Unplugged wedding. Just the ceremony or reception as well?

You can definitely have an unplugged ceremony, but I think it is a bit ridiculous and unrealistic to ask guests to not use their phones for 4hrs+ at the reception.

Our unplugged ceremony was great! For the reception our priority was for each guest to enjoy themselves fully. After all, the reception is for your guests, to thank them for coming. With that mindset, they can use their phones if they want to. I wasn't about to police the behavior of my guests at the part of the day that's for them, just for some prettier pics.

ETA and there are 0 cell phones visible in any of our pro pics from the reception, even though I know several of our guests were using them.

Thank you for other perspectives, my FH and i were unsure serve just seen some photos and we don't like it

Your guests will want to take photos with friends and family they don't see often. That will happen at the reception. I'd be right there with them posing for photos.

I think that could be some of the best photos that the photographer could miss in action photos

Ceremony only.

I am ALL OVER unplugged ceremonies. We offer this to all our couples and I would say at this point, 3/4 of our couples choose it. It's not just about people in the aisle; it's about being present for the ceremony.

But the reception? I don't think that will happen. People are fixated with their phones, with texting and instagramming every second of their life and as much as we'd all like that to stop? It won't.

Your ceremony is a sacred (even if secular) event, and it has one focus. It is completely realistic that you'd want no cameras or phones. But the reception? There are family and friend reunions going on and everyone want to take photos.

I'd pick your battles, honestly.

And Richard? I'd be looking for some money back. That is unforgiveable. It won't fix the gaffe, but it's something.

I think you are unlikely to succeed in keeping people off their phones during the reception. Phones are so ubiquitous now that some people would probably be upset you even asked.

Ceremony only.

I don't think an unplugged reception will work. I think it's rude.

I would be really annoyed if I was told I couldn't have my phone out at a reception. I'm not the type who is glued to my phone, but I do love taking pictures with friends and family at events. Telling people they're not allowed to use their phones during the whole reception is totally unreasonable.

Only way I think you could get away with unplugged ceremony is if you are royalty/celebrity. Ie the real princess kate and prince William had an unplugged reception so that pictures weren't leaked. But for anyone else that's an absurd ask and honestly you'd probably miss out of some great pics that people would take

I think the obsession with the phones is obnoxious, and we plan on doing an unplugged ceremony, but I think people would be pissed if we told them no phones during the reception. A few years ago a friend of mine got married and I recorded a bunch of their dances and some video of guests dancing with my phone. I didn't realize she didn't have a videographer, and when I sent them to her she was thrilled. They weren't videographer quality by any stretch, but they were happy to have them.

An unplugged ceremony is not an unreasonable or unusual request but to ask your guests not to use their cellphones during the reception is unrealistic. Plus you will run the risk of your photographer missing moments this the one in the photo below. The reception is a fun time for you and your guests to let loose a little and enjoy the celebration. So let loose and enjoy yourselves.