Nowadays, there is the potential for your big entrance down the aisle to have made it to Instagram before you’ve even made it to the alter, technology at your wedding is something that needs to be considered. Sadly 10 years ago brides and grooms didn’t have this problem that is why today on the blog we are talking about technology etiquette at a wedding.

Some brides love sitting on Facebook the day after their wedding looking at all the pictures her guests had snapped, while another hated the idea of less-than-perfect shots of her dress making it out on the internet, before she’d a chance to share the professional pictures. Even photographers are rushed to get a “sneak peak” to you so you can post online before all of your guest do.

You have to ask yourself what kind of bride or groom are you and how much “photo/video sharing” you want going on during your special day!

PROs

Sharing photos and stories of your wedding is lots of fun for guest and you to review the next day.

Not only will you get great candid snaps of you and your other half, but you’ll get to photos of your guest enjoy the party

Maybe even get photos of your great aunt doing shots of tequila

It’s also a great way to add to the atmosphere on the day. Encourage social media sharing, with a table photo scavenger hunt (create a list of must-have pictures for each table to capture and share!). This will get people talking, and may even help people become friends after the wedding.

Most professional photographers and videographers are awesome at their jobs, but accidents, and full-on disasters do happen. With the quality of photographs from phones improving all the time, encouraging your guests to capture your day on their own devices will safeguard you with crowd sourced shots if you’re not too happy with your professional pictures.

If some of your friends and family can’t make the wedding, allowing them see all the shared images lets them feel involved in your day from afar.

CONs

If you want your wedding to be a private and intimate affair, perhaps keeping your guests in the moment, is more important to you than having your images on Instagram

Phones and cameras can be distracting, and really take from the sense of occasion, particularly during the speeches or the ceremony.

Guest might even be in the way of your professional photographer from getting the shot (we see it happen all the time)

If you’ve had a hard time juggling the politics of your guest list, you don’t want to cause any friction with those not invited, when they find out on Facebook who didn’t make the list.

While it’s nice to have everyone on Twitter tell you how gorgeous you are, do you really want an unflattering picture of your new husband trying to find your garter under all that tulle, doing the rounds on the internet?

We’re not sure how it caught on, but lots of people consider large tablets to be suitable camera substitutes. We’ve lost count of the amount of gorgeous moments which have been ruined by the appearance of a massive screen in the bride or groom’s face!

Maybe you have decided to restrict some technology at times but not all or maybe you are ready to have an unplug wedding! If so read below

How to Unplug Your Wedding

Really, with this one, all you have to do is ask nicely, and your guests should be happy to adhere to your tech-free policy.

Let them know whether you’d simply like them to:

-stay offline for the day of your wedding

-no cameras at the ceremony only

-all-out embargo of photos being taken or shared online

Include a note in your invitations, or dot signs around your venue to let guests know your feelings.

Ask your photographer to take lots of candid guest shots on the day, or perhaps request a second shooter, so no one is left out of the pictures if they’re leaving their cameras at home.

If your budget allows, perhaps have a photo booth at your reception so you’ve still got lots of fun snaps of your guests at the party, without them being distracted with taking their own on the day.

Either way you go, decide what is best for both you and your partner.

Enjoy XOXO