Crafting A Snapchat Wedding Story: Creative Tips And Tricks

Snapchat is a great way to capture candid and intimate moments at a wedding. From the toast at the start of the day to the sweet images of the couple dancing the night away, it's a fun way to document the day. Creating a custom Snapchat filter (geofilter) for your wedding is a unique way to personalise your guests' photos and videos. You can create your own filter on Snapchat or purchase a pre-made, customisable option online. This guide will take you through the steps to create a Snapchat wedding story, from designing your filter to sharing it with your guests.

Create a Snapchat Geofilter

Creating a Snapchat Geofilter for your wedding is a fun way to involve your guests and give your event a unique, personal touch. Here's a step-by-step guide to creating a Geofilter:

Using the Snapchat App:

• Open the Snapchat app on your mobile device and tap on your profile in the upper-left corner of the camera screen (this will be your Bitmoji character if you've set one up).
• On your profile page, tap the settings gear icon in the upper-right corner, then scroll down and tap "Filters & Lenses".
• Tap "Get Started!" and then "Filter" (you can also create a custom lens by tapping "Lens").
• Choose the type of event you want to customize. You can either create a custom design from scratch or select one of Snapchat's available templates, including categories like "Weddings", "Bachelor/ette", and "Celebration".
• Customize your filter with text, images, stickers, borders, and more.
• Once you're happy with your design, tap the checkmark icon and select the timeframe during which you want the filter to be active.
• Select the location where you want the filter to be available (this feature is why they are called "geofilters"). The price will increase as you select a larger area.
• Name your wedding Snapchat filter, confirm the details, and submit it for approval.
• Once submitted, Snapchat will notify you when it's approved and ask you to confirm the payment.

Using a Desktop:

You can also create a Snapchat Geofilter using a desktop computer, which offers more customization options than the app. Here's how:

• Go to the Snapchat website and select "Filters & Lenses" from the navigation bar at the top.
• Click on "Get Started" and then select "Filters".
• Choose from the occasion template options or select "Upload Your Own" if you've purchased or designed a filter outside of Snapchat.
• Customize your filter with text, fonts, colours, and images. You can even insert your Bitmoji and Friendmoji to illustrate yourself and your spouse-to-be in cartoon form.
• When you're finished, click "Next" in the bottom-right corner and select the date and time your filter will be available.
• Select the area on the map where you want your filter to be available and click "Check Out".
• Enter the filter name, your contact information, and payment details to purchase. Snapchat will then review the geofilter before approving it.
• If you're designing your own filter, be sure to leave enough space for the actual Snap. Snapchat recommends using only the top or bottom 25% of the screen.

Set up a selfie station

Setting up a selfie station at your wedding is a fun, simple way to encourage guests to take and share photos. Here are some tips to help you set up a selfie station:

Choose a Location

Select a spot for your selfie station that is easily accessible to guests and provides an interesting backdrop. Consider setting it up near the bar or entrance to the reception, or even in the backyard if your venue has one. Ensure there is enough space for guests to gather and pose for photos.

Props and Backdrops

Enhance your selfie station with fun props such as mustaches, masks, boas, hats, and dress-up items. Get creative and make it unique to your wedding theme. You can also set up a simple backdrop, such as a flower wall or a DIY backdrop made from wallpaper and picture frames.

Technology

You can provide technology for guests to take photos with, or simply encourage them to use their phones. If providing technology, you can set up an iPad on a tripod with a selfie app downloaded, or use a digital camera with a timer function. Instant cameras, such as Polaroids, are also a great option, though you will need to provide extra film.

Display and Sharing

Encourage guests to share their photos by providing your wedding hashtag and displaying it near the selfie station. You can also set up a display where guests can clip or pin their instant photos. This could be a fun alternative to a traditional guest book, with guests adding their photos and signing their names.

Announce the Selfie Station

Make sure your guests know about the selfie station by including a note on your welcome signs or having your DJ or emcee make an announcement during the reception.

Record and send personal messages to the couple

Snapchat is a great way to send intimate messages to the happy couple on their wedding day. It can be used to send video messages, voice notes, or simple text messages. Here are some steps to follow to ensure your message is received:

Firstly, open the Snapchat app and swipe right, or tap the speech bubble icon to see your chats. If you are starting a new chat, tap the new chat icon in the top right corner of your screen.

Next, select the couple's Snapchat account. If you are sending a message to the couple, it is a good idea to create a new account for them, as suggested by Todd Brison of Snap Swipe Post. This way, all the messages can be viewed together, and the couple can access them at a later date.

Now, you can record your message. For a video message, simply hold down the record button and speak. For a voice note, tap and hold the microphone icon in the "Send a chat" bar. You can also send a text message by typing it out.

If you are sending a voice or video message, you can cancel it by swiping left during the recording. If you are happy with your message, release your finger, and it will automatically send.

Include a wedding hashtag

Including a wedding hashtag is a fun and easy way to compile all your guests' photos and videos in one place. It's a great way to ensure that you can relive your special day through your guests' eyes. Here are some tips to help you include a wedding hashtag in your Snapchat story:

Choosing the Right Hashtag

The key to a good wedding hashtag is to make it memorable and unique. You can use a wedding-related word like "hitch", "love", or "weds", and get creative with alliteration, such as #HappilyEverStratton or #ThisBishIsGettingMarried. Avoid using symbols, dashes, spaces, or abbreviations, and keep it concise. You can use a custom wedding hashtag generator or hire a professional service to help you come up with the perfect hashtag.

Displaying Your Hashtag

Once you've chosen your hashtag, it's important to ensure your guests know about it. Display it on your wedding website, paper stationery, and welcome signs at the venue. You can also include it on your ceremony program, guest book table, or even on cocktail napkins. For a more eye-catching approach, consider a neon sign or a wooden board, or place it on a letter board or illuminated marquee board.

Encouraging Guests to Use the Hashtag

To ensure your guests use the hashtag, you can make a cute sign or include it on your invitations. You can also announce it verbally during the wedding or include it in a fun way, such as on a bus used for transportation or as a backdrop. Spread the word through your wedding party, who can remind guests to use the hashtag when posting their photos and videos.

Using the Hashtag for Other Wedding Events

Your wedding hashtag doesn't have to be limited to the wedding day itself. You can use it for all the events leading up to the big day, such as the bridal shower, bachelor, and bachelorette parties. This will create a comprehensive collection of memories from your entire wedding celebration.

Make sure to save your snaps

Snapchat is a great way to capture all the special moments of a wedding, from the toast at the start of the day to the sweet images of the happy couple dancing the night away. It's also a fun way to involve your guests and make the wedding experience more personal for them.

But what happens to your snaps after the big day? Snapchat stories disappear after 24 hours, and individual snaps are automatically deleted once they've been viewed. So, if you want to save those precious memories, it's important to take a few simple steps to ensure they're not lost forever.

First, make sure to save your snaps to your Memories. Memories is a feature on Snapchat that allows you to save your snaps and stories so that you can look back on them anytime. To save a snap to your Memories, simply press and hold on to it while viewing or directly after viewing. The snap will then appear in your chat as Chat Media. You can also save a story by downloading it to your phone's camera roll. This way, you'll have permanent access to your wedding snaps and can relive the magic of your special day whenever you want.

Another way to save your wedding snaps is to create a custom geofilter for your wedding and encourage your guests to use it. A geofilter is a graphic overlay that can be added to photos and videos, and it's a fun way to personalise your wedding snaps. After the wedding, you can download the geofilter and all the snaps and stories associated with it. This way, you'll have a collection of memories from your big day, as seen through the eyes of your guests.

Additionally, you can also ask your guests to send their snaps and stories to a dedicated wedding Snapchat account. This way, you'll have all the snaps in one place and can download them or save them to your Memories. You can even wait to pass on the login and password to the newlyweds as a post-wedding surprise.

By taking these simple steps, you can ensure that your wedding snaps are saved and can be cherished for years to come. So, don't forget to press and hold, download, and encourage your guests to snap away—your future self will thank you for it!

Frequently asked questions