The concept of an unplugged wedding ceremony has recently taken the spotlight in the wedding industry, and we can understand why. Put simply, an unplugged ceremony involves asking guests to put away their phones and all technology, for the duration of the ceremony. Whether you’re planning an unplugged wedding ceremony or you’re on the fence as to whether you should opt for one, we’ve got all you need to know in this comprehensive guide. Read on for more on what an unplugged ceremony involves, the pros and cons, and some tips and tricks for telling your guests about it.
An Unplugged Wedding Ceremony – the Lowdown
An unplugged wedding ceremony is all about disconnecting from technology and plugging into the moment itself. It generally involves asking guests to refrain from using their phones in any way during the ceremony – this means no social media or even taking photos. However if this feels like too much, you could temper the rule slightly. This could involve asking guests to just limit their phone use as much as possible, for instance.
While some couples ask their guests to disconnect for the whole day (also known as an unplugged wedding), other couples opt for just an unplugged ceremony and/or reception.
The Pros and Cons of an Unplugged Wedding Ceremony
Is an unplugged wedding ceremony for you? Here are some of the pros and cons to help you to decide.
Firstly, the Pros:
Guests will (hopefully) be more present in the moment. One of the main rationales behind the unplugged concept is that disconnecting from technology is a great way to connect into the wedding itself. Ultimately, your guests will be more present in the moments which matter most, without a screen (or any distractions like phones ringing or vibrating) getting in the way.
Your wedding photographer will thank you! Asking guests to put their phones away will help to avoid the problematic scenario where a well-intentioned guest steps out to take a photo and blocks the path of the photographer in a key moment.
You’ll have more control over when and where your ceremony photos are shown. If the idea of seeing photos of your wedding ceremony for the first time on someone else’s social media account makes you shudder, then an unplugged wedding could be perfect for you. By asking guests to refrain from taking photos during the ceremony, you’ll have greater control over which images are posted online (and when), and which images you’d prefer to be kept private.
READ MORE: Rebecca & Ben’s BriDGERTON INSPIRED Unplugged Wedding at Pynes House
The Potential Downsides:
You’ll need to ask your guests if they don’t mind unplugging for the portion of the day, which can be slightly nerve-racking! Once you’ve let your guests know about the rules, you might also have a few difficult guests who resist the idea of putting away their phones. At the end of the day, it’s worth weighing up whether it’s worth the potential downsides for the benefits of an unplugged wedding ceremony. We’ve also got some ideas of easy and effective ways to tell your guests that you’re having an unplugged ceremony just below – keep reading to see them.
READ MORE: Your Civil Wedding Ceremony Guide
The Best Ways to Announce that You’re Having an Unplugged Ceremony
It’s true that having an unplugged wedding ceremony is very much a two-part process; opting for the unplugged concept on the one hand, and letting your guests know on the other. So, we’ve included some ideas of subtle yet effective ways to tell your guests about an unplugged ceremony below…
Before the Day
Incorporate it into the Wedding Invitations and/or Your Website:
This can be a great way to give your guests a heads up, before the actual wedding day. Just make sure that your information is clear and easy to understand.
What to say? You could give a brief summary of what an unplugged wedding ceremony is. After this, you could either give a few of your reasons for choosing this style of ceremony, or go straight to asking if your guests wouldn’t mind following the concept. You can find some useful templates here.
On the Day
Write it into the Wedding Programme
Even if you’ve already written it on the wedding invitations and/or website, putting a few words into the wedding programme can be a useful reminder to your guests. You could compliment this with an announcement from your celebrant, reminding everyone to put their phones away before the ceremony begins. It’s a great time to do this at the start of the ceremony, while everyone is waiting for the bride to arrive.
Incorporate Some Reminders into the Décor
This could involve strategically placing a few signs in frames around the ceremony room, or just outside it. If you have a welcome board, you could also include a small (yet visible) sentence about your unplugged ceremony on it.
A TIP: When you’re telling your guests about your unplugged wedding ceremony, it can be a great idea to highlight the fact that you’ll share the professional photos with them after (if you’re happy to do so), or to draw attention to any other photo opportunities you’ll have in the day, like a photo booth.
READ MORE: Non-Religious Wedding Ceremony Readings
We hope this comprehensive guide on choosing an unplugged wedding ceremony has been helpful in your wedding planning endeavours. We’ve got plenty more useful wedding planning guides on the blog too – have a look at our most recent post on the top UK wedding trends for 2023 (from bold colours to outdoor wedding ceremonies, it’s going to be a great year!). Anything else? Please get in touch, or reach out on Facebook or Instagram.