We live in an ever-evolving world of social media and tech. A world where Instagram handles are handed out more than business cards and dancing down a grocery isle is no longer seen as crazy, but rather a solid Tik Tok bit. And while there is a lot of positive elements to our tech-centric lifestyles, there are also a lot of negatives. We’ve all seen it. The family buried in their individual phones at a restaurant table – oblivious to the people around them. The eccentric ladies with cameras in hand, blocking your view, at your favorite concert – taking selfie after selfie with the flash brightly bouncing off your face. The four-year-olds who are able to navigate YouTube better than a library book (my kid is guilty as charged!). As a whole, it’s important to step back, especially during important moments, to remember the simplicity of life and love and the importance of living in the moment. This is especially true during a wedding. The last thing any bride wants to remember is their cousin interrupting the first dance to film a Tik Tok to the couple’s chosen song, nor do you want your bridal portraits rudely crashed by Aunt Jill, who continues to stand in front of the professional photographer to get poorly edited I-Phone photos to send to her friends out west. Nope. If there is ever a day to live in the moment and abandon those precious I-Phones and devices, a wedding is the day to do it. Here are four solid reasons to encourage an unplugged wedding:
Block’s the view of the photographer and other attendees: I have been to several weddings, during which one or more of the guests stand up, mid-ceremony, to capture the “perfect shot.” Unfortunately, what they would perceive as the “perfect shot” is typically not the case for the bride/groom. Rather, the guest is more likely serving as a large obstruction to the people around them, including the professional photographer, who was hired to take photos.
Distracts from the “moment”: Aunt Jill is at it again, snapping photo after photo on her I-phone from the second row. If I’m the guest sitting behind her, I’m more likely to be focusing on her phone and camera edits, then the actual wedding in front of me. Why? Because it not only is an obstruction of view, but also a distraction. It’s easier for the eye to gravitate to her chosen SnapChat filters than the vows occurring three rows ahead of me.
Tech-zombies: The reality is people don’t need to see other people using their phones to become distracted; frequently, their own phone serves as the greatest distraction. In an effort to reduce boredom or avoid awkward exchanges with other guests, people gravitate to their screens. Before you know it, everyone is face down, absorbed in social media or sports stats, while the bride and groom cut the cake, alone in the corner.
Reduces the number of quality images: Unless you have married into a family of professional photographers, the photos and videos you will obtain from your guests will not be the photos you are wanting. Weddings are difficult to photograph – variance in lighting, large groups of people, and obtaining the right balance in photos all makes obtaining quality photos challenging. If your guests are impeding on the photographer’s ability to do so, it only makes this challenge even harder.
Convinced an unplugged wedding is right for you? Check out our article on how to encourage an unplugged wedding with your family and friends.