Cell phones!

Unplugged ceremony sign

That is an amazing idea!

I put a note in the program. People took pictures anyway but nobody got in the way of our photographers.

My JP is making an announcement

A note in the program if you have one or a sign somewhere where the guest will see it when they walk in

You can put signs up, but please make them as not rude as possible. Some of the ones I've seen really rub me the wrong way.

That being said, people are going to do whatever they want. So even if you ask for an unplugged ceremony, you're still going to have people with their phones and cameras out.

You can also ask your officiant to say something. But again, people will do what they want.

Put up signs. You're not being the rude one.

Put it in the program.

Ask your ushers to remind people

Have your officiant make an announcement

Put it on the website.

I do want to be careful with the wording for sure. I just think it lacks class to be rapid shooting pictures on your cell phone. Just live outside your screen for a few minutes, I mean my ceremony is only going to be 15-20 minutes long. You'll live! Lol

Along with the unplugged request from the officiant, before any of the bridal party entered the ceremony room, it was listed on the FAQ page of our wedding website. The website address was on the save the dates, which were mailed-out 10 months before the wedding.

We did not use any signs.

Our florist draped some type of material along the chairs of the aisle, so guests could not walk out into the aisle - they entered the rows from the side aisles.

The officiant also requested that all guests remain seated, from the beginning of the processional, through the end of the recessional, and everyone complied. I've heard that at a number of other ceremonies and it really makes sense, because then everyone can see.

Hubby's uncle complained loudly at our rehearsal dinner, because his wife likes to take photos. She managed to take over 400 photos, after the ceremony. I'll reserve comment, about that ...

P.S. I didn't want my aisle to look like this:

Yes! That is exactly what I am trying to avoid!!

I promise, my aisle yesterday did not look anything like that. And while I was walking down, I didn't even see the photographer taking pictures, let alone any other guests.

I went to a wedding last fall where the officiant had the bride and groom take in the moment and look at the crowd first thing when they were both at the altar, told people this was your chance to take pictures, and to please refrain from using your phones or cameras for the rest of the ceremony. I thought that was a clever idea.

I'll probably do something similar, but by asking people to please respect our photographer during the ceremony.

Our officiant is making an announcement that it is an unplugged ceremony

I loved my plugged ceremony and seeing everyone taking photos/video. But that's just me.

We are going to do a phone check, no one will have their phone during the ceremony

@Jamie do you mean you are going to take away your guests' phones before the ceremony?

Jamie, you're going to frisk people for phones and confiscate them?

Jamie, that is rude AF. If anyone tried to collect my phone on my way in to a ceremony, I'd take my gift and go home. My phone is my personal property and you don't get to collect it just because you're getting married.

There's a lot of liability involved in taking someone's phone. Are they going to be secured? What system do you have to ensure that people get back their phone? What happens if someone's phone breaks in your care?

I would definitely not recommend taking your guest's phone.

I'm not too worried about this at my wedding, only because the pews at my church make it difficult to take the picture as I'm coming down the aisle. The set up in the church makes it so unless you're on the end you aren't getting the pic. Once my back is turned I don't really care. Plus with how old school my church is I don't think anyone will take their phone out.