Dear Jacquelyn,

I have attended a number of weddings in the last several months and I am shocked at people’s disregard during the ceremony. So many people were taking pictures with their phones, they missed out on the ceremony, which is the whole point of being there. My own wedding is planned for the fall and I want to know, how do you ask guests to refrain from taking photos during the ceremony?

Dear Reader,

Encouraging your guests to put down their devices doesn’t need to be difficult.

As with any special request you make of your wedding guests, you simply need to be sensitive and respectful.

Today, unplugged wedding ceremonies are becoming increasingly common. It allows guests to be fully present instead of watching from behind a phone screen.

It is possible to politely let your guests know that during the ceremony you would appreciate no photos being taken. The common way to approach this is to have a simple sign stating your wishes. It can read something like this: “Please honor our wishes: no photos until we are pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Thank you!” This is an effective but gentle way to make your wishes known.

You could also have your officiant mention your request during the welcome speech. An example would be: “We’ll be beginning the ceremony in just a moment. Please note there is no photography permitted during the ceremony.”

In addition, you can place a reminder in the program.

Know that you’re not obligated to restrict technology for the entire celebration. As long as guests remain respectful of the photographer at the reception, there’s no reason why everyone can’t resume their normal phone activities after the ceremony.

The key to having a successful unplugged ceremony is to prepare your guests well in advance and let them know all the reasons it is important to you.

Respectfully Yours,

Jacquelyn

Have a question? Email: jacquelyn@ptd.net. Jacquelyn Youst is owner of the Pennsylvania Academy of Protocol, specializing in etiquette training.

All Rights Reserved

&Copy; 2023 Jacquelyn Youst