UNPLUGGED CEREMONY REASON PROFESSIONAL

In the past 6 years of being a professional wedding photographer, it’s also been sad to watch the progression from seeing smiling, encouraging and happy faces as the bride is escorted up the aisle to faces hidden behind the backs of cameras and cell phones that line the aisle. It completely slays me when this happens because while I am not remotely egotistical at all, I am fairly confident that my image would have been better than the one they captured. However, my heart literally breaks when a guest ruins an otherwise lovely image or jumps in front of me when I’m capturing a key moment from the day. I also completely understand that some have a love for capturing images and enjoy taking pictures at weddings they are guests at.

It makes me happy to know there will be other pictures and photos of moments I may have missed or alternate angles that I couldn’t cover. Recently “Guest Photographers” came up in one of the photography groups I am apart of online and someone asked what the big deal is, why wouldn’t we want more people capturing images for our clients? I thought this was a great question! I don’t have a single problem with guests taking images and sharing them later on with the couple. If Dan can do it, then so can you.” I can’t tell you how many happy leaps of joy my heart did when reading this!!! The guests all obeyed and even after the ceremony many decided to keep their arms down and their hearts open and enjoyed the day instead of being an observer from behind their cameras. The photographer will capture how this moment looks - I encourage you all to capture how it feels with your hearts, without the distraction of technology. Please, turn off your cell phones and put down your cameras. Please be seated. Dan and Jennifer invite you to be truly present at this special time. Prior to the ceremony, their officiant, Catherine Daniels read this, “ Welcome, friends and family! Good evening everyone. What was even more amazing was that she had an “ Unplugged Wedding” after seeing pictures and reading my rants over the years about well-meaning guests whom have inadvertently (or heck, even completely on purpose) ruined images. Last year one of my friends got married and I was so thrilled to be her photographer that day. If seeing the guests in the images below bothers you while the wedding party and bride walk up the aisle then you really should consider an unplugged wedding ceremony.In the past I’ve blogged about being a photo friendly guest and also about guest photographers but I felt that this needed to be expanded upon a bit more… and of course I have some images to show to support why I think it’s best when the guests put their cameras down. Yes, if you see me make a face as you walk up the aisle….the image below has just happened to you. There is nothing worse then a guest with a camera, jumping in behind the bride and her father as they walk up the aisle. Wedding processionals and recessionals are truly the worse time for plugged weddings.

They can miss so much watching your wedding from behind their devices.

They will be able to witness the joy, the tears and the true raw emotions of your wedding day first hand. The absolute best reason for having an unplugged wedding, it allows your guests to truly enjoy your wedding ceremony with absolutely no distractions. You are hiring a wedding photographer to capture the most amazing candid, emotionally raw moments during your wedding ceremony. What is an plugged versus an unplugged wedding ceremony you ask? An unplugged wedding ceremony is when your officiant asks your guests to leave their cameras, phones and tablets off during the duration of your wedding ceremony.

Unplugged ceremony reason