With the rise of Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and every other social media site you can think of (not to mention the incredible photos a phone can take), it seems that everyone has become a photographer and wants to capture everything. It’s like, if there aren’t photos, it didn’t happen. Although this has its benefits (memories at the swipe of a finger, being able to share with friends and family, etc.), it also has a negative side, and especially when it comes to weddings.

You can’t blame people for wanting to capture a special once-in-a-lifetime moment, but if that moment is your wedding day, there are some solid reasons why you might want them to turn off their phones and tuck them away. For one, “unplugging” is not only a win for you, but it benefits your guests in that it allows them to be present and enjoy the moment out from behind the screen.

Another huge reason to ask guests to unplug, at least during the ceremony, is because you’ve hired a professional wedding photographer to capture the day and the last thing you want is a bunch of people with tablets and phones cluttering the photos.

If you’ve decided that an unplugged ceremony is a good idea, you might be wondering how you can politely ask your guests to give their phones a rest. Here are some ideas that you can use as is, make your own, or mix and match.

Ask Your Officiant to Make an Announcement

Before you walk down the aisle, have your officiant ask guests to silence and put away their phones. According to many real brides, a verbal announcement seems to be one of the more effective ways of asking guests to unplug. You could also have the officiant invite everyone to take photos of you and your fiancé at the altar and then put away their phones. It’s like saying, “Get your photos out of the way now, please.”

Ease Your Guests’ Minds

People have major FOMO when it comes to capturing events (and especially when there’s a chance they might be in the pictures), so ease their minds by putting up a sign or having someone announce something like, “Please put your phones and cameras away. We promise to share our professionally taken photos with you/on social media.”

Put Up a Sign 

There are a lot of creative and fun sign ideas to let guests know you would appreciate their unplugged cooperation. Some are funny, some are clever, and some are to the point.

The truth is, a couple of people might still try and snap a sneaky photo, but the majority of your guests will respect your wishes and probably feel grateful for the chance to sit back, relax, and enjoy the moment.

Check out more of our helpful tips and resources for planning your wedding day. Or if there’s something we haven’t covered, get in touch and ask away!