Is it rude to say no pictures??

thespeshulestsnowflake

tcnoble said:

So to everyone who plans to impose this "unplugged ceremony" I must ask..

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN PEOPLE DON'T LISTEN?!??!

Stop your ceremony and call out the person every time they hold up their phone? Jesus Christ. So maybe I want a picture of the bride and groom. I'm not going to run down the aisle and stand in front of your photographer. If they can't work around me, in the middle of row xyz, snapping a picture, then you hired a shit photographer. Sorrynotsorry.

These threads are exhausting just to read. Major props to you regs who take the time to respond in length. Sad that the snowflakes are so resistant to help and proper wedding planning advice.

Wasn't there a bride a few months ago who said that she would stop the ceremony if she saw someone taking a picture? Or was she going crazy about something else?

mikenberger

tcnoble said:

So to everyone who plans to impose this "unplugged ceremony" I must ask..

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN PEOPLE DON'T LISTEN?!??!

Stop your ceremony and call out the person every time they hold up their phone? Jesus Christ. So maybe I want a picture of the bride and groom. I'm not going to run down the aisle and stand in front of your photographer. If they can't work around me, in the middle of row xyz, snapping a picture, then you hired a shit photographer. Sorrynotsorry.

These threads are exhausting just to read. Major props to you regs who take the time to respond in length. Sad that the snowflakes are so resistant to help and proper wedding planning advice.

It's quite clear these people will be made an example of. They shall be strung up, drawn and quartered so that everybody understands that the little chalkboard that says "We hired a professional! Please, no flash photography!" MEANS BUSINESS.

southernbelle0915

Knottie2902796 said:

It is NOT rude! You are asking your guests to be present in the moment and not experience your wedding ceremony through their camera/phone screens. Your photographer's photos are going to be 1000x better than any photos your guest capture on their iPhone anyway. Trust me. My fiancé and I are planning on having an unplugged ceremony and no one has given us any flack about it. I think everyone on this thread who is saying it is rude/tacky should probably read this:

http://offbeatbride.com/2011/06/unplugged-wedding

 

Because you read it on the internet, it must be true.....

bethsmiles

I don't understand why people think taking pictures = not "in the moment" (gag). Even if it were reasonable to care about such a silly thing (it only matters if you and your FI are in the moment - it's your moment, it's not super important to everyone else) when I'm taking pictures I'm more focused than when I'm just sitting there. When I'm just sitting there listening, I'm thinking about a million different things.

The fact is no matter what ridiculous rules you put in place with silly poems and signs you can't force people to be any more present than they want to be with or without technology.

And I don't know what rude friends/family you have but I have NEVER seen someone stand up during a wedding ceremony, much less move into the damn aisle, to snap a photo. 

It's such a silly thing to stress about. Let it go.

Cookie Pusher

Oh no. I realized I was totally NOT IN THE MOMENT during my ceremony. In fact, I was rather tipsy and couldn't maintain eye-contact with DH at first because my brain kept wondering why the ground was moving.

DOES THIS MAKE MY MARRIAGE INVALID?!?!

Maggie0829

Cookie Pusher said:

Oh no. I realized I was totally NOT IN THE MOMENT during my ceremony. In fact, I was rather tipsy and couldn't maintain eye-contact with DH at first because my brain kept wondering why the ground was moving.

DOES THIS MAKE MY MARRIAGE INVALID?!?!

Yup.  Do over!

MobKaz

Knottie2902796 said:

It is NOT rude! You are asking your guests to be present in the moment and not experience your wedding ceremony through their camera/phone screens. Your photographer's photos are going to be 1000x better than any photos your guest capture on their iPhone anyway. Trust me. My fiancé and I are planning on having an unplugged ceremony and no one has given us any flack about it. I think everyone on this thread who is saying it is rude/tacky should probably read this:

http://offbeatbride.com/2011/06/unplugged-wedding

 

Hands down, bar NONE, the best photo of the day at my daughter's wedding was taken by her uncle.

thisismynickname2

I'm just going to say one more thing and then leave this thread behind.

Brides to be... I promise you, with all the good intention in my heart, that pictures at your ceremony won't even register in your brain.

When I entered the ceremony space I felt like a deer in the headlights and my heart was beating out of my chest. I was focused on my husband-to-be. We gripped each other's hands, listened to the Reverend, smiled and made eyes at each other, said our vows, and I tried to kiss him before the Reverend even said to. Nothing registered to me in that space and time besides the words the Reverend was saying and we were saying to each other. The crowd was nothing but a blur. 

I did end up receiving some of my professional photos, which include the ceremony. The pictures are wonderful. But, a few days after the wedding, one of the attendant's spouses uploaded at least a dozen pictures they snapped during the ceremony. The spouse had been sitting on the aisle and got great shots. He was within about 8 feet of us and I never even noticed. 

Your professional will get the job done. You won't notice anything else. I swear.  

cupcait927

thisismynickname said:

I'm just going to say one more thing and then leave this thread behind.

Brides to be... I promise you, with all the good intention in my heart, that pictures at your ceremony won't even register in your brain.

When I entered the ceremony space I felt like a deer in the headlights and my heart was beating out of my chest. I was focused on my husband-to-be. We gripped each other's hands, listened to the Reverend, smiled and made eyes at each other, said our vows, and I tried to kiss him before the Reverend even said to. Nothing registered to me in that space and time besides the words the Reverend was saying and we were saying to each other. The crowd was nothing but a blur. 

I did end up receiving some of my professional photos, which include the ceremony. The pictures are wonderful. But, a few days after the wedding, one of the attendant's spouses uploaded at least a dozen pictures they snapped during the ceremony. The spouse had been sitting on the aisle and got great shots. He was within about 8 feet of us and I never even noticed. 

Your professional will get the job done. You won't notice anything else. I swear.  

I wish I could love your post 1,000 times. Completely spot on.

princessofgenovia

So for everyone who wants their guests "in the moment" are you going to have a pop quiz during cocktail hour to make sure they were really paying attention and "in the moment"? 

I was just MOH in my BFF wedding. I stood right next to her. I smiled. I held her flowers. I handed over the ring. I was so not "in the moment", I was daydreaming. I was thinking about food. I was thinking about my plans for later that day. At one point I was thinking "fuck I should've worn flats these religious weddings are fucking long...good thing she's not catholic", then the minister asked me to do a thing and I managed to do it. 

I have no idea what she said to him or what he said to her other then "I do". And I managed to not be "fully in the moment" even without my cell phone.

jmamor

banana468 said:

PrettyGirlLost said:

jmamor said:

I do not think it is rude.  And I plan on asking my guests not to take photos during the ceremony.  In my opinion it is not about stopping everyone from taking photos but limiting the chances of someone getting in the photographers way.  I understand that a lot of the time people never get to see the professional photos but I am making additional arrangements so they can.  I have a free online gallery where anyone can download photos.  I am also getting a flash drive of all the photos and I will copy them for anyone who asks.  Finally I love printing out photos and giving them as gifts so I will be doing that for the majority of my guests.  

Please read this article: http://blog.craigmitchelldyer.com/2013/05/30/unplugged-wedding-no-way-plug-in/

"It is our job as photographers to get the image no matter what. Someone steps in our way? Move.

Flash from a camera messing up your photo, well, that’s why my camera shoots 8 frames a second. I’ll have 7 other images to choose from and chances are, my flashes will screw up their images more than the other way around. I feel bad about that!

During the ceremony, for the most part, the guests can’t move. I can. I can find another angle, I can move to the right or left I can kneel down or stand high, I have many options at my disposal to capture the images I am being paid (a lot of money) to capture. That is my job. It is my job as a photojournalist to read body language and know when someone is going to step in front of me. It is my job to know where the “action” is. It is my job to capture every moment as it happens and I don’t mind one bit if 100 other people are doing the same."

Thanks for the article. I will read it when I have a chance.  However I have a feeling that I am not going to change my mind.  I have spoken with my photographer, my fiance, and my parents and this is the best decision for us.  I am not imposing my view on anyone else in the thread.  Just stating what I plan to do.  

But you ARE imposing your view on all your guests.

I never said I wasn't.

jmamor

Maggie0829 said:

jmamor said:

PrettyGirlLost said:

jmamor said:

I do not think it is rude.  And I plan on asking my guests not to take photos during the ceremony.  In my opinion it is not about stopping everyone from taking photos but limiting the chances of someone getting in the photographers way.  I understand that a lot of the time people never get to see the professional photos but I am making additional arrangements so they can.  I have a free online gallery where anyone can download photos.  I am also getting a flash drive of all the photos and I will copy them for anyone who asks.  Finally I love printing out photos and giving them as gifts so I will be doing that for the majority of my guests.  

Please read this article: http://blog.craigmitchelldyer.com/2013/05/30/unplugged-wedding-no-way-plug-in/

"It is our job as photographers to get the image no matter what. Someone steps in our way? Move.

Flash from a camera messing up your photo, well, that’s why my camera shoots 8 frames a second. I’ll have 7 other images to choose from and chances are, my flashes will screw up their images more than the other way around. I feel bad about that!

During the ceremony, for the most part, the guests can’t move. I can. I can find another angle, I can move to the right or left I can kneel down or stand high, I have many options at my disposal to capture the images I am being paid (a lot of money) to capture. That is my job. It is my job as a photojournalist to read body language and know when someone is going to step in front of me. It is my job to know where the “action” is. It is my job to capture every moment as it happens and I don’t mind one bit if 100 other people are doing the same."

Thanks for the article. I will read it when I have a chance.  However I have a feeling that I am not going to change my mind.  I have spoken with my photographer, my fiance, and my parents and this is the best decision for us.  I am not imposing my view on anyone else in the thread.  Just stating what the rude thing I plan to do.  

FTFY.

That is your opinion.  And you are allowed to have it.

PrettyGirlLost

jmamor said:

banana468 said:

PrettyGirlLost said:

jmamor said:

I do not think it is rude.  And I plan on asking my guests not to take photos during the ceremony.  In my opinion it is not about stopping everyone from taking photos but limiting the chances of someone getting in the photographers way.  I understand that a lot of the time people never get to see the professional photos but I am making additional arrangements so they can.  I have a free online gallery where anyone can download photos.  I am also getting a flash drive of all the photos and I will copy them for anyone who asks.  Finally I love printing out photos and giving them as gifts so I will be doing that for the majority of my guests.  

Please read this article: http://blog.craigmitchelldyer.com/2013/05/30/unplugged-wedding-no-way-plug-in/

"It is our job as photographers to get the image no matter what. Someone steps in our way? Move.

Flash from a camera messing up your photo, well, that’s why my camera shoots 8 frames a second. I’ll have 7 other images to choose from and chances are, my flashes will screw up their images more than the other way around. I feel bad about that!

During the ceremony, for the most part, the guests can’t move. I can. I can find another angle, I can move to the right or left I can kneel down or stand high, I have many options at my disposal to capture the images I am being paid (a lot of money) to capture. That is my job. It is my job as a photojournalist to read body language and know when someone is going to step in front of me. It is my job to know where the “action” is. It is my job to capture every moment as it happens and I don’t mind one bit if 100 other people are doing the same."

Thanks for the article. I will read it when I have a chance.  However I have a feeling that I am not going to change my mind.  I have spoken with my photographer, my fiance, and my parents and this is the best decision for us.  I am not imposing my view on anyone else in the thread.  Just stating what I plan to do.  

But you ARE imposing your view on all your guests.

I never said I wasn't.

So why is it perfectly fine to impose those opinions on your beloved guests?

Why do you need to micormanage your friends and family?

Maggie0829

jmamor said:

Maggie0829 said:

jmamor said:

PrettyGirlLost said:

jmamor said:

I do not think it is rude.  And I plan on asking my guests not to take photos during the ceremony.  In my opinion it is not about stopping everyone from taking photos but limiting the chances of someone getting in the photographers way.  I understand that a lot of the time people never get to see the professional photos but I am making additional arrangements so they can.  I have a free online gallery where anyone can download photos.  I am also getting a flash drive of all the photos and I will copy them for anyone who asks.  Finally I love printing out photos and giving them as gifts so I will be doing that for the majority of my guests.  

Please read this article: http://blog.craigmitchelldyer.com/2013/05/30/unplugged-wedding-no-way-plug-in/

"It is our job as photographers to get the image no matter what. Someone steps in our way? Move.

Flash from a camera messing up your photo, well, that’s why my camera shoots 8 frames a second. I’ll have 7 other images to choose from and chances are, my flashes will screw up their images more than the other way around. I feel bad about that!

During the ceremony, for the most part, the guests can’t move. I can. I can find another angle, I can move to the right or left I can kneel down or stand high, I have many options at my disposal to capture the images I am being paid (a lot of money) to capture. That is my job. It is my job as a photojournalist to read body language and know when someone is going to step in front of me. It is my job to know where the “action” is. It is my job to capture every moment as it happens and I don’t mind one bit if 100 other people are doing the same."

Thanks for the article. I will read it when I have a chance.  However I have a feeling that I am not going to change my mind.  I have spoken with my photographer, my fiance, and my parents and this is the best decision for us.  I am not imposing my view on anyone else in the thread.  Just stating what the rude thing I plan to do.  

FTFY.

That is your opinion.  And you are allowed to have it.

Nope, not an opinion, but rather a fact.  Trying to control and dictate what your guests can and can't do at your wedding is rude.  Period.

cnpruitt

I actually don't think it's rude at all.  And honestly, My finance and I are having an "unplugged" wedding ourselves.  Our photographer has a clause in her contract stating that she is not responsible for missed moments due to guest photography.  I actually have first hand experience (as a bridesmaid) in a wedding where a number of the professional shots were ruined due to guests' attempts to take their own pictures of the action.  Stepping into the aisle, in front of the bride, while the bride was walking to the alter!!!!

It's also not just about messing up our photography.  Its about the unexpected and rude interruption of our service by someone answering their phone! (I've seen it happen).  Or someone's loud ringer going on and on because they didn't silence their phone.  Its a child playing video games on a hand held device with the volume on.  Its that these moments are also captured on video and I don't want to look back at my wedding video and not hear my vows because someone's phone is ringing.

Our Pastor will politely inform our guest of our decision to have an unplugged wedding before the ceremony fully begins.  He will request that all devices (cameras, phones, ipads, games, etc) be silenced and put away.

You would expect the adults you have invited to your wedding to have enough sense and respect not to be rude with their use of cameras, telephones, ipads, etc.; however, people today tend to think less and less about how their actions affect others.

Bottom line is that it's your wedding and you should do what feels right for you and your fiance.

floridabride44

cnpruitt said:

I actually don't think it's rude at all.  And honestly, My finance and I are having an "unplugged" wedding ourselves.  Our photographer has a clause in her contract stating that she is not responsible for missed moments due to guest photography.  I actually have first hand experience (as a bridesmaid) in a wedding where a number of the professional shots were ruined due to guests' attempts to take their own pictures of the action.  Stepping into the aisle, in front of the bride, while the bride was walking to the alter!!!!

It's also not just about messing up our photography.  Its about the unexpected and rude interruption of our service by someone answering their phone! (I've seen it happen).  Or someone's loud ringer going on and on because they didn't silence their phone.  Its a child playing video games on a hand held device with the volume on.  Its that these moments are also captured on video and I don't want to look back at my wedding video and not hear my vows because someone's phone is ringing.

Our Pastor will politely inform our guest of our decision to have an unplugged wedding before the ceremony fully begins.  He will request that all devices (cameras, phones, ipads, games, etc) be silenced and put away.

You would expect the adults you have invited to your wedding to have enough sense and respect not to be rude with their use of cameras, telephones, ipads, etc.; however, people today tend to think less and less about how their actions affect others.

Bottom line is that it's your wedding and you should do what feels right for you and your fiance.

No you should do what feels right for your guests. If you only care about you and your FI, I recommend eloping. 

And if people don't have enough sense and respect to not be rude, do you really think that an announcement from the pastor is going to change that??

You should be thinking of how YOUR actions affect others. An unplugged wedding is thinking only of yourself. 

princessofgenovia

cnpruitt said:

I actually don't think it's rude at all.  And honestly, My finance and I are having an "unplugged" wedding ourselves.  Our photographer has a clause in her contract stating that she is not responsible for missed moments due to guest photography.  I actually have first hand experience (as a bridesmaid) in a wedding where a number of the professional shots were ruined due to guests' attempts to take their own pictures of the action.  Stepping into the aisle, in front of the bride, while the bride was walking to the alter!!!!

It's also not just about messing up our photography.  Its about the unexpected and rude interruption of our service by someone answering their phone! (I've seen it happen).  Or someone's loud ringer going on and on because they didn't silence their phone.  Its a child playing video games on a hand held device with the volume on.  Its that these moments are also captured on video and I don't want to look back at my wedding video and not hear my vows because someone's phone is ringing.

Our Pastor will politely inform our guest of our decision to have an unplugged wedding before the ceremony fully begins.  He will request that all devices (cameras, phones, ipads, games, etc) be silenced and put away.

You would expect the adults you have invited to your wedding to have enough sense and respect not to be rude with their use of cameras, telephones, ipads, etc.; however, people today tend to think less and less about how their actions affect others.

Bottom line is that it's your wedding and you should do what feels right for you and your fiance.

flantastic

cnpruitt said:

I actually don't think it's rude at all.  And honestly, My finance and I are having an "unplugged" wedding ourselves.  Our photographer has a clause in her contract stating that she is not responsible for missed moments due to guest photography.  I actually have first hand experience (as a bridesmaid) in a wedding where a number of the professional shots were ruined due to guests' attempts to take their own pictures of the action.  Stepping into the aisle, in front of the bride, while the bride was walking to the alter!!!!

It's also not just about messing up our photography.  Its about the unexpected and rude interruption of our service by someone answering their phone! (I've seen it happen).  Or someone's loud ringer going on and on because they didn't silence their phone.  Its a child playing video games on a hand held device with the volume on.  Its that these moments are also captured on video and I don't want to look back at my wedding video and not hear my vows because someone's phone is ringing.

Our Pastor will politely inform our guest of our decision to have an unplugged wedding before the ceremony fully begins.  He will request that all devices (cameras, phones, ipads, games, etc) be silenced and put away.

You would expect the adults you have invited to your wedding to have enough sense and respect not to be rude with their use of cameras, telephones, ipads, etc.; however, people today tend to think less and less about how their actions affect others.

Bottom line is that it's your wedding and you should do what feels right for you and your fiance.

Dreamergirl8812

cnpruitt said:

I actually don't think it's rude at all.  And honestly, My finance and I are having an "unplugged" wedding ourselves.  Our photographer has a clause in her contract stating that she is not responsible for missed moments due to guest photography.  I actually have first hand experience (as a bridesmaid) in a wedding where a number of the professional shots were ruined due to guests' attempts to take their own pictures of the action.  Stepping into the aisle, in front of the bride, while the bride was walking to the alter!!!!

It's also not just about messing up our photography.  Its about the unexpected and rude interruption of our service by someone answering their phone! (I've seen it happen).  Or someone's loud ringer going on and on because they didn't silence their phone.  Its a child playing video games on a hand held device with the volume on.  Its that these moments are also captured on video and I don't want to look back at my wedding video and not hear my vows because someone's phone is ringing.

Our Pastor will politely inform our guest of our decision to have an unplugged wedding before the ceremony fully begins.  He will request that all devices (cameras, phones, ipads, games, etc) be silenced and put away.

You would expect the adults you have invited to your wedding to have enough sense and respect not to be rude with their use of cameras, telephones, ipads, etc.; however, people today tend to think less and less about how their actions affect others.

Bottom line is that it's your wedding and you should do what feels right for you and your fiance.

You are going to be rude and condescending to your loved ones. Your first sentence is funny, because you're like "I don't think it's rude at all and totes coincidence! I'm having an unplugged wedding! There is no correlation at all between me deciding to do something and then deciding it can't be rude! Cuz I'm doing it!!"

The amount of irony in this post is mind-boggling. People today tend to think less and less about how their actions affect others? Really? I think this whole thread has proven you correct, in addition to the ridiculous and bridezilla AW demands you are making on your guests.

Here's the thing. When I witness bridezilla behavior, I am not offended. I am just embarrassed for the bride. And for her family.

NowIAmSyp

princessofgenovia said:

cnpruitt said:

I actually don't think it's rude at all.  And honestly, My finance and I are having an "unplugged" wedding ourselves.  Our photographer has a clause in her contract stating that she is not responsible for missed moments due to guest photography.  I actually have first hand experience (as a bridesmaid) in a wedding where a number of the professional shots were ruined due to guests' attempts to take their own pictures of the action.  Stepping into the aisle, in front of the bride, while the bride was walking to the alter!!!!

It's also not just about messing up our photography.  Its about the unexpected and rude interruption of our service by someone answering their phone! (I've seen it happen).  Or someone's loud ringer going on and on because they didn't silence their phone.  Its a child playing video games on a hand held device with the volume on.  Its that these moments are also captured on video and I don't want to look back at my wedding video and not hear my vows because someone's phone is ringing.

Our Pastor will politely inform our guest of our decision to have an unplugged wedding before the ceremony fully begins.  He will request that all devices (cameras, phones, ipads, games, etc) be silenced and put away.

You would expect the adults you have invited to your wedding to have enough sense and respect not to be rude with their use of cameras, telephones, ipads, etc.; however, people today tend to think less and less about how their actions affect others.

Bottom line is that it's your wedding and you should do what feels right for you and your fiance.

That gif is AH-mazing....

onefootinthebayou

Kahlyla said:

jenholand said:

Opinions are opinions, therefore cannot be wrong.

This is just not even remotely true, and not a valuable or useful philosophy for adults who should have the capacity for critical thinking.

See http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Balance_fallacy

And also http://theconversation.com/no-youre-not-entitled-to-your-opinion-9978

Wow.  I just emailed these links to myself.  I have been frustrated by this very phenomenon, knew it was a thing, and didn't know how to articulate it.  It covers everything from politics to science, pseudo-science (my own personal pet peeve), and apparently etiquette.  Thank you for posting that.

plainjane0415

soontobesyp said:

princessofgenovia said:

cnpruitt said:

I actually don't think it's rude at all.  And honestly, My finance and I are having an "unplugged" wedding ourselves.  Our photographer has a clause in her contract stating that she is not responsible for missed moments due to guest photography.  I actually have first hand experience (as a bridesmaid) in a wedding where a number of the professional shots were ruined due to guests' attempts to take their own pictures of the action.  Stepping into the aisle, in front of the bride, while the bride was walking to the alter!!!!

It's also not just about messing up our photography.  Its about the unexpected and rude interruption of our service by someone answering their phone! (I've seen it happen).  Or someone's loud ringer going on and on because they didn't silence their phone.  Its a child playing video games on a hand held device with the volume on.  Its that these moments are also captured on video and I don't want to look back at my wedding video and not hear my vows because someone's phone is ringing.

Our Pastor will politely inform our guest of our decision to have an unplugged wedding before the ceremony fully begins.  He will request that all devices (cameras, phones, ipads, games, etc) be silenced and put away.

You would expect the adults you have invited to your wedding to have enough sense and respect not to be rude with their use of cameras, telephones, ipads, etc.; however, people today tend to think less and less about how their actions affect others.

Bottom line is that it's your wedding and you should do what feels right for you and your fiance.

That gif is AH-mazing....

Ditto.

Finally a gif that knows my feelings!

onefootinthebayou

thisismynickname said:

piglet87 said:

I love how because some are new to commenting to the boards you automatically say their opinion and points are invalid. People come to these boards for opportunity to seek advice and to hear from alternating points of view. However, you ladies sit there and just shoot down everything people say that is not of the same point of view as you. I was hopeful that good discussion would happen around this topic but unfortunately you are not allowing that. I know I am far from a rude person and I don't need to defend myself to you all since you do not know me personally. Secondly, I know I'm not a bridezilla and I also know that I had picked a great photographer and I don't need to worry about any of the things you are stating.

First highlighted: Points of view are on the other boards, not the etiquette board. People come to this board to find out how to treat guests graciously. 

Second highlighted: Oh, honey. 

I know you were calling me out in a prior post about how if I'm chasing down my photographer, then I didn't do my research. 

You're cute. 

My photographer had a "Knot- Best of Weddings" and many great reviews on here, and on Yelp. She had no BBB complaints. She was great in person, did awesome for my engagement, and did awesome on my wedding day too. So it's my fault in researching that she decided to literally walk away from her wedding business and walk away from contractual obligations to at least three couples?  I had a crystal ball and could foresee the day this sweet and talented woman would fuck me over?

When your DJ plays the wrong music, when your photographer delivers even a month past contract, when your flowers show up wilted and you rush for replacements, when your flowers show up not the exact color you wanted, when your caterer gives people food poisoning, when your hairstylist delays your schedule because she screwed up your dream 'do, when your invitations have typos, or when your cake smashes on the floor prior to the reception, I'm sure you'll be so glad you did your research. (All those instances are true stories.) 

Honey, best of luck to you. 

*Disclaimer* - I did not read this entire thread so I don't know the full background of your photographer disaster but I wondered if you had looked into suing her for breach of contract?  I know lawsuits are a pain in the d*ck but this seems like a pretty clear-cut breach of a signed contract and might be litigated fairly easily in small-claims court.  Just wondering.  It scares me that you can do all the right research, read all the reviews, enter a contract, and still get so ferociously effed over.  

mikenberger

cnpruitt said:

I actually don't think it's rude at all.  And honestly, My finance and I are having an "unplugged" wedding ourselves.  Our photographer has a clause in her contract stating that she is not responsible for missed moments due to guest photography.  I actually have first hand experience (as a bridesmaid) in a wedding where a number of the professional shots were ruined due to guests' attempts to take their own pictures of the action.  Stepping into the aisle, in front of the bride, while the bride was walking to the alter!!!!

I actually already solved this problem. Put something tying the chairs that line the aisle. That'll keep the picture snappers in their seats and out of the aisle. 

Just call me Vanilla Ice.

thisismynickname2

onefootinthebayou Suing is my last resort. We (meaning me and the other two couples) have attorney general complaints and are disputing credit card charges. Trying to exhaust all other options first. Thank you for asking. 

VulgarGirl

Wow..illiteracy is a much bigger problem in our society then I realized.

Once more for the people in the cheap seats in the back, I did not impose any rules about what the fuck people should do during my ceremony. I don't know what the fuck people did during my ceremony. I know what I did, what my wife did, what our officiant did. Everyone else? I made sure they had a place to sit and stopped giving a fuck. (actually aside from place to sit I didn't start giving a fuck) 

Somehow my photographer managed to get a lot of really fantastic pictures even without us policing adults. 

I cannot say if anyone was or was not "fully present". But considering we opened the bar pre-ceremony, I know some were fully buzzing.

tcnoble

mikenberger said:

tcnoble said:

So to everyone who plans to impose this "unplugged ceremony" I must ask..

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN PEOPLE DON'T LISTEN?!??!

Stop your ceremony and call out the person every time they hold up their phone? Jesus Christ. So maybe I want a picture of the bride and groom. I'm not going to run down the aisle and stand in front of your photographer. If they can't work around me, in the middle of row xyz, snapping a picture, then you hired a shit photographer. Sorrynotsorry.

These threads are exhausting just to read. Major props to you regs who take the time to respond in length. Sad that the snowflakes are so resistant to help and proper wedding planning advice.

It's quite clear these people will be made an example of. They shall be strung up, drawn and quartered so that everybody understands that the little chalkboard that says "We hired a professional! Please, no flash photography!" MEANS BUSINESS.

Cutesy chalkboard signs are ALL business.

onefootinthebayou

thisismynickname said:

onefootinthebayou Suing is my last resort. We (meaning me and the other two couples) have attorney general complaints and are disputing credit card charges. Trying to exhaust all other options first. Thank you for asking. 

Makes total sense.  Just thought that you might actually be able to retrieve your photos in a settlement agreement, which I'm guessing were more valuable than the money you lost.  Regardless, that is awful, best of luck to you.  

VulgarGirl

Guys! Just buy a cell phone jammer! Click!

PrettyGirlLost

MagicInk said:

Wow..illiteracy is a much bigger problem in our society then I realized.

Once more for the people in the cheap seats in the back, I did not impose any rules about what the fuck people should do during my ceremony. I don't know what the fuck people did during my ceremony. I know what I did, what my wife did, what our officiant did. Everyone else? I made sure they had a place to sit and stopped giving a fuck. (actually aside from place to sit I didn't start giving a fuck) 

Somehow my photographer managed to get a lot of really fantastic pictures even without us policing adults. 

I cannot say if anyone was or was not "fully present". But considering we opened the bar pre-ceremony, I know some were fully buzzing.

This.

I had 150 guests.  They took photos and videos during my ceremony, and I encouraged them to do so by creating a WedPics account and sending that info to them as an insert in my invitations.

These 150 people took fantastic photos and video throughout the day and not once did any of those 150 people step into the aisle, stand in another guests' line of sight, interrupt or distract from the ceremony, or do anything to obstruct my 3 professional photographers.  Everyone had common fucking sense and common fucking courtesy and yet STILL managed to take great photos which they shared with me and each other in real time.  and my photographers had no issues with any of them taking photos and didn't "miss" any shots.

I have mentioned these threads and that Corey Ann article to my photographers- their reaction?  They snorted in derision and said that they hate unplugged weddings, and that they know how to do their jobs. . . it's why they get paid the big bucks.