Asking guests to NOT take photos during ceremony?

kangjisook

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_asking-guests-to-not-take-photos-during-ceremony?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5506428d-8d14-41d9-87e7-96d0e263c514Post:a4fb54a0-383f-416a-9414-755612576303">Re: Asking guests to NOT take photos during ceremony?</a>:
[QUOTE]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[/QUOTE]

<div>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.</div><div>
</div><div>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.</div><div>
</div><div>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.</div>

Golistan

My fiance and I are tech lovers - he is a software engineer and I am a PhD student who uses all sorts of hardware and software to make my research and teaching more efficient and fun. I enjoy social media like most people, including Facebook and Instagram. I am guilty of taking probably too many selfies while no one is looking. All of this said, however, my fiance and I feel strongly about having an "unplugged ceremony." The reasons are a combination of creating a ceremony/ritual that is intimate and sacred (inviting guests to be present and in the moment with us) AND so that the professional photos will have just a few less cameras and phones in the air. I personally consider myself quite relaxed as far as brides go (all the bridal boutiques I've been visiting while trying on dresses comment on how relaxed and easy going I am). I like to make jokes and not take life too seriously. But yet, my fiance and I still feel strongly about having an "unplugged ceremony." If I attended someone else's wedding and they asked for no photos/videos during the ceremony, I would never feel offended. Even if I disagreed, I would respect their wishes graciously. I personally don't relate to everyone on this thread who insist it is offensive or that a bride is stressing out over little details by wanting such a thing. I would rather place emphasis on this than even some of the details related to decor/color schemes/ favors, which seem more superficial/materialistic than what type of ceremony one hopes to have (but don't get me wrong, I love decor as well!)   

misshart00

Golistan said:

My fiance and I are tech lovers - he is a software engineer and I am a PhD student who uses all sorts of hardware and software to make my research and teaching more efficient and fun. I enjoy social media like most people, including Facebook and Instagram. I am guilty of taking probably too many selfies while no one is looking. All of this said, however, my fiance and I feel strongly about having an "unplugged ceremony." The reasons are a combination of creating a ceremony/ritual that is intimate and sacred (inviting guests to be present and in the moment with us) AND so that the professional photos will have just a few less cameras and phones in the air. I personally consider myself quite relaxed as far as brides go (all the bridal boutiques I've been visiting while trying on dresses comment on how relaxed and easy going I am). I like to make jokes and not take life too seriously. But yet, my fiance and I still feel strongly about having an "unplugged ceremony." If I attended someone else's wedding and they asked for no photos/videos during the ceremony, I would never feel offended. Even if I disagreed, I would respect their wishes graciously. I personally don't relate to everyone on this thread who insist it is offensive or that a bride is stressing out over little details by wanting such a thing. I would rather place emphasis on this than even some of the details related to decor/color schemes/ favors, which seem more superficial/materialistic than what type of ceremony one hopes to have (but don't get me wrong, I love decor as well!)   

What did you search for to find a year old thread?

Lily9911

I noticed at my wedding that nobody took pictures (or at least used flash) I am now wondering if the photog mentioned something beforehand to the guests? 

But I am sure that someone can announce the rules before the ceremony begins, I didn't even think of that. 

I don't think it's being controlling at all, I also will put it on the program just in case. You pay alot for photos its a shame when someone ruins them. 

Teddy917

Lily9911 said:

I noticed at my wedding that nobody took pictures (or at least used flash) I am now wondering if the photog mentioned something beforehand to the guests? 

But I am sure that someone can announce the rules before the ceremony begins, I didn't even think of that. 

I don't think it's being controlling at all, I also will put it on the program just in case. You pay alot for photos its a shame when someone ruins them. 

Don't do this. You might think it's rude but your guests likely will. Plus most photographers are used to other people breaking out cell phones and should be able to adapt. You can only mention it if your venue prohibits it.

melbelleup

Teddy917 said:

I noticed at my wedding that nobody took pictures (or at least used flash) I am now wondering if the photog mentioned something beforehand to the guests? 

But I am sure that someone can announce the rules before the ceremony begins, I didn't even think of that. 

I don't think it's being controlling at all, I also will put it on the program just in case. You pay alot for photos its a shame when someone ruins them. 

Don't do this. You might think it's rude but your guests likely will. Plus most photographers are used to other people breaking out cell phones and should be able to adapt. You can only mention it if your venue prohibits it.

First, this is a zombie thread. @KnotPorscha

Second, most churches DO prohibit flash photography, mine included so it will be in our programs and announced by priest.

Third, although photographers are used to it, they still don't want it. My photographer highly recommends an unplugged wedding because she looses a lot of photos because of people stepping out of the pew to take a photo.

dramamonkey

Kimchi Waygook said:

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.

My photographer had similar wording in her contract.


ETA: Oops! Suckered in by a zombie!

thejucheidea

Our officiant announced that no flash photography was allowed due to church rules, but that was it. Our guests were mature enough to not jump into the aisles or whatever to get photos. The only one who ruined any pictures was my sister's jackass fiance who for some reason was given control of the laptop that was streaming our wedding to my family in California -- instead of just leaving the laptop on the pew, he kept lifting it up high and moving it around, so in several of our photos, there's a floating laptop.

abbyj700

We'll be having an unplugged ceremony as well. We're hiring someone to capture those moments and want everyone else to just be enjoying our ceremony while it occurs. For our reception - it's anything goes! We're doing a wedding app as well so that pictures can be shared and enjoyed by everyone as they are taken at the cocktail hour and reception - or even as people are arriving, the rehearsal dinner, decorating the venue, at the hotel, after partying or anything we might miss as we celebrate with so many people.