Unplugged Wedding... thoughts?

BabyBlueNTexas

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


This article is about having a wedding and requesting that the guests turn off cell phones, cameras and camcorders for the ceremony. Read it and comment!

erollis

Note:I copied this from a similar thread on my month board. With an added edit at the bottom.

I am torn. The photographer in me agrees with all of this. As a guest I would be a bit put off if told I could take no photos at all.

I think a camera free ceremony is fine to ask of your guests just out of respect. The ceremony even not in a church is a very special and sacred event. This is why churches ask photographers not to use flash. They even ask them sometimes to stay x feet away during the ceremony. They have to work around those obstacles and still get good photos. I have had photographers vent about guests using flash, getting in the way of the bride, etc. while they have to abide by the rules or get in trouble. Yet the guests don't get introuble for breaking a single rule.

As for the reception... I feel that guests should respect the photographer and try to stay out of their way and/ or line of sight when taking amateur photos. It is a party though and in this day and age people want to document the party for themselves. There is nothing wrong with that. I want to document having a good time too.

It is true that in an ideal world people would leave the photography to the professionals and enjoy the day. It wont happen so such is life. If the officiant said something about the ceremony being unpluged it would go over better. Having a note in the program comes close to crossing the line but may be needed for some people. I never realised this was such a problem until I saw some photos on photographers blogs of this epidemic (plus hearing complaints of it over and over again helped).

Another link if you haven't seen it yet: click

Edit: I have no problem with guests taking photos. I want them to take photos but I just hope they are smart about it. Plus I am unsure if I should even ask people to unplug during the ceremony.I want to but I also hope my guests have common sense.  Like I said I am torn. Also I do not agree completely with the link I gave. Just wanted to share it.

BabyBlueNTexas

I am totally doing this at my wedding. At least for the ceremony. I will offer a snap shot time for everyone after the ceremony ends.

jenneth6

At my church the photography is not allowed at all during the ceremony - not even for a professional photographer.  You can restage it afterwards, but they like to say that it is a sacrament, not a photoshoot.  They requested a note in the program, and the officiant mentioned the rule at the beginning of the service.  I preferred it that way.  

For the reception I didn't care what anyone did, and it certainly felt like one big photoshoot!

CassieeK

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-austin_unplugged-wedding-thoughts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:126Discussion:ff4d0f87-fd04-4b28-8f57-978f087b959aPost:6d86192d-74ea-4c93-955f-87f75d58163e">Re: Unplugged Wedding... thoughts?</a>:
[QUOTE]I am totally doing this at my wedding. At least for the ceremony. I will offer a snap shot time for everyone after the ceremony ends.
Posted by BabyBlueNTexas[/QUOTE]

<div>What are you going to do if people take pictures anyway?</div>

BabyBlueNTexas

Absolutely nothing. However, I am still going to be let it known that I would rather them not do it, by putting it on my programs and having the offciant announce it.

Well hmm.. my FH is a cop.. we could always just have his cop friends escort them out. hahahahahaha kidding.

chloeo88

Yeah I think it's a great idea! Your guests should focus on the event instead of constantly facebooking or tweeting about it. I don't see anything wrong with "turning off" once and a while. It would be a great at the ceremony for sure.. I think at the reception they should be "let loose" so to speak

Future Ramsey

Chaplain Larry went out before our ceremony and asked everyone to turn off their cell phones, remove hats, etc.  He reinforced that it was a holy union and to do these things in advance was respectful.  He also threw in there "no discharging of firearms in celebration" which some our crowd got a real kick out of.  We didn't even think about asking guests not to take photographs, but we had an outdoor ceremony.  Not that many took pictures anyway (that I can remember anyway).

BabyBlueNTexas

Chloe--- oh it will be game on during the reception. They can do as they please then!!

Future Ramsey--- That is great! I might have to steal that line from your pastor! haha