Crafting Creative Wedding Hashtags: A Guide To #Success

Wedding hashtags are a fun and simple way to collect all the photos from your big day. Guests will inevitably be snapping away, and a personalised hashtag is an easy way to gather all those memories in one place. There are plenty of ways to make your wedding hashtag unique to you, from using your names, initials, or wedding date, to puns, rhymes, and cultural references. You can even use a wedding hashtag generator to help you get started. Once you've settled on your hashtag, be sure to display it on your invites, decor, and website so your guests can start using it.

Using a wedding hashtag generator

There are several free wedding hashtag generators available online, such as those offered by eWedding, WeddingWire, Shutterfly, and The Knot. These generators will ask you a series of questions about yourself, your partner, and your wedding details, and then use that information to suggest creative and personalised hashtag ideas.

While these generators can be a helpful starting point, keep in mind that the suggestions may not be as unique as a professionally crafted hashtag. To ensure your hashtag is one-of-a-kind, consider checking your preferred hashtag on Instagram to see how many posts are using it and if they are recent. You can also modify the generated hashtag by adding numbers, dashes, or symbols to make it more distinctive.

Once you've settled on your perfect hashtag, it's time to share it with your guests! Display it on your invitations, wedding website, decor, cocktail napkins, or even as a photo booth prop. The more visible your hashtag is, the more likely your guests are to use it, helping you collect all the candid photos from your special day.

Making it unique

Making your wedding hashtag unique is important to ensure that your guests' photos don't get mixed up with those from another wedding. Here are some tips to make your wedding hashtag stand out:

Get Creative with Your Names

Start by brainstorming a list of relevant information that you could include in your hashtag. This can be your new marital name, the date of your wedding, the name and location of your venue, your wedding theme, or even the date you first met. If you have any cute nicknames or a couple name that your friends have given you, be sure to include those too.

Then, get creative with wordplay. Look for alliterations, rhymes, synonyms, and puns to craft a clever and memorable hashtag. For example, if your surname is Hurst, you could try something like “#LoveAtHurstSight”. You could also try putting your names into an online pun generator or enlisting the help of a professional hashtag writer.

Numbers and Symbols

If you're struggling to find a unique hashtag or want to make sure it's extra secure, try adding numbers or symbols. Using your wedding date or year is an easy way to personalise your hashtag and make it more exclusive. For example, #TheTaylors2024. You can also try adding dashes or other symbols to an already taken hashtag to make it unique.

Avoid Misspellings

Read over your final draft to check for potential misspellings, especially if your guests will be reading it after a few drinks! Shorten longer names or rearrange words to avoid tricky combinations of letters. For example, #SaraAndDave could become #DaveAndSara to avoid the double "a".

Capitalisation

Capitalise the first letter of each word to improve readability and ensure your guests can clearly see where each word begins and ends. This will also help your guests understand your joke or pun.

Check Before You Print

Before you finalise any save-the-dates or other wedding stationery, check that your hashtag hasn't already been used on social media. If it has, consider changing a letter to a number or picking a different word to avoid any mix-ups.

Sharing your hashtag

Sharing your wedding hashtag is an important step in ensuring your guests can use it. Here are some ideas on how to do this:

Pre-Wedding

If you have a wedding website, be sure to include your hashtag on it. You can also add it to your save-the-dates, wedding invitations, and other wedding stationery. This will ensure your guests see it multiple times and are more likely to remember it. You can also include it in pre-wedding celebrations, such as your engagement party, bridal shower, or bachelorette party.

During the Wedding

On the day of your wedding, there are many creative ways to display your hashtag. Consider including it in your wedding decor, such as on welcome signage, cocktail napkins, or a chalkboard. You can also use it as a photo booth prop or add it to your wedding guest book. If you have a wedding programme, menu, or place cards, these are also great places to include your hashtag.

Post-Wedding

After your wedding, you can continue to use your hashtag on social media posts and when sharing your professional wedding photos. This will allow your guests to see more photos from the big day and relive the memories.

Other Tips

• Use it early – Start using your hashtag during the wedding planning process so your guests will get used to seeing it and will be more likely to use it.
• Display it multiple times – The more your guests see your hashtag, the more likely they are to remember it and use it. So, don't be afraid to include it in multiple places.
• Make it clear – Ensure your hashtag is easy to read and understand. Capitalizing the first letter of each word can help with this.
• Make it memorable – A catchy and memorable hashtag will be more likely to be used by your guests. Consider incorporating wordplay, alliteration, rhymes, puns, or cultural references.
• Keep it unique – Check that your hashtag hasn't been used before to avoid confusion and to make it easier to find all the photos from your wedding.

Collecting and sharing photos

Before the Wedding

Share your hashtag with your guests ahead of time by including it on your save-the-dates, wedding invites, and wedding website. You can also announce it at pre-wedding events like your bachelorette party or bridal shower. This will get your guests used to the hashtag, and they will be more likely to remember to use it on the day.

During the Wedding

Display your hashtag around your venue with wedding decor, such as a welcome sign, a poster, or table cards. You could also provide a photo booth with a sign displaying the hashtag, or print it on cocktail napkins.

After the Wedding

After your wedding, you can collect all the photos and videos your guests took by searching the hashtag on Instagram. You can also use a service like eWedding or WedUploader, which allows guests to upload photos and videos to a central location, like your free eWedding website or your Google Drive. These services also allow you to moderate the content, deleting any images or videos you don't want.

Making it memorable

A memorable wedding hashtag is one that your guests will gravitate towards and use. It should be unique, innovative, and catchy. Here are some tips to make your wedding hashtag memorable:

Keep it personal: Opt for a wedding hashtag that represents you and your partner. It could be a play on your names, a combination of your initials, or a nod to your hobbies and interests. For instance, #JRTaleAsOldAsTime combines the groom's initials with a Disney-themed wedding.

Incorporate wordplay: Think alliterations, rhymes, synonyms, and puns. For example, #FinallyFoundMrWright is a clever take on a couple's shared last name.

Add numbers: Using your wedding date or year is a great way to personalise your hashtag and avoid duplication. It also ensures that only photos from your special day are aggregated when searched.

Avoid misspellings: Opt for shorter words that are easy to spell. You can also shorten longer names or use nicknames to prevent misspellings, especially after a few drinks!

Capitalise: Capitalising the first letter of each word improves readability and ensures your guests understand your pun or play on words.

Keep it short: A shorter hashtag will be easier to remember and will fit more easily on wedding decor like napkins and menus.

Check for uniqueness: Before finalising your hashtag, check social media platforms to ensure it hasn't been used before. If it has, consider changing a letter to a number or picking a different word to avoid confusion.

By following these tips, you can create a memorable wedding hashtag that your guests will love using!

Frequently asked questions