So I've browsed around on this forum long enough to get the impression that the concept of having an unplugged ceremony is NOT super popular around here. Never the less, I'm hoping y'all can help me out.
I am set on having an "unplugged" ceremony, i.e. in some way indicating that we would prefer that people not take pictures during the ceremony. This has nothing to do with wanting our guests to "be in the moment" or whatever the usual rationale (in my experience at least) is- I consider this to be a practical requirement in our case after having attended several weddings on my fiance's side of the family where people taking photos got way out of control and distracting. I love my fiance's family, but it seems like they have no common sense when it comes to this issue- standing up to get a shot, moving up to the front of the church to get a shot, leaving on flashes and "clicking" noises (you know, the sound camera phones make when they take pictures). Long story short they take it to a whole other level.
So I feel we have a real need for an unplugged wedding here and I am trying to decide the most polite way to make our wishes apparent on this matter. Cute sign at the front of the chapel? Note in the programs? Have the officiant say something? Putting aside that many of you probably won't love this idea in general, if you HAD to have an unplugged wedding, what do you think is the best way to do it?