Planning an Unplugged Wedding? What You Need to Know
Steps to Plan a Beautiful Unplugged Wedding Ceremony
Weddings have rapidly changed in the last few decades. With the advent of powerful smartphones, guests are often snapping away at the festivities, and are sometimes caught spending more time scrolling through their feeds than participating in the celebration. Smartphone addiction has become such a pressing problem that many celebrities have been known to ban these devices entirely from parties and weddings!
With so many guests carrying tiny yet impressive phones that can take high-quality photos, you may be second-guessing your decision to hire a wedding photographer. However, there’s no better way to relive your special day than by working with professional photographers, who know the best ways to capture the memorable moments. When taking all of this into account, you may be wondering if you should plan an unplugged wedding instead.
What You Need to Know about an unplugged wedding
An unplugged wedding is a ceremony where guests are asked to switch off their phones and cameras. It encourages everyone to be fully present, letting the professionals capture the moment while guests simply enjoy it.
It encourages your guests to be present
While others welcome having their wedding plastered all over social media, some prefer keeping it more intimate. They feel uncomfortable at the prospect of total strangers seeing all the details about their special day, from the décor, catering, to your wedding dress. Most couples agree that they’d rather have a wedding in which all their guests were mentally present instead of staring down at their smartphone screens. It also ensures that guests thoroughly enjoy the special event and celebrate your love with your other friends and family.
It is almost instinctual for guests to pull out their phone and permanently capture the marvels of your wedding day. Still, they also forget everything else with it, like the fact that you’ve hired a professional wedding photographer. If your guests put down their phones, they can sit back and enjoy the occasion with the full assurance that someone is taking great photos of the scene.
Banning Phones: Is It a Good Idea?
You may be considering a total smartphone ban on your wedding day with all of the issues above, but a ban isn’t necessary to enjoy your dream wedding. Most people nowadays rely heavily on their phones for communication, so if they don’t have these lifelines with them during your wedding, they may be worried about emergencies. Instead, you can discourage photo-taking with their smartphones and ask them to tuck these devices away—at least, while you make your way down the aisle.
Another option you can consider is to speak with your wedding photographer and ask if there are a few photos you can share with your guests soon after the wedding. That way, your guests can access some photos and videos that allow them to relive an unforgettable day.
How to Ask Your Wedding Guests to Put their Phones Away
Even though you can’t completely control your guests’ behaviour, you can make a polite request for them to keep their phones away as much as possible during the wedding and reception. Many people worry about getting good enough photos to post on their social media. Still, couples want them to have fun and join the festivities instead, letting the wedding photographer do the worrying.
An unplugged wedding is possible by including a short note on the invitation that asks guests to switch off their devices, including phones and cameras, to make sure nothing interrupts the event. Waving phones around can also be distracting, so keeping them away will help make a more memorable day. You can remind them during the program, especially during your first dance, which you don’t want to be spoilt by random bright lights from camera flashes. Another option is to put some signs around the area to enforce the ‘no phones’ rule.
The rise of smartphones has also led to an increase of unplugged weddings. Modern couples want to celebrate their union with their nearest and dearest, and they seek an intimate setting away from the standard technologies. A mostly smartphone-free wedding will ensure that your guests can focus on the events unfolding before them while ensuring you get perfectly-lit wedding photos!
Photographer’s Perspective on Unplugged Weddings
From a photographer’s point of view, an unplugged wedding ceremony offers a clear, natural setting to capture genuine moments. With phones and cameras tucked away, there are fewer distractions in the background and no missed shots caused by guests stepping into the aisle.
Many couples ask, what is an unplugged wedding, and is it worth it? The answer often becomes clear when they see how much more relaxed and present their guests are. Without screens in the way, it’s easier to focus on the couple, the expressions, and the real reactions happening all around.
An unplugged wedding allows your photographer to do what they do best: capture the emotion and energy of your ceremony, just as it unfolds. It creates a space where the experience comes first, and the memories are preserved professionally, without interference.
How to Handle Guests Who Resist an Unplugged Wedding
Not everyone will immediately understand the idea of an unplugged wedding, and that’s okay. Here are a few simple ways to handle it with care and keep the focus on your celebration.
- Explain the purpose early
Let your guests know what an unplugged wedding is and why you’ve chosen it. Include a short, polite note on your invites or wedding website. - Keep the tone friendly
Use warm, welcoming language like “We’d love for you to be fully present during our ceremony” instead of strict rules. - Make an announcement
Ask your celebrant to gently remind everyone before the ceremony begins. A calm, respectful reminder helps set the mood. - Offer reassurance
Let guests know that a professional photographer is capturing all the special moments, so no one misses out. - Stay flexible if needed
If someone still takes a photo, try not to stress. Focus on the experience rather than perfection. Most guests will understand and support your choice once it’s explained clearly.
Sven Studios offers professional wedding photography in Hobart, Adelaide, Darwin and Canberra providing couples with uniquely captured moments that create memories they can treasure forever. We also offer wedding videography, family photography, and photo booth hire. Contact us today to find out what we can do for you on your special day!
