Asking guests to NOT take photos during ceremony?

spock-of-vulcan

I want pictures from the guests too (the more pictures the better!), but recently I was at a wedding where this one guy was all in the aisle and everything in everyone else's way. It was awful. So I'm going to have the officiant say something like, "You're welcome to take pictures, but please try not to get in the way of the photographer!" We might also add something about staying in the moment, because I hate when the whole crowd is just looking at their phones/cameras the whole time rather than enjoying the actual ceremony!

Kimchi Waygook

My photographer has this listed in the contract:

• Family and friends are permitted to photograph as long as they do not interfere with the studio photographer. No one is permitted to photograph where and when the photographer creates his posed family and bridal pictures. It is your responsibility to resolve any issues if brought to your attention by the photographer.

 

And I totally understand this.  I've been at too many weddings where the photographer cannot do his job because everyone is taking photos at the same time and being disruptive.  I'm mulling over the "no flash photography" and "stay in the moment" comments.  It's a small service, so I may just spread the info around to the guests ahead of time.  I'm definitely going to appoint one person from each sode of the family to "police" the family photos and keep others from taking photos so I don't have to.

mollyandnat

We're very adament about having a completely unplugged ceremony.....we don't have to worry about people using flash because it's outside in the sunshine, but we don't want people taking photos at all.  I can't stand when there are a million cameras/iphones out in the professional photos, but more than that I want people to be present and experience the ceremony with us.  We're going to have a sign/put it in the program, and at the beginning our officiant is going to announce something along the lines of "We don't want you to experience this wedding through a viewfinder, so please put your cameras away."  Or something.  We're going to keep it light but make sure people get the message.

hilarymills

I plan on having an "unplugged wedding."  We have our own photographer, he'll take photos, and we want people to truly enjoy the wedding and not throught the lens of a cemera.  I'm printing in the program: "The bride and groom have asked that you share in their wedding fully and not through the lens of a camera or cell phone." I'll have a sign at the entrance, and my ushers will enforce it.  

kangjisook

In Response to Re: Asking guests to NOT take photos during ceremony?:

At my FSIL's wedding last month, my FI's aunt sat behind him and had her video camera resting on his shoulder the whole so that she could get an uninterrupted view.  He was pissssed.  Just thought I'd share. Even with the above story, I think it's rude to tell people not to use flash photography.  I think it's great that friends and family are so excited for you to get married that they want to document it.  I just don't see why it's a big deal.
Posted by melb2013

I totally agree!  It would be rather flattering if people were actually excited enough to want to take pictures on their own rather than just be present and possibly pretend to be excited about being there.  If I were at a wedding where the couple said no photos from the guests, I would be rather insulted. It's as if you don't trust your guests enough to take decent (let alone great) photos of your special day.

My sister's wedding photographer was HORRIBLE!  He got maybe ten decent (not good, decent) shots out of the 1200+ shots he took.  I understand that this is a rare occurrance, but my sister was definitely thrilled that the guests took photos at the ceremony and reception.  That was the only way she got enough decent photos to make an album.

Also, if you're so hung up on the small detail that guests may be taking photos at your wedding with or without flash, you may want to rethink your priorities and take a break from anything wedding related.  You may just be stressing a little too much.