There’s a moment that happens at almost every wedding I photograph. The registrar asks everyone to take their seats, the music starts, and instead of looking at the couple, half the room is holding up phones.
I understand it. People want to capture the moment. But here’s what I’ve noticed over the years, when guests are watching through a screen, they’re not really there. Not in the way that matters.
An unplugged wedding is simply this: asking your guests to put their phones away during your ceremony. To watch with their eyes, not their cameras. To be present rather than trying to preserve.
It sounds small. But the difference it makes is profound.
When guests aren’t reaching for their phones, something changes. The room becomes quieter, more focused. People watch your faces instead of their screens. They see the tear that rolls down your cheek during the vows, the way your hands shake slightly when you slide on the ring. They’re with you, not documenting you.
I’ve photographed ceremonies where the aisle is lined with phones, and I’ve photographed ceremonies where there isn’t a screen in sight. The energy is completely different. There’s an intimacy to an unplugged ceremony that’s hard to describe but impossible to miss once you’ve experienced it.
From a photography perspective, it also means I can do my job properly. No phones blocking my view during your first kiss. No screens creating a barrier between me and the moments I’m there to capture. Just clear sightlines and genuine reactions.
But it’s bigger than that. An unplugged wedding removes the pressure to perform for social media. Your day becomes about you, not about creating content. Your guests can cry without worrying about their makeup. They can laugh without thinking about how they look. They can just be.
The memories that stick with people aren’t usually the ones they photographed. They’re the ones they felt. The sound of your voice breaking during your vows. The way the light fell across your face. The feeling in the room when you were pronounced married. Those are the things people carry with them.
How to ask for an unplugged ceremony
You don’t need to make a big deal of it. A simple note in your invitation works: “We invite you to be fully present with us during our ceremony. Please keep your phones tucked away.”
A sign at the entrance. A gentle announcement from your officiant before you walk down the aisle. That’s all it takes.
Most guests, when asked, are relieved. They want to be present too. They just need permission.
If you’re considering an unplugged ceremony, or if you’re on the fence about it, I’m always happy to talk through what that might look like for your day. How to communicate it to guests, when to make exceptions (if you want to), what it means for your photography.
Because at the end of the day, your wedding is about connection. Between you and your partner, yes. But also between you and everyone you’ve chosen to witness this moment. And real connection happens when we look up from our screens and into each other’s eyes.
Shropshire Wedding Photographer | Unplugged Wedding Photography
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