In A Time Long Ago…

…guidelines for weddings focused mostly on seating. Now, thanks to the convenience of 3G, tablet and technology, couples setting up weddings have a new question to ask themselves: do we say something about the cellphones? Some have opted for asking friends and family to turn in their cellphones and devices at coat check, others just put up a friendly sign to remind them. For those with a sense of humor, some have even announced it similar to how you would hear at a movie theatre. But why? Most people would assume that people would know not to take photos during a ceremony, but some Instagram lovers just can’t resist the temptation of their loved ones at their happiest.

But Why Are Cellphones An Issue?

The real issue is not being present, and in the moment. Wedding-goers find themselves focused on “oh my god how cute is that?!” instead of enjoying and embracing all the work that went into the wonderful day. Some brides will ask guests to turn off phones for the ceremony; nobody wants to be sitting behind the person holding their cellphone in the way. It can also be fun to ask them to put away for the reception, giving it that grad-night-secret-party feeling. I can imagine a wedding that embraced it too-with hashtags and encouragement from the couple.

How To Break The News

If you’re feeling bad about it, just remind yourself (and your guests if you want) that you hired professional photographers for a reason. That way you can rest assured knowing that people will have memories caught for later. If you want more help deciding on the importance of a wedding photographer, check our last blog (Capturing The Moment). Remember that your wedding is your day. If you don’t mind guests on their cellphones, or think they’ll be gracious enough not to use them, that’s entirely your choice. The best part about a wedding is the fact that you can customize it to fit you, and they reflect the couple in that way.