Unplugged Ceremony Signs?

I agree. I love seeing the photos friends and family take but dont want their phones in the photos that I'm paying good money for. If you figure out a way to phrase it please share.

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I will share for sure!! I also love getting people's perspective pictures and everyone taking photos together before the ceremony as well. I want our guests to feel comfortable and part of the event not bossed around.

Specify for sure no phones during the ceremony. Most photographers know how to work around people on their phones. They’ll focus on the guests on the dance floor or while they’re eating. And most people, when they see a camera pointed their way, get off their phones anyways.

This is the wording we are using. I also think this is a know your crowd kind of thing. I have family members that would for sure be standing in the aisle with their old digital cameras taking pictures. So I just chose the no phones/cameras at all during the ceremony.

Yeah I'm only talking about the ceremony, obviously they can use them the entire rest of the day/evening. To be honest, I don't even care if they have them for the ceremony. I just don't want people standing/leaning into the aisle to take photos. They could be live streaming for all I care, just don't show up in my professional pictures. That is the sign I am looking for. We don't mind just be discreet.

I was very anti-unplugged UNTIL we went to my cousins wedding a month or so ago and she couldn't even walk down the aisle because everyone was standing in it with their phones doing video. The photographer couldn't get through everyone to get any pictures so the only pictures of her walking down are the few other people took that weren't doing video. Knowing that most of this same crowd will be attending mine, I refused to let that happen.


Ours says something like we want to see your faces, not your devices. Please put down your phones and cameras until after were announced Mr and Mrs.

Having your officiant make an announcement before the ceremony also helps, in addition to a sign!

There’s no verbiage that I can think of for a sign, but if you’re doing programs you could say something like “you’re welcome to take photos of your own, but please don’t block the view of our photographer” or have your officiant make an announcement.

View Quoted Comment I really like this!

Amazon has some really great signs! I found one that was cute and at the bottom it said something like "plus our photographers are awesome and like to share" so I might go with that one. Plus like the PP above have your officiant or the dj make an announcement. Well probably do both.

Definitely not a weirdo! I feel the same way. Part of me wants completely unplugged so that there are no problems with our photographers getting their shots. The other part of me is worried that something is going to go horrificly wrong with their cameras and we won't have any photos at all. I have yet to find a sign or wording to convey that message. I have thought of asking one cousin to take photos with her phone as a designated guest photographer because I trust her to be discreet and not get in the way, but I don't know how that would look if we ask for unplugged then there she is snapping away with her phone.

Our officiant will be making announcement before the the start of the ceremony.

I would pass on the signs, people don't read them, lol. Have your officiant say something before the service starts, for certain, and put something in a program if you are having one. If it makes you feel any better, we went to a wedding yesterday and only about five people, out of about 80, took pictures during the ceremony and it was during the vows. We were seated in the back of an amphitheater and I have a full view of everyone! And there was no mention in the program nor did the officiant say anything!!! So there is hope!!!

I have a couple guests who I knew would be using their phone during the ceremony even with the sign so I just told them if they are going to take pictures to try and hide the phone and not go any higher than their shoulder length. I got some cute pictures from guests that the photographer missed that arnt best quality but it’s nice to still have them. I also didn’t have a single picture of guests using their phones during the ceremony so it ended up being a win win

I've seen one that says something along the lines of "feel free to take photos while we say our vows, but please stay out of the aisle so our photographer can do their thing"
Obviously the wording was more eloquent but yeah. I think they also had tulle blocking the aisle so guests could only enter the pews from the non aisle side.

I just attended a wedding with an "unplugged" sign, and I found it quite refreshing. A wedding I had attended the year before had people getting in the aisle, standing up at thier seat ect. So it was nice to see family and friends focused on the ceremony. Because it is you and your significant other's day, and y'all have paid money on a professional photographer, who'll capture each moment. Plus at this last wedding it was just nice to see everyone focused on the bride and groom, not their phones.

We are having our officiant make an announcement prior to the start of the ceremony

Y'all are on to something with the officiant saying something. It's true most people don't read signs and having an "official" announcement made might make some guests take more notice to that versus a sign they won't notice. Great advice WW!!

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Honestly it's going to be easier to have all or none. If they have their cell in their hand they are more likely to not even realize they are in the way. It was actually our venues rule that there were no phones/cameras out during the ceremony and I was so glad for that. They made an announcement before we came out as a reminder to please put them away and enjoy the ceremony. People all listened and we have the best pictures because of it. Even if people do know how to be more discrete you will still see people with phones in your pics.

I cannot imagine how different this picture would have been if MIL had been allowed to have a phone out. This was her reaction when I walked out. I am so thankful for the professional photographer! She captured so many things and we did not miss out at all by not having ceremony pics from guests

I am going to go 100% with absolutely no phones during my ceremony. My bestfriend got married last year and she had a sign up, but absolutely no one observed the sign and people were taking pictures and videos and I could even see others trying to watch the ceremony moving around, the person in front of them's phone, that was being held up like it was lion king. I will be making an announcement before the ceremony.