Junior Rasmussen
Many couples are opting for an unplugged ceremony, where guests are asked to refrain from using their phones and instead be present in the moment. There are several ways to politely ask guests to put their phones away during a wedding ceremony, from including a note in the wedding program to asking the officiant to make an announcement. Ultimately, it's about communicating the couple's preferences clearly and effectively.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Announcements | Ask the officiant to make an announcement before the ceremony begins. |
| The officiant could say something like: "Hello honored guests! [Names] are so glad you’re here to celebrate with them today. They need your help with something, though—they paid for a professional to take the pictures and want your beautiful faces in the photos, so please put away your phones." | |
| The officiant could also announce there will be a second kiss at the end for guests to take photos of. | |
| Ushers could also tell people as they seat them. | |
| Signs | Put up a sign near the ceremony, perhaps with a hashtag to encourage guests to take photos at other times. |
| Put a sign on the dance floor with a hashtag. | |
| Put it on the welcome sign. | |
| Put it on the program. | |
| Put it on your website. | |
| Put it in welcome gifts. | |
| Put it in a small packet of info before the wedding. | |
| Cards | Put cards on each chair with a fun message like "We’d like to see this (faces), Not this! (faces behind phones)." |
| Conversations | Have conversations with some guests to get them on board so they can ask people near them to put their phones away. |
| Notes | Put a note in the program asking guests to be present and not to take pictures during the ceremony. |
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What You'll Learn
Ask your officiant to make an announcement
Asking your officiant to make an announcement is a great way to ensure your wedding is unplugged. An unplugged ceremony is when guests are not allowed to use their phones or take pictures.
You could ask your officiant to make an announcement before the ceremony begins. They could say something like: "Hello honoured guests! [Couple's names] are so glad you're here to celebrate with them today. They need your help with something, though. They've paid for a professional to take the pictures and want your beautiful faces in the photos, so please turn off your cell phones and refrain from taking photos during the ceremony. The photos will be available soon for all of you to see. Thank you."
You could also ask your officiant to make a simple announcement, such as: "They paid for a professional to take the pictures and want your beautiful faces in the photos."
Another option is to ask your officiant to make a lighthearted announcement, such as: "We will be having a second kiss at the end for you all to take your photos."
If you are having a destination wedding, you could explain this to your guests and ask them not to post any photos on social media until you have had a chance to share your own.
While it is your day and your wishes should be respected, be prepared for some guests to ignore the announcement and take photos anyway.
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Put signs up
While some couples may be comfortable with their guests using their phones during the ceremony, others may prefer an "unplugged" ceremony. If you belong to the latter group, you can put up signs to politely ask your guests to refrain from using their phones during the ceremony. Here are some ideas for the signs:
Sign Ideas
- Place a sign near the ceremony venue entrance, requesting guests to turn off their phones and cameras. You can write something like, "Hello, honored guests! [Bride] and [Groom] are delighted to have you here today. Please turn off your phones and cameras as you join us in celebrating their special day. Thank you!"
- Put up a sign with a fun message, such as ""We'd like to see your faces, not your phones!" or "We'd like to see your beautiful faces, not your screens!" This lighthearted approach can help convey your request in a friendly manner.
- Create a sign with a playful rhyme, like "We kindly request, no phones as our guest. Please turn them off and enjoy the love and bliss!"
- Use a chalkboard sign at the entrance or near the ceremony area with a message like, "We invite you to be fully present at this special moment. Please turn off your phones and join us in celebrating the love of [Bride] and [Groom]."
- If you have a specific wedding hashtag, include it on the sign to encourage guests to share their photos later: "We can't wait to see your photos! Please use #CelebratingLove when sharing your pictures. During the ceremony, we kindly ask that you keep your phones turned off."
Remember to keep the tone friendly and polite, and consider combining these signs with other approaches, such as having the officiant make an announcement before the ceremony begins.
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Add a note to your wedding programme
It is your wedding, and you want your guests to be present and enjoy the ceremony with you. You don't want your guests to be distracted by their phones, and you don't want phones to appear in your wedding photos.
"We invite you to be fully present with us during our ceremony. Please, turn off your cell phones and refrain from taking photos or videos. We have hired a professional photographer to capture the special moments, and we will share the photos with you."
"We kindly request that you turn off your cell phones during the ceremony and enjoy this special moment with us. We don't want any phones to distract from the beauty of the bride and groom! We will share our professional photos with you after the wedding."
"For those of you who know us well, you know that we love to be the centre of attention! So, we ask that you put away your phones during the ceremony and focus all your energy on us. We promise to give you plenty of photo opportunities later, and we will share our professional photos, too."
"We want to see your faces, not your phones! Please, turn off your cell phones during the ceremony and be fully present with us. We can't wait to celebrate with you."
Remember, it is essential to communicate your wishes clearly and directly. You can also consider combining these notes with other strategies, such as having the officiant make an announcement before the ceremony or including a note in your welcome gifts or on your website.
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Have a conversation with guests beforehand
Having a conversation with guests beforehand is a great way to ensure your wishes are respected. It is a good idea to first identify the guests who are most likely to use their phones during the ceremony. Reach out to them personally, either by calling them or pulling them aside at a gathering. Express your excitement about celebrating with them and taking photos with them during the reception, but do not mention anything about putting phones away. Instead, emphasise the parts of the day when phone use is encouraged.
You can also have conversations with other guests to get them on the same page, so that if they notice someone using their phone during the ceremony, they can ask them to put it away. This will help ensure that your wishes are respected and that you get the unplugged ceremony you want.
If you are uncomfortable with having these conversations, or simply don't have the time, you could ask a close friend or family member to speak to your guests for you.
It is worth noting that, while having these conversations beforehand can be effective, you should still be prepared for some guests to use their phones during the ceremony.
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Make it light-hearted
It's your wedding, and you want your guests to be present and in the moment with you. You don't want a sea of screens and the constant click of cameras. So, how do you ask your guests to put away their phones without causing a fuss?
First, it's important to communicate your wishes clearly and in advance. You could include a note with your invitations, add it to your wedding website, or even print a message in the program handed to guests as they arrive. This way, your guests are aware of your request before the ceremony begins.
- "We'd like to see your faces, not your phones! We kindly request that you turn off your phones and cameras during the ceremony and be fully present with us."
- "The greatest gift you can give us is to be truly present. Please turn off all phones and cameras during the wedding so you can enjoy this special moment with us."
- "Hello, honoured guests! The couple is thrilled to have you here today and they need your help with something. They want to see your faces during the ceremony and be able to share this moment with you. So, they ask that all phones and cameras are put away. They've hired an amazing photo/video team to capture the day, so you're off the hook!"
- "No phones, please! Don't worry, the photographer will send you cute photos later."
- "As a courtesy, please turn off all cameras and phones for the duration of the wedding. Be in the moment and enjoy the day!"
On the day, it's a good idea to have your officiant, MC, or DJ make an announcement before the ceremony begins. This serves as a friendly reminder and ensures that everyone is aware of your request.
Remember, despite your best efforts, some guests may still whip out their phones. You could assign a member of your wedding party to politely ask these guests to put their devices away.
Lastly, don't forget to thank your guests for respecting your wishes. A little gratitude goes a long way!
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Frequently asked questions
You can politely ask your guests to keep their phones away by making an announcement before the ceremony begins. You can request the officiant to make the announcement. You can also put up a sign near the ceremony venue.
An unplugged ceremony is a wedding trend in which none of the guests are allowed to use their phones or take pictures.
You can include that you have paid for professional photographers to capture the ceremony and that you would like your guests to be present and enjoy the ceremony. You can also mention that the photos will be available for the guests soon after the wedding.
You can enlist the help of friends to make creative cards to put on each chair with a message such as "We'd like to see your faces, not your phones!". You can also have someone collect phones from guests before they enter the venue, or have the maid of honor squirt guests with a water gun if they are seen using their phones.
You can add a note in your wedding program or on your website asking guests not to post photos of the wedding on social media until you have had a chance to share your professional photos.
