Unplugged Weddings: What They Are and How to Add One to Your Celebration
As you dive into planning your wedding, you may hear the term “Unplugged Wedding” floating around. But what exactly does it mean? An unplugged wedding is a ceremony where couples ask their guests to put away their phones, cameras, and other digital devices, allowing everyone to be fully present during the special moments. Rather than trying to capture the perfect shot or uploading to social media in real time, your guests can focus on the love, the vows, and the emotions unfolding in front of them.
The idea behind an unplugged wedding is to create a more intimate, focused environment for everyone involved. Without screens between them and the ceremony, guests are more likely to feel connected to you and the significance of the day. It also gives your professional photographer the freedom to capture uninterrupted moments without phones or tablets obstructing the view. There’s nothing worse than a stunning shot being blocked by a guest leaning into the aisle with their camera phone! Plus, an unplugged wedding allows you to maintain more privacy, ensuring that your special moments aren’t instantly shared on social media before you’ve had a chance to experience them fully.
If you’d like to incorporate this idea into your special day, here are some practical ways to ensure your wedding is truly unplugged:
Make It Known Early: Let guests know your wedding will be unplugged by including a polite note in your invitations or on your wedding website. This way, they’ll know to leave their devices behind or keep them tucked away during the ceremony.
Signage on the Day: Have cute, welcoming signs at the ceremony entrance that remind guests of the unplugged request. Something like, "Welcome to Our Unplugged Ceremony! Please turn off your devices and be fully present with us."
A Word from the Officiant: Right before the ceremony begins, ask your officiant to make a friendly announcement reminding guests to be part of the moment and leave the photography to the professionals.
Reception Flexibility: You don’t have to keep the whole wedding unplugged! Some couples opt for an unplugged ceremony only, allowing guests to snap photos during the reception. You can even provide a hashtag for the reception to encourage fun social sharing after the formalities are done.
Choosing an unplugged wedding creates an atmosphere where the day is about love, connection, and memories experienced in real time. It’s a modern way to keep everyone present and focused on what truly matters: your union and the joy of sharing it with the people who mean the most to you.
Until next time…WEDologize!
Photo - Carasco Photography