Unplugged Ceremonies: Offensive or No?

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There is nothing wrong with wanting an unplugged ceremony. First of all it’s your wedding so you should be able to have and do what you want on that day. Second at most it’s be a hour that your asking for people to not use their devices, which isn’t very much. We are having an unplugged ceremony as well because we want to see our family’s happy faces both at the ceremony and in the pictures from our photographer. If anything maybe have another conversation with your mom to find out if there’s an underlying reason she is so upset about it.

I do not think there is anything wrong with unplugged ceromony. But I would be careful posting things on FB unless all you FB friends are invited to the wedding.

Love it love it love it! I plan to at least have an unplugged ceremony. I love my family but I don’t want someone leaning into my isle with a phone or iPad and obscuring the photographers view! There are super cute ways to nicely tell people this. Pinterest has A TON of ideas on cute but nice ways to say this! If someone finds it offensive then they’re the ones that would do it we’re it not a no-no for y’all’s wedding. I would ignore them. Remember that it’s YOUR day, not theirs. You and your fiancé are the ones looking back at your pictures and sharing memories forever, not them.

Mom.... definitely overreacting. HOWEVER.... What exactly do you intend to do to the MANY people who WILL be on their phones anyway?...... Your answer is likely...ummmm NOTHING. so why bother? You're sharing this moment with people who love you. It's not necessarily rude because they will be grabbing priceless footage of YOU. My suggestion is don't be selfish in this moment. As much as we'd like to think it's OUR moment, TRUST you're mother, Dad your aunt, your (whatever) relative is SO VERY happy and they feel as if it's THEIR moment too. ESPECIALLY your parents. At times we can tend to get a little overly particular with wedding demands on guests. We may be paying A LOT for our weddings, but there is a reason we do it.....FOR OUR GUESTS and LOVED ONES. How would you feel if no one showed up to your wedding? SHARE the moment and be flexible. It's totally not worth fighting over. God forbid, something bad happens like at my friend's wedding. the photographer could not use a flash and she had NOT ONE decent photo of her ceremony. She's been begging people to send her ANY pictures or video taken on their phones. What if the photographer loses those pics in an unfortunate mishap. Or, your lose them in an unfortunate mishap? You could recover those precious photos and videos through your guests pics and footage. I will be permitting footage and pics with phones. Someone will likely capture something AMAZING... and you'll be glad you did 😉 If you can't do anything about those who WILL break your rule... then why have it in the first place. Hope this gives a different perspective.

An alternative. Perhaps state your preference in another manner. Something like, " Our ceremony will be heavily photographed and videoed. We'd prefer to capture your lovely face rather than your cellphone."

I know that I had to talk to a couple people who were thinking I meant no phones for the whole wedding vs. just the ceremony. I cleared that up and haven't had any more issues thankfully.

Unplugged all the way! It’s your day and I think everyone on there phone is annoying already! Put the phone away or go. I haven’t told anyone this yet but I’m doing the same thins. At the reception do what you want.

I am also doing an unplugged wedding. In my personal opinion if someone is that upset that I'd rather have them seeing my wedding instead of on their phone, they can stay home. I want the people there that love and support me and my decisions. If they are going to get that upset over something so small then that is their choice. But it is your wedding, and if you want it unplugged then they should respect your wishes.

Our rabbi is making an announcement for no cell phones etc. he told us he’s seen a grandmother holding up an iPad and blocking everyone’s view to record the ceremony.
we don’t have a videographer so the photos are even more important to tell our story. I may have 1 person in the front take video but that would be designated by us.

I dont think it’s offensive to have an unplugged ceremony but I definitely wouldn’t ask guests to not be on their phones. People can do what they want and ultimately you can’t control them. We actually had some awesome guest photos from our ceremony! As long as the guests aren’t being obnoxious and leaning into the aisles and getting in the way I think it’s totally fine. Your mom is being a bit dramatic tho.

It has never been considered rude to request no regular cameras or videos at any private party, and the same is true of modern electronics. People have a right to privacy, not to have photos taken that they have not approved, not to have them ever taken in a format if electrinuc files in which they can be zapped all over the universe, seen it used by anyone, for any purpose, in seconds. Also, you hire and have a contract with a photographer, and if you or they want to do their work without people getting in the way, or having shots ruined by people standing or raising arms, that is the host's right.
And, as in any concert or theatre, it is always rude for someone to block the view if others, whether with an outlandish hat, standing while others are sitting and trying to see, or with an upraised arm. People are really aggressive about their entitlement to use their toys anywhere. But the principles of good manners have not changed, and at a private event, host's rules are to be observed, or else the guest should not come/ or leave.
Your mom is wrong. And has publicly declared to the world that she has no manners, has no respect for the privacy of others who request it, and has no respect for her in daughter's wishes. What a nasty thingshiwing about your mom on social media, for all to see.

When we were looking at venues, a few years back, the owners of the Inn asked if we wanted the cell service turned off, and for how long. In a no service area, the Inn Wi-FI was transmitted by hardwired cable. We had it turned off from 15 minutes before the ceremony, to after dinner and speeches. With toll free phone calls in hardwired land lines available at the front lobby, for anyone to give out to family at home , and landlines in every room we're toll free, but not where the wedding was. I was thrilled. We had not expected it, and that was the deciding factor for then FI over a different Inn he originally favored. He has several camera happy sisters and sisters-in-law, who really messed up his siblings weddings months and weeks before we were venue shopping. The priest interrupted Mass at one, to ask people taking pics to leave, they were so disruptive.

I am sorry . I think she is taking to far . I wasnt a fan of unplugged weddings until my photographer and my wedding venue manager explained why . I never thought of it like that. I just wanted to get a photo of the bride or groom or both .. *I would NEVER get out of my seat or cause a distraction or anything like that . EVER !!! That’s just common curiosity . * I’m a huge picture person and love random photos , I would take a literally 1 or 2 photos and be done of ceremony. The stories my Venue manager told me about with people blocking the perfect shot Ext.. left me speechless. Even though I am not that type of person, next wedding I attend wether it’s unplugged or not , my phone will be put away.
I’ll get photos at the reception moving forward . we haven’t decided if we will be unplugged or not .. but I will never be the guest with the photos again, even for the 1 or 2 shots from my seat .

I love this idea. I shared some photos and a post I had seen on Facebook as well. I had many people “like” it and my future MIL “laughed” at it, but I LOVE the idea. Be in the moment. Enjoy the ceremony. At the reception I really don’t care. My photographer will get amazing shots regardless but I love the idea of unplugged.

I pretty much agree with everyone else. I love the unplugged ceremony idea & well be doing it at our wedding next June as well. I mean if shes really willing to not attend over something so trivial why is she supporting the wedding in the first place. That's terrible for her to be acting like that, could she be stressed & taking it out on you. I hope she realizes it's a good thing & not a bad thing sooner rather than later.

It is not rude at all. It is what you want and I understand your reasoning

Your mom is being unreasonable. Our photographer actually has something in the contract about an unplugged ceremony. He doesn’t require it but strongly encourages it and explains why. Maybe talk to her about it and make sure she understands she will get copies of the professional pictures. Or tell a small white lie and blame it on your photographer? lol Maybe not though, that might blow up. But either way this is about you and your FH- not your mom. Hopefully she comes around.

I plan to have an unplugged ceremony, the main reason being my mom actually. She's very forceful with her tablet for photos and has no problem getting in the way of other people because she believes its her right to if she wants to. She also has no problem telling someone so if they say something or complain. She thinks I'm joking about it for her and it won't apply to her...I'll have to make sure I had the tablet until after the ceremony.

Your mom is overreacting completely. Hopefully she can be reasoned with at some point with the help of other family. But if she is so adamant I also have an attitude of "if you don't show up then that will be your loss, I'll still go on and enjoy my day but you'll be the one who made that choice and will regret it forever." You can't control other people but a douse of reality helps sometimes, even if you do it just to bluff.

My husband and I just got married on June 8th and we had an unplugged ceremony. Pastor made an announcement and we also had a sign. A few people did not listen. It was a little disappointing walking down the aisle seeing the few that did not listen jumping over people to take my picture walking the down aisle. It looks tacky