MARYLAND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | MONDAY MEMOS | UNPLUGGING THE WEDDING

MARYLAND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | MONDAY MEMOS | UNPLUGGED WEDDINGS

On Mondays, we discuss wedding plans! Today, I’m sharing some insight about unplugged weddings. In order to try and remain subjective, I’ve used photos from my own wedding from the standpoint of being a recent bride myself. If you are currently planning, I hope this helps you decide whether this type of scenario is right for you.

All photos from today’s blog are provided by Lauren Fair Photography from our wedding last September.

While I never encourage or deter a couple from choosing an unplugged wedding, I have to say that I appreciate them. There are so many moments we spend tied to our electronics, specifically cell phones. This option offers couples a chance to ask their guests to engage with them and the memory being made, and not just posting it to social media.

So… what IS an unplugged wedding?

This is where the couple has decided to ask their guests to refrain from use of cell phones and cameras during their ceremony. This still leaves plenty of time for everyone to go selfie crazy during the cocktail hour and reception, but serves up everyone’s full attention to the moment unfolding before them. We served champagne and gave out confetti poppers (with gorgeous direction from EAlexDesigns on how to use), to encourage conversation and keep everyone’s hands busy.

Five Reasons to Go Unplugged

1. You are going to make your photographer SO happy. :)
2. Your guests will be tuned in to what’s happening, and not social media! They will talk with one another, laugh together, and truly be present for this meaningful event. Your closest friends and family will be looking at you and sharing in a moment that should be so special.
3. There are less bodies roaming and competing for photo opportunity. If you have hired photographers and/or videographers, there can be anywhere from two to six people already working around one another to capture your day. This can already be an overwhelming scenario for us, so keeping aisles and sidelines clear can help us all work to stay out of one another’s way while getting the best photo/video possible. In the event of an unplugged wedding, there is also much less risk that flash photography will conflict. Guests using DSLR’s often rely on an automatic pop up light atop their camera. Should this happen to fire exactly at the same time ours did, at the same time perhaps as your first kiss, it could overexpose and ruin the photo.
4. It encourages cooperation and time efficiency. The photographer can jump in, organize, and get through their shot list without interruption. Offering this exclusivity also ensures that all attention (and EYES) are on the photographer’s camera, and not a guests’. Family and bridal party photos can easily eat into half of the portrait time, so getting through those quickly can ensure there is still plenty of time to take intimate couple’s portraits-often the most important to the newlyweds.
5. It doesn’t mean you can’t still let your friends go photo crazy. Encourage them to whip our their selfie cameras during the reception by offering them a social media hashtag. In this case, you can have your cake, eat it, and get photos-too! You’ve set the tone that your professional photos are priority, while also allowing plenty of behind-the-scenes opportunity when you can actively be part of it.

No matter what you decide, your wedding day will be perfect because it’s what YOU wanted. Looking for more wedding planning tips? Check back next Monday! :)

-Ash

Photography | Lauren Fair Photography

Venue | Henderson’s Wharf Promenade

Florist & Coordination | Ginger & Blooms

Paper & Signage | EAlexDesigns

Dress | Francesca’s Bridal

Designer | Jim Hjelm

Suits | Jos. A. Banks