Cellphones issue at wedding

Put it on the programs, put it on your website, have your ushers tell your guests when they are seated, make a sign for the entrance, and have your officiant announce it.

It's called an unplugged ceremony. Just state it on your program and have your officiant make an announcement.

We kindly request that you refrain from using your cellphone during the ceremony.

You could put it on the program ("Please join us for our unplugged ceremony, there will be plenty of time to post online later!" or something). You could make a sign at the entrance to the ceremony that mentions it's unplugged. Or you could even have the minister mention the cell phone thing before he begins the ceremony.

ETA: I apparently can't type in the morning, oy.

You can ask someone to announce it beforehand. I didn't, though. I loved the photos my friends had and none of them got in my photographer's way.

Our priest is going to make a quick announcement. I personally cannot stand people looking at their phones I stead of taking in the moment of a ceremony or special occasion. It just comes across as impolite and distracting. I agree with pp's about the program.

We have the following on our wedding website and programs: "To respect the sanctity of the church and to minimize interference during the ceremony, we ask that you refrain from taking pictures once the mass has begun."

We're also going to have someone announce this before the ceremony starts: "The ceremony is about to begin. Please silence all electronic devices. To respect the sanctity of the church and to minimize interference during the ceremony, we also ask that you refrain from taking pictures until mass has ended."

I'm a huge advocate for an unplugged ceremony. Not sure why anyone would think it's ok to be playing with their electronics when they should be there to celebrate with you. Celia's ideas are a great way to put it in place.

I am just saddened by the fact that we as a society are to this point. I shouldn't have to make an announcement. I feel it should be common sense and good manners to put the damn phone away, unfortunately this is the world we live in.

Put it on your web sit and on the program & have your offciant say it before the wedding.

The best way to put it is that you want to invite them to join you in this wonderful time and not be distracted, that you have an amazing photographer who will be taking pictures and that you want to see there face not there cell phones. Its not rude to ask people not to take pictures.

Laura, I feel the same way. You spend gobloads of money, time, thought and emotion to create a great day and people can't even get off their freaking phones for a half hour.

It really is disgusting. If you can't leave your phone off for a couple of hours, don't leave the house. What could be more interesting that what is happening in front of you? (The only exception is emergencies with kids and dogs. )

Yes! We're putting an insert card with the invitation, on the website, a sign, and dj will make an announcement before the ceremony. My friend's husband told me "I have a really nice camera, I'm sorry, but you're gonna want my pictures so I'm taking them anyway..." No honey, I'm not. That's what I hired our photographer for! My MOH's mom said she'd take the camera away from him if need be lmao. I don't understand why people can't just respect that I don't want a bunch of cell phone or hobbyist photographer images of my ceremony floating around Facebook. I've photographed one wedding and someone literally stood in front of me with their phone to get a picture of the bride coming down the aisle... I almost missed the one shot the bride requested because of peoples' ignorance! Sorry, I'm rambling now, but obviously it is almost strong subject for me lol

I love the unplugged wedding idea. Phones can come out at the party, but everyone should be preset during the ceremony.

I think you guys will appreciate this: http://mashable.com/2015/11/06/wedding-photographer-rant/

We are having an unplugged ceremony, and sharing that info through word of mouth. Our ceremony will be very small, so it shouldn't be an issue to tell everyone without putting it in the program.

I'm having a sign stating that it is an unplugged ceremony but feel free to snap away and use our hashtag after our first dance.

Our officiant asked guests to put their cell phones on silent at the beginning of our ceremony. Other than that, we didn't mention it anywhere and actually had our hashtag in the program. We did write "After the ceremony, share your memories with us by using the hashtag #...)

Not a single person's cell phone made it into our pro pictures. Not a single person was up out of their seat or in the aisle or interfering with our photographer's ability to take pictures. And I know some people took pictures with their cell phones because they sent them to be after the wedding. I LOVE so many of the pictures our guests took! They're not pro pics by any means, but I absolutely cherished them in the 4 weeks it took to get our pro pics back and I still love the first kiss pic my brother's gf took!

My point is, give your guests some credit. They're adults, and unless you know some really rude people, most people know how to behave at a wedding ceremony.