Unplugged weddings are becoming increasingly popular, a lot of wedding photographers are recommending them and there have been a lot of viral images and articles on the topic.

So what is an unplugged wedding?

An unplugged wedding is a wedding where guests are asked to turn off their phones, cameras and electronics and be present to enjoy the special day. You’ve hired a professional photographer you trust who is already documenting the day, so your guests can sit back and enjoy the day. Sometimes it is only an unplugged ceremony, sometimes it’s for the whole day.

There are a few different reasons people opt for an unplugged wedding and I’ve shared a few below.

See Faces not Devices

When you walk down the aisle you should be seeing the smiles of your loved ones, not a sea of phones and cameras! You want to see and feel the emotion and the love.

Photo bombing Guests

It’s sad when the couple misses out on what would have been a beautiful album image because a guest suddenly jumps into the aisle to take their own photo on their phone, blocking the photographer. As a professional wedding photographer I’ve learnt to adapt to changing circumstances, move quickly and unobtrusively to another vantage point, however it’s impossible to predict everything! There’s also not a lot that can be done when multiple guests are holding up ipads, or holding their cameras, phones and selfie sticks into the aisle.

Social Media

A lot of couples prefer that their professional images are the first images shared on social media. People are so used to sharing their own experiences online now that guests might not even consider that maybe the couple would like to be the ones to announce their wedding. I photographed a wedding where the bride had to ask a bridesmaid to delete an image she’d shared online before the ceremony! I’ve also seen guests share an image on social media straight after the ceremony, of a surprise wedding! This phone image was ultimately an announcement to all their friends and family online and the couple had no control over it!

Formal Portraits

Generally there is a tight time frame to capture the family portraits. When guests are capturing the same moment over the photographers shoulder, the guests eyes are looking at different cameras and it takes a lot longer to get images where everyone is looking at the one camera!

What are your thoughts on unplugged weddings?

If you’re after more wedding planning tips and inspiration? check out these posts!

Happy wedding planning!

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