Is it rude to say no pictures??

Viczaesar

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

 

It's too early in the day for a triple shot.  Someone bite the bullet for me?

MobKaz

Maggie0829 said:

Knottie94235400 said:

I disagree. I don't think it's rude - depending of course on how you present it... There are some very cute signs on pinterest (e.g. chalkboard signs you can place at the entrance) kindly asking guests to not use electronics, no flash, letting guests know you will share all the pictures for free, etc.  It is true that your guests might end up taking a lot of great pictures, so maybe consider letting them take pictures, but kindly asking them to stay in their seat so they're not blocking aunt so-and-so's view, distracting from the ceremony, etc. 

Well if you have a cute sing then of course it could never been seen as rude!

**Squeal** You guys, you can use those cute little kid props to help promote your idea!! :-D Who can say no to cute kids carrying totes adorb cute signs? It would totally make me forget that what is being requested is fabulously rude and unrealistic. **Eek** You can also totally DIY these totes adorb bags for guests to deposit their phones. Since they love you, they will have no problem leaving their phone unattended. OOOOHHHH....you could honor a special person in your life by making them an honorary guard for the phone basket. Oh.My.God!! You could even personalize these bags!!!! Who doesn't love anything personalized!!!

ShesSoCold

MobKaz said:

Maggie0829 said:

Knottie94235400 said:

I disagree. I don't think it's rude - depending of course on how you present it... There are some very cute signs on pinterest (e.g. chalkboard signs you can place at the entrance) kindly asking guests to not use electronics, no flash, letting guests know you will share all the pictures for free, etc.  It is true that your guests might end up taking a lot of great pictures, so maybe consider letting them take pictures, but kindly asking them to stay in their seat so they're not blocking aunt so-and-so's view, distracting from the ceremony, etc. 

Well if you have a cute sing then of course it could never been seen as rude!

**Squeal** You guys, you can use those cute little kid props to help promote your idea!! :-D Who can say no to cute kids carrying totes adorb cute signs? It would totally make me forget that what is being requested is fabulously rude and unrealistic. **Eek** You can also totally DIY these totes adorb bags for guests to deposit their phones. Since they love you, they will have no problem leaving their phone unattended. OOOOHHHH....you could honor a special person in your life by making them an honorary guard for the phone basket. Oh.My.God!! You could even personalize these bags!!!! Who doesn't love anything personalized!!!

Cray cray adorbs!!! And totes unique! I love when couples put their own special spin on their duper special day! You could be super extra unique and rustic and use burlap! IT'S YOUR DAY!

natswild

To everyone who thinks that asking, or telling people to be unplugged, in the moment, etc so that they won't jump up and get in the way-there's this nifty invention called TULLE-line both sides of the aisle with it, voila, no one is able to jump into the aisle!  As for getting in other people's way in the seats, usually an acerbic "Do you mind?!?" will be helpful in getting the miscreant to sit down.  No need whatsoever to be rude on your part!

Knottie6627054

I thought the same thing and found some cute homemade signs on Pinterest, asking people to keep their cameras and phones away, but then my best friend got married in August and the worst possible thing happened to her (photo-wise)...the company lost ALL of her photos, not a single one was salvaged.  The photog was a dumbass and dropped his computer which caused a crash, and he had already written over the sim cards.  If it wasn't for guests, family, and friends at her wedding she would literally have NO photo memories whatsoever.  I wouldn't wish her experience on anyone, but you never know what kind of freak accidents can happen so it's always a good idea to have your guest's photos as backups.

jelly1313

OP here. I feel like this thread got really out of hand over the weekend haha last time I was here there was only one page and I thought we all agreed on the same solution, which was relax and stop worrying about silly things. In case any of the new people care I have decided that I will not tell people to not take pictures instead (if I have time) I will block the entrance to the aisle so I don't have to worry about people standing there to get "perfect" pictures. I hate to say this now but I was really only worried about one person getting in the way because she was the one who got in the way at the last wedding I was at. That being said if I block the aisle I won't have to worry about anything and nobody will call me rude haha 

slothiegal

KatWAG said:

rubiowedding16 said:

I guess I'm the strange one because I totally agree with you. I am letting my guests know that we are having an "unplugged" wedding. Photos will be permitted after the dances and cake cutting. And none during the ceremony. If my guests don't like it, then don't come. Guests should also respect the wishes of the bride and groom. I also feel that while looking at my pictures, I don't want to see iPads or iPhones or cameras taking pictures. I want my guests to be present and take in everything from the wedding as I do. I say do it.

Who takes pictures with an iPad?

....that would be my mother, bless her heart.

Maggie0829

jelly1313 said:

OP here. I feel like this thread got really out of hand over the weekend haha last time I was here there was only one page and I thought we all agreed on the same solution, which was relax and stop worrying about silly things. In case any of the new people care I have decided that I will not tell people to not take pictures instead (if I have time) I will block the entrance to the aisle so I don't have to worry about people standing there to get "perfect" pictures. I hate to say this now but I was really only worried about one person getting in the way because she was the one who got in the way at the last wedding I was at. That being said if I block the aisle I won't have to worry about anything and nobody will call me rude haha 

OP, I am so happy that you changed your mind and you are deciding to just not worry about it.

As for the bolded, nine times out of ten, posters who come on here wanting to do rude things is generally because they are worried about one person.  So to all those brides out there freaking out because Aunt Helen only wears a stained moo moo and jumps out into aisle to take pictures, is it really worth looking like a crazy ass, rude bride to all of your guests just because of her?  Or would it just be easier to accept that Aunt Helen will be Aunt Helen regardless of what you do or say?

mikenberger

slothiegal said:

KatWAG said:

rubiowedding16 said:

I guess I'm the strange one because I totally agree with you. I am letting my guests know that we are having an "unplugged" wedding. Photos will be permitted after the dances and cake cutting. And none during the ceremony. If my guests don't like it, then don't come. Guests should also respect the wishes of the bride and groom. I also feel that while looking at my pictures, I don't want to see iPads or iPhones or cameras taking pictures. I want my guests to be present and take in everything from the wedding as I do. I say do it.

Who takes pictures with an iPad?

....that would be my mother, bless her heart.

Do we share a mother? Mine on my last visit "We should've brought the iPad. We could've gotten larger photos!" 

bethsmiles

Knottie6627054 said:

I thought the same thing and found some cute homemade signs on Pinterest, asking people to keep their cameras and phones away, but then my best friend got married in August and the worst possible thing happened to her (photo-wise)...the company lost ALL of her photos, not a single one was salvaged.  The photog was a dumbass and dropped his computer which caused a crash, and he had already written over the sim cards.  If it wasn't for guests, family, and friends at her wedding she would literally have NO photo memories whatsoever.  I wouldn't wish her experience on anyone, but you never know what kind of freak accidents can happen so it's always a good idea to have your guest's photos as backups.

My parents wedding photos were ruined because the film got exposed to light. My dad actually had them professional restored for the 20th anniversary but for 20 years all they had were pictures from family/friends.

PrettyGirlLost

bethsmiles said:

Knottie6627054 said:

I thought the same thing and found some cute homemade signs on Pinterest, asking people to keep their cameras and phones away, but then my best friend got married in August and the worst possible thing happened to her (photo-wise)...the company lost ALL of her photos, not a single one was salvaged.  The photog was a dumbass and dropped his computer which caused a crash, and he had already written over the sim cards.  If it wasn't for guests, family, and friends at her wedding she would literally have NO photo memories whatsoever.  I wouldn't wish her experience on anyone, but you never know what kind of freak accidents can happen so it's always a good idea to have your guest's photos as backups.

My parents wedding photos were ruined because the film got exposed to light. My dad actually had them professional restored for the 20th anniversary but for 20 years all they had were pictures from family/friends.

Huh?  What does that even mean?  ;-)

levioosa

PrettyGirlLost said:

bethsmiles said:

Knottie6627054 said:

I thought the same thing and found some cute homemade signs on Pinterest, asking people to keep their cameras and phones away, but then my best friend got married in August and the worst possible thing happened to her (photo-wise)...the company lost ALL of her photos, not a single one was salvaged.  The photog was a dumbass and dropped his computer which caused a crash, and he had already written over the sim cards.  If it wasn't for guests, family, and friends at her wedding she would literally have NO photo memories whatsoever.  I wouldn't wish her experience on anyone, but you never know what kind of freak accidents can happen so it's always a good idea to have your guest's photos as backups.

My parents wedding photos were ruined because the film got exposed to light. My dad actually had them professional restored for the 20th anniversary but for 20 years all they had were pictures from family/friends.

Huh?  What does that even mean?  ;-)

I'm guessing that they were older film pictures that needed a dark room to develop. Exposing them to light during the process would have over exposed them and ruined them.  We don't really think about that now with digital cameras. 

ETA: Just realized you're being facetious.  I need more coffee. 

PrettyGirlLost

levioosa said:

PrettyGirlLost said:

bethsmiles said:

Knottie6627054 said:

I thought the same thing and found some cute homemade signs on Pinterest, asking people to keep their cameras and phones away, but then my best friend got married in August and the worst possible thing happened to her (photo-wise)...the company lost ALL of her photos, not a single one was salvaged.  The photog was a dumbass and dropped his computer which caused a crash, and he had already written over the sim cards.  If it wasn't for guests, family, and friends at her wedding she would literally have NO photo memories whatsoever.  I wouldn't wish her experience on anyone, but you never know what kind of freak accidents can happen so it's always a good idea to have your guest's photos as backups.

My parents wedding photos were ruined because the film got exposed to light. My dad actually had them professional restored for the 20th anniversary but for 20 years all they had were pictures from family/friends.

Huh?  What does that even mean?  ;-)

I'm guessing that they were older film pictures that needed a dark room to develop. Exposing them to light during the process would have over exposed them and ruined them.  We don't really think about that now with digital cameras. 

You guys are talking in code or something ;-)

levioosa

PrettyGirlLost said:

levioosa said:

PrettyGirlLost said:

bethsmiles said:

Knottie6627054 said:

I thought the same thing and found some cute homemade signs on Pinterest, asking people to keep their cameras and phones away, but then my best friend got married in August and the worst possible thing happened to her (photo-wise)...the company lost ALL of her photos, not a single one was salvaged.  The photog was a dumbass and dropped his computer which caused a crash, and he had already written over the sim cards.  If it wasn't for guests, family, and friends at her wedding she would literally have NO photo memories whatsoever.  I wouldn't wish her experience on anyone, but you never know what kind of freak accidents can happen so it's always a good idea to have your guest's photos as backups.

My parents wedding photos were ruined because the film got exposed to light. My dad actually had them professional restored for the 20th anniversary but for 20 years all they had were pictures from family/friends.

Huh?  What does that even mean?  ;-)

I'm guessing that they were older film pictures that needed a dark room to develop. Exposing them to light during the process would have over exposed them and ruined them.  We don't really think about that now with digital cameras. 

You guys are talking in code or something ;-)

I'm actually surprised we don't get more SSs here asking why they can't just mass invite on facebook instead of formally mailing invites. 

Maggie0829

PrettyGirlLost said:

levioosa said:

PrettyGirlLost said:

bethsmiles said:

Knottie6627054 said:

I thought the same thing and found some cute homemade signs on Pinterest, asking people to keep their cameras and phones away, but then my best friend got married in August and the worst possible thing happened to her (photo-wise)...the company lost ALL of her photos, not a single one was salvaged.  The photog was a dumbass and dropped his computer which caused a crash, and he had already written over the sim cards.  If it wasn't for guests, family, and friends at her wedding she would literally have NO photo memories whatsoever.  I wouldn't wish her experience on anyone, but you never know what kind of freak accidents can happen so it's always a good idea to have your guest's photos as backups.

My parents wedding photos were ruined because the film got exposed to light. My dad actually had them professional restored for the 20th anniversary but for 20 years all they had were pictures from family/friends.

Huh?  What does that even mean?  ;-)

I'm guessing that they were older film pictures that needed a dark room to develop. Exposing them to light during the process would have over exposed them and ruined them.  We don't really think about that now with digital cameras. 

You guys are talking in code or something ;-)

Film?  What is this mystery film substance you speak of?  

kpcc33

No it is not rude. It's your wedding you can ask people to leave their electronics alone! My fiancé is a photographer and has had other photographers tell him horror stories. For example a women who jumped up with her iPad and blocked the camera man from getting the first kiss. Personally I would go nuts on whoever blocked the photographer from doing that. Your paying them to be there trust me the photographers will greatly appreciate not having to deal with your family and friends and are just able to take photos like there supposed to. I will be asking our guests to put all their electronics away until the reception when everyone is just dancing and having fun. Also no one will be around for the group shots that isn't involved in them.

floridabride44

kpcc33 said:

No it is not rude. It's your wedding you can ask people to leave their electronics alone! My fiancé is a photographer and has had other photographers tell him horror stories. For example a women who jumped up with her iPad and blocked the camera man from getting the first kiss. Personally I would go nuts on whoever blocked the photographer from doing that. Your paying them to be there trust me the photographers will greatly appreciate not having to deal with your family and friends and are just able to take photos like there supposed to. I will be asking our guests to put all their electronics away until the reception when everyone is just dancing and having fun. Also no one will be around for the group shots that isn't involved in them.

@kpcc33 No. Read the other six pages of this thread. 

PrettyGirlLost

kpcc33 said:

No it is not rude. It's your wedding you can ask people to leave their electronics alone! My fiancé is a photographer and has had other photographers tell him horror stories. For example a women who jumped up with her iPad and blocked the camera man from getting the first kiss. Personally I would go nuts on whoever blocked the photographer from doing that. Your paying them to be there trust me the photographers will greatly appreciate not having to deal with your family and friends and are just able to take photos like there supposed to. I will be asking our guests to put all their electronics away until the reception when everyone is just dancing and having fun. Also no one will be around for the group shots that isn't involved in them.

Not only do we apparently have an epidemic of illiteracy to rival that of the current measles outbreak, but it seems we also have an epidemic of fail photographers.

Then again, this is an international board so we may have a full on pandemic of illiteracy and fail photogs, folks!

It's world war Z!

VulgarGirl

kpcc33 said:

No it is not rude. It's your wedding you can ask people to leave their electronics alone! My fiancé is a photographer and has had other photographers tell him horror stories. For example a women who jumped up with her iPad and blocked the camera man from getting the first kiss. Personally I would go nuts on whoever blocked the photographer from doing that. Your paying them to be there trust me the photographers will greatly appreciate not having to deal with your family and friends and are just able to take photos like there supposed to. I will be asking our guests to put all their electronics away until the reception when everyone is just dancing and having fun. Also no one will be around for the group shots that isn't involved in them.

Oh for fucks sake. There are 7 goddamn pages explaining this shit.

Fucking Read!!!!

kao2015

kpcc33 said:

No it is not rude. It's your wedding you can ask people to leave their electronics alone! My fiancé is a photographer and has had other photographers tell him horror stories. For example a women who jumped up with her iPad and blocked the camera man from getting the first kiss. Personally I would go nuts on whoever blocked the photographer from doing that. Your paying them to be there trust me the photographers will greatly appreciate not having to deal with your family and friends and are just able to take photos like there supposed to. I will be asking our guests to put all their electronics away until the reception when everyone is just dancing and having fun. Also no one will be around for the group shots that isn't involved in them.

Where the fuck do these people keep coming from?! This is TERRIBLE advice.

lovesclimbing

My wedding was the second one my photographer had ever shot. The second. Guess what? Even with a pretty inexperienced photographer, she still got every special moment. And guess what, I saw the pics from the FIRSt wedding she ever shot, and somehow, with no signs or telling people to turn off their phones, she still managed to get all the shots she needed.

And although @PrettyGirlLost‌ already posted the article I like to post on these threads, I'll post it again for good measure. Here's why you shouldn't have an unplugged ceremony.

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

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?!?!

Actually, it might. I think some states, maybe all, have rules about having to be sober when entering into marriage.

jelly1313 said:

OP here. I feel like this thread got really out of hand over the weekend haha last time I was here there was only one page and I thought we all agreed on the same solution, which was relax and stop worrying about silly things. In case any of the new people care I have decided that I will not tell people to not take pictures instead (if I have time) I will block the entrance to the aisle so I don't have to worry about people standing there to get "perfect" pictures. I hate to say this now but I was really only worried about one person getting in the way because she was the one who got in the way at the last wedding I was at. That being said if I block the aisle I won't have to worry about anything and nobody will call me rude haha 

@jelly1313‌ , with that one person, in addition to aisle ribbons or tulle or whatever, I suggest having your ushers seat her on the outside of a row or better yet, the middle.

ETA: WOW! With doing a complicated series of quote boxes on mobile, I was sure they would get screwed up, but nope, perfect! I should buy a lottery ticket!

plainjane0415

kpcc33 said:

No it is not rude. It's your wedding you can ask people to leave their electronics alone! My fiancé is a photographer and has had other photographers tell him horror stories. For example a women who jumped up with her iPad and blocked the camera man from getting the first kiss. Personally I would go nuts on whoever blocked the photographer from doing that. Your paying them to be there trust me the photographers will greatly appreciate not having to deal with your family and friends and are just able to take photos like there supposed to. I will be asking our guests to put all their electronics away until the reception when everyone is just dancing and having fun. Also no one will be around for the group shots that isn't involved in them.

Your wedding sounds like a ton of fun.

cupcait927

lovesclimbing said:

My wedding was the second one my photographer had ever shot. The second. Guess what? Even with a pretty inexperienced photographer, she still got every special moment. And guess what, I saw the pics from the FIRSt wedding she ever shot, and somehow, with no signs or telling people to turn off their phones, she still managed to get all the shots she needed. And although @PrettyGirlLost‌ already posted the article I like to post on these threads, I'll post it again for good measure. Here's why you shouldn't have an unplugged ceremony. http://blog.craigmitchelldyer.com/2013/05/30/unplugged-wedding-no-way-plug-in/

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?!?!

Actually, it might. I think some states, maybe all, have rules about having to be sober when entering into marriage.

OP here. I feel like this thread got really out of hand over the weekend haha last time I was here there was only one page and I thought we all agreed on the same solution, which was relax and stop worrying about silly things. In case any of the new people care I have decided that I will not tell people to not take pictures instead (if I have time) I will block the entrance to the aisle so I don't have to worry about people standing there to get "perfect" pictures. I hate to say this now but I was really only worried about one person getting in the way because she was the one who got in the way at the last wedding I was at. That being said if I block the aisle I won't have to worry about anything and nobody will call me rude haha 

@jelly1313‌ , with that one person, in addition to aisle ribbons or tulle or whatever, I suggest having your ushers seat her on the outside of a row or better yet, the middle. ETA: WOW! With doing a complicated series of quote boxes on mobile, I was sure they would get screwed up, but nope, perfect! I should buy a lottery ticket!

To the bolded - my wedding was only the second or third wedding my photographer had ever shot as well. And you know what - none of my photos got ruined! He even managed to get a ton of the ceremony and you can't see a single phone or ipad anywhere! Turns out - when your photographer actually knows how to do his/her job, you don't need to be a crazy bridezilla that attempts control everyone around her.

NowIAmSyp

kpcc33 said:

No it is not rude. It's your wedding you can ask people to leave their electronics alone! My fiancé is a photographer and has had other photographers tell him horror stories. For example a women who jumped up with her iPad and blocked the camera man from getting the first kiss. Personally I would go nuts on whoever blocked the photographer from doing that. Your paying them to be there trust me the photographers will greatly appreciate not having to deal with your family and friends and are just able to take photos like there supposed to. I will be asking our guests to put all their electronics away until the reception when everyone is just dancing and having fun. Also no one will be around for the group shots that isn't involved in them.

princessofgenovia  for her Samuel Jackson gif

allispain

So, I admit. I've been avoiding even looking at this thread the past couple of days. Too many SS repeating the exact same crap over and over. Blech.

To any lurkers out there who may still not be swayed to the side of not-being-rude-to-your-guests, another anecdote to add to the ones PPs have posted. When I got married, I only had eyes for the brick pathway (don't trip!) and DH. Didn't know or care if anyone was taking pictures. Flash forward to after the wedding - I find out that DH's stepdad has brought his handheld video camera and had filmed parts of the ceremony. He'd had it out when I walked down the aisle, during our vows, all of the most important parts. I hadn't noticed it at all during the ceremony. It wasn't until I saw the video that I found out that most of our guests had their phones out and were taking pictures when I came down the aisle. You know what I thought when I saw that? Wow - I'm really loved. All of them cared enough about our wedding to want to have a picture of it to remember later - that's a good thing, people.

At the end of the day, going on close to 2 years later, my mom's facebook picture is still a photo that one of our guests took of her as I was walking down the aisle. It's beautiful - and the professionals (we had two photographers) were focusing on me and DH, not on our parents. Also, my grandfather wasn't able to travel across the country to be there for health reasons - I was able to take the video my SFIL took, edit it quickly, and send it to him. Had we had a "unplugged"  rude wedding in which we banned our guests from using their cameras, Grandpa would have never gotten to see me say my wedding vows. And our pro pics? Stunningly gorgeous - and not a camera or cell phone to be seen in any of them. 

In other words, wedding totally not ruined. FTW.

mrscomposer

Another bride whose photographer had only done one previous wedding!  No one blocked any of her pictures because she, y'know, moved.  She planted herself front and centre in time for the kiss, and got a great angle.  To the PP who said (maybe @kpcc33?) a woman with an iPad jumped up in front of the photographer during the kiss... well, HE didn't get a shot of the kiss, but SHE sure did.  What's the problem?

And how many times have we had brides come on here saying that they were thinking of having an unplugged wedding, but now that they've had to wait for their professional pictures and got to see the ones their family and friends took, they're so happy to have them?  Honestly.  What's better?  No pictures, or lots of pictures?

Butterflyz419

I think it's kind of ridiculous to say that it's silly to worry about your photographer not being able to get the shot because of guests in the way, and if your photographer is good they'll do their job anyway, but then turn around and warn that you shouldn't do unplugged because you may never get your photographs back, because your photographer didn't do their job.... That makes absolutely zero sense and I don't even care about this topic.

plainjane0415

Butterflyz419 said:

I think it's kind of ridiculous to say that it's silly to worry about your photographer not being able to get the shot because of guests in the way, and if your photographer is good they'll do their job anyway, but then turn around and warn that you shouldn't do unplugged because you may never get your photographs back, because your photographer didn't do their job.... That makes absolutely zero sense and I don't even care about this topic.

Ok?

antoto

So I'm a high school teacher and spend 86.5% of my day telling kids to put their phones away.  When it came to my wedding that was not even a thought that went through my head.  Because I am not their teacher and they are not students/children.  WHYYYYY are you wasting your time on this?  Do you want your wedding to have an atmosphere of happiness where your guests feel welcomed and wanted, or do you want them to feel like bad children who need to be controlled?  Plenty of people took pictures at my ceremony.  Not a single pro picture was ruined and I got BONUS awesome pictures from different viewpoints.  They posted it on FB the next day and it made me feel wonderful.

And btw sometimes photogs take a while to get pics back to you.  Not because they are bad, but because it takes a long time to edit 800 pictures.

madamerwin

antoto said:

So I'm a high school teacher and spend 86.5% of my day telling kids to put their phones away.  When it came to my wedding that was not even a thought that went through my head.  Because I am not their teacher and they are not students/children.  WHYYYYY are you wasting your time on this?  Do you want your wedding to have an atmosphere of happiness where your guests feel welcomed and wanted, or do you want them to feel like bad children who need to be controlled?  Plenty of people took pictures at my ceremony.  Not a single pro picture was ruined and I got BONUS awesome pictures from different viewpoints.  They posted it on FB the next day and it made me feel wonderful.

And btw sometimes photogs take a while to get pics back to you.  Not because they are bad, but because it takes a long time to edit 800 pictures.

This, a million times. This is the biggest non-issue I can think of. I've been to plenty of weddings, and not once was anyone concerned with guests taking pictures (and no one was hovering in the aisle, I haven't noticed any flashes, and if people were taking photos, they were quick and discreet about it). 

Unless none of your guests have ever attended an event of any sort before, and have never learned common courtesy, they probably know how to behave respectfully and take photos without disturbing everyone else. I find cutesy signs about not using your phone condescending, at best.