Let’s face it, technology and social media have taken over our lives entirely. Everyone want’s to be the one to capture and post the first photo of the bride walking down the aisle or the first kiss. It’s no wonder couples are requesting an unplugged wedding.

 

Why would you want an unplugged wedding?

Unplugged weddings allow for your guests to be present with you. Sure they’re physically present, but are they watching your wedding with their own two eyes or through an electronic device?

You also pay a lot of money to hire a wedding photographer and/or videographer. A trusted professional who knows where to be and when for the perfect photo, in the ideal lighting with Photoshop or other editing programs to back up the quality. Guests can, unknowingly, get in the way of that perfect shot.

It can also be very distracting. I was a guest at a baptism once and was astound by the number of people who were videoing or photographing the ceremony. I was very distracted by the huge iPads guests were using to record or photograph, and missed several things. I knew my friend probably asked someone to capture the moments for her. She didn’t need 12 different angles of the same thing. She wanted her friends and family to be present.

 

How can you achieve an unplugged wedding?

One of the things I remember from my days studying advertising is that it takes 7 repetitions for someone to truly remember what you’re trying to tell them. That’s a lot! I’ve photographed weddings where there was a sign when you walk to your seat and someone announced it before the ceremony started. That’s only 2 times, and that’s banking on if your guest read your sign.

So lets work with this magic number:

1. In your invitation (probably somewhere at the bottom) announce that you are having an unplugged wedding.

2. If you are sending some sort of instruction page with your invitation like directions, make sure to include you are having an unplugged wedding with the instructions.

3. Announce on Facebook to all of your friends and family that you are having an unplugged wedding.

4. Ask your parents to remind your family that you will be having an unplugged wedding. There will be a photographer at your wedding and they can have copies of any of the photos you are given.

5. Put up a sign on the entrance to the venue. Somewhere you know most of your guests will be coming through. For example, if you are getting married at a church, put a sign on the outside doors of the building.

6. Have a cute sign at the entrance to the ceremony location reminding guests.

7. Have someone make one final announcement before the ceremony starts.

[Phiew] That’s seven times. At this point, you should have gotten your guests attention and relayed how important an unplugged wedding truly is for you and your fiance. If you feel like this just isn’t enough and you need to take drastic measures, do what teachers are having to do. Have a phone collection system.

 

How to *polity* collect your guests phones.

You can make a wooden cubby or a basket with a sign asking guests to be present. You could even set up some sort of charging station, which would benefit your guests. Someone mentioned to me they are considering a drawing for cash. Have guests put their phone in a basket and the bride and groom pull a phone from the basket. The lucky winner gets cash or some other sort of prize.

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If it is important to you that you have an unplugged wedding, just make sure to relay that to your guests. They’re there because they love you and if they understand your reasoning, they will respect them.