Planning an Unplugged Wedding

Planning and Unplugged wedding in Ireland

Thinking of getting your guests to ditch their phones for a day? Are you wondering what is the best way to get your wedding guests to put their phones away? Here’s everything you need to know about planning an unplugged wedding or an unplugged ceremony in Northern Ireland.

What is an unplugged wedding Ceremony?

An unplugged wedding ceremony is a fancy American way of saying to your guests to switch off cameras, phones, ipads or any other electronic devices in their possession. Some couples opt for an unplugged ceremony only, while others prefer to limit the use of electronics all day.

Why have an unplugged wedding?

In an age when most of us are never more than a few minutes away from our next swipe, an unplugged wedding is a chance for guests to engage in your wedding without a screen being between you and them. It also is respectful of the couple’s privacy - not everyone likes to see their photo posted online.

What are the advantages of an unplugged wedding?

At an unplugged wedding, when you turn to look at your guests, you get to see their smiling, emotional faces, rather than the back of the latest iPhone. As a result there’s a greater sense of connection in the room. Secondly, if you’re camera shy, it can be fatiguing having cameras pointing at you all day.

It also means that the bulk of your photographs have been taken and curated by a professional so you can be sure that anything unflattering has been left out.

What do professional photographer’s think about it?

We're big fans. Two reasons.

First, it dramatically reduces the chance of a guest stepping into the aisle to grab a shot just as we're capturing the first kiss or the moment you see each other for the first time. It happens more than you'd think, and once that moment is gone, it's gone.

Second,- and more importantly - it means we can actually photograph your guests' faces. The reactions, the tears, the laughter. That's where the best candid photography lives. A guest with a phone in front of their face is a guest whose reaction you'll never see in your wedding album.

Guests have a really important role - to support the couple. So clap and cheer and leave the pics to us.

Are there any downsides?

The main one is that you won't have your guests' photos to look back on. Whether that's actually a downside depends on your perspective. A professionally curated gallery of several hundred images is a different thing to a collection of blurry, badly-lit phone shots taken from the third row. Most couples, when they think about it honestly, don't really miss them.

The other reality is that some guests simply won't comply. Whether they didn't hear the announcement or just can't help themselves and end up using their phones throughout. Don't stress about it. Do what you can and let the rest go.

How do I let my guests know?

There are a number of ways you can gently let your guests know. Firstly, you can mention it in your wedding invites, order of service, and, if you have one, your wedding website.

Your celebrant or minister will also be happy to make an announcement before the ceremony – they can explain what an unplugged wedding is and why you’re having one. You can also have a sign on display at the entrance to your ceremony.

A sign? Like a no-smoking sign but for phones?

Nooooooo. A nice, pleasant sign that gently asks people to put their phones away. Something along the lines of “Kindly turn off all phones and cameras and enjoy this moment with us” or “We want to see your smiling faces not your phones.” Or you can have fun with it by turning it into a bit of a joke, like these signs from our friends at Cló Design Co.

Sometimes a bit of humour is the best way to get the message across.

Will guests be offended?

On the contrary, we find many guests react positively to it. Just make sure you explain the positive reasons as to why you’re having an unplugged wedding.

Of course, some won’t get the message and will have their phone out. Don’t be too hard on them.

It’s so much nicer to see a smile than a phone when you’re walking down the aisle.

Is there anything else we can do?

Yes! Share your gallery with people. This is probably the most underused tool available to couples. The average wedding has over 100 guests, but most couples share their gallery with only a handful of people. If your guests know they'll have access to hundreds of professional photographs afterwards, they're far less motivated to spend the day trying to capture their own.

Send the gallery link or preview page to everyone. Make it easy to access. It removes the fear of missing out that drives a lot of phone use in the first place. It also means your photos get seen and appreciated by the people who were actually there.

The couple knew you were trouble when you walked in.