer about sitting and enjoying the wonderful moments which are happening right in front of you; but rather about guests taking pictures using their cameras or more likely their mobile phones. Generally people consider it to be more important to capture the moment on their phones rather than cherishing these moments personally. As a bride and groom, you might not have of given this much thought, or even like it. However, I would like to open your eyes to another option: The Unplugged Wedding.
The Unplugged Wedding
You may have heard this before or even been to one before. For those who are still in the dark this type of wedding restricts all guests from using their camera, mobile phones, iPads etc., throughout the ceremony or even the entire day depending on how long the bride and groom want it to last. I honestly believe this is truly an amazing option. Guests would genuinely enjoy the ceremony and what’s more, allow the professional photographer, who is being paid for a service, to take the photos.
It goes without saying that the ceremony is the most important part of the day. Yet the wedding ceremony can sometimes become frustrating when the guests try to intervene and “photo bomb” what could be the most candid shots of the wedding. This aside, guests always move around to take pictures disturbing other people’s views, and of course the photographers work. A Lot of guests get wrapped up in the day and forget that photos can be taken by remaining seated where they are, and respecting the fact that hired photographers should be given the chance to do their job correctly. If this issue is solved, the unplugged weddings wouldn’t be as popular as they are today.
If you’re reading this and are thinking I’m being a bit harsh, my aim is not to scare anyone, but rather be practical. For me I want to let you know the true consequences of guests behaving in this way and their direct effect on your wedding photography investment! Please don’t misunderstand me, I respect all weddings, but by providing this information on the unplugged wedding, I am confident you will all make the best choice and the wisest decision for your special day! Whether my clients have an unplugged wedding or not, I will always respect their wishes. Please consider the below points if you are about to plan a wedding:
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Etiquette
Guests with mobile phones and cameras in their hands can end up ruining an amazing moment by intervening in the pictures and flashing their cameras. They don’t really know how to effectively stay out of the photographers way. These actions also affect the type of shots the photographer takes, as guests don’t stop moving from one place to another and the photographer could miss the chance to capture a special memorable moment. Why not then allow the guest to sit quietly without a phone or camera at an unplugged wedding, and let the professional photographer take the best shots of this memorable day?
Distraction
This I think is a no brainer. Would you prefer your guests to be smiling at you or at the number of likes they receive on their facebook page as they upload photos of your ceremony? Please consider the bigger picture on this one folks; by uploading photos of the stunning bride onto facebook, you are stealing the experience of seeing the bride in all her glory for the first time for the evening guests. Nobody wants to see a bride on facebook before they have the chance to see her in the flesh for the first time. Enforcing the unplugged wedding will allow everyone to socialise amongst themselves, rather than socialising on a social media platform. The bride and groom’s biggest and most important day of their lives needs to be cherished and lived to the fullest, without any camera’s disturbing flash or clicking sound.
Picture Quality
Guests at a wedding always want to take a lot of photos, and there will also always be an “Uncle Bob” who will strive to take better photos than the official wedding photographers. However, this competition might end up affecting the quality of your images taken by the professional photographer. The flash of other cameras can interfere with the photographers images at key moments. Another example is when “Uncle Bob” insists on joining the couple for their portrait photos; please dont think ill of me but I always tell them to please rejoin the rest of the wedding party. When I am with just the couple for portraits I need their full attention and need them to be looking at me and not “Uncle Bob” sorry Bob. Let’s be cruel to be kind here, guests won’t be able to take a better quality photo from their mobile phone versus a £5000 professional camera and lens. Why not just allow the professional photographers to do their job? Which trust me, is not an easy task!
iPads are Huuge!
This might sound like I’m jesting but this is no joke and I have witnessed this first hand. A guest standing with an iPad to capture a moment is just way too disturbing for the people standing behind trying to see what is happening. They end up seeing the ceremony through an iPad screen rather than seeing it live. A photographer will certainly not feel inspired to take a picture if someone is standing there with a massive tablet in front of them. I know it is a growing trend to carry an iPad and use it as a camera. It should 100 percent be left at home for such events!
A Personal note to Guests
Seeing the happy couple in all their glory and enjoying the many moments through your eyes, is way more memorable and heartwarming than seeing it through your camera or mobile phone screen. Taking a video of the ceremony and sharing this on facebook immediately might make you happy, however, putting your phone aside and sharing your smile with the couple getting married will make them feel even more delighted. All of the special moments of the ceremony in its entirety and formal pictures will be captured and saved, which is why the couple have invested in a professional wedding photographer. As a guest all you need to do is capture the moments in your heart, making the happy couple feel even more special and blessed by your attendance.
What are your thoughts on the unplugged wedding? Will you be telling your guests to keep their phones turned off and there is no need to bring your camera? Feel free to drop me a comment below, I would love to know your thoughts.