Technology is great! But when it comes to your wedding day-especially your final gallery-you probably want to see your guests’ faces more than the backs of their cellphones. In an age when we are basically glued to our phones, and everyone wants to be the first person to share a photo of the happy couple, is a tech-less wedding album even possible?

Great news: it is! Less great news: you have to plan for it very carefully.

But don’t worry: I can give you a hand as you try to plan and enforce an unplugged wedding ceremony!

wide photo of a wedding ceremony with fall trees behind

What is an unplugged wedding?

An unplugged wedding ceremony is when the couple asks guests to set down their cell phones and just celebrate in the moment with them. No photos. No videos. Just genuine emotion and sincere joy! And with a trusted photographer on the job, you won’t be bothered not to have Great Uncle Jim’s sixth-row blurry photo of your vows anyway! Once the ceremony ends, guests are free to grab their tech once again, capturing fun moments from the cocktail hour and reception. But by asking them to put phones away during the ceremony, the most important part of your day can be distraction-free!

What happens if I do not have an unplugged wedding ceremony?

Without an unplugged ceremony, your guests might miss out on fully experiencing and enjoying the magic of your special day by being glued to their screens. Keep the focus on real-life moments, not just digital ones!
With everyone snapping away, your hired photographer might struggle to capture those picture-perfect memories without phones and cameras blocking the view!
Let's face it, a sea of screens can dampen the cozy vibe you're aiming for! Ensure your ceremony feels intimate and connected by encouraging guests to be fully present, without the distractions of technology.
Want to keep your wedding off social media until you're ready to share? An unplugged ceremony gives you the power to control when and how your special day is shared online, protecting your privacy and ensuring your vision is respected.

How do I know if I want an unplugged wedding?

Some couples are totally fine with their guests snapping photos throughout the entire celebration! But an unplugged wedding ceremony might be for you if:

You want to see all of your guests’ reactions to your ceremony in your final gallery
You want to be the first one to share photos from your ceremony
You don’t want to worry about your photographer missing an important moment because someone’s phone was in the way
You want your guests to be present in the moment with you
You don’t want your partner’s view to be blocked by phones as you walk down the aisle
You don’t want to worry about a blinding flash interrupting your vows
You want to create a more intimate vibe that allows everyone to forget the outside world
You want your guests to be engaged in the celebration by clapping, throwing rose petals, etc., which they can’t do with phones in their hands

How can I tell my guests that this is an unplugged wedding?

By telling guests early and often, you’ll have a better shot at ensuring they understand how important a tech-less ceremony is to you. Here are a few ways to hammer home the idea to them:

Invitations - you can include a note in your save the date, invitation, wedding website, and any other message about your wedding that you’d like to celebrate an unplugged wedding and explain what that means to you.
Programs and signs - you can create a sign guests see as they enter your venue and create a page in your program that reminds them of your unplugged wedding wishes.
Ushers - you can task ushers with the assignment of reminding your guests to put their phones away when they sit and not to pull them out again until you’ve walked back down the aisle.
Officiant - you can ask your officiant to make a final announcement before the ceremony begins, reminding guests to keep their phones in their purses and pockets.
Photo Op - if you’d like to build in a moment for guests to pull out their phones and take a quick picture during the ceremony, you can do that, too! And then, it will remind guests to put their phones away from then on.

What if my guests don’t listen?

Unfortunately, there’s no unplugged wedding police you can employ for the job of enforcing your wishes. But most of your loved ones will want to honor your wishes on your special day, so even if one or two guests try to sneak a pic, it won’t be the majority!