You Should (Probably) Have a Screenless Wedding

We live in a society where everyone is an amateur photographer/videographer. We each carry phones in our pockets that can take stunning photos and videos with the right settings and apps. We naturally want to capture everything and share with the world. However, we've all been in places and events where these phones can become distracting and take away from the experience itself.

While I don't particularly mind weddings where attendees are a little discreet with snapping a quick photo or video, the issue comes when someone has their phone out for an extended amount of time, sometimes obstructing the view of others. I have seen wedding guests step out into the aisle while the bride is entering. I have seen them crowd around the cake-cutting ceremony. On a rare occasion, I have seen people even whip out iPads to start recording. One of these iPad incidents even occurred after the wedding planner specifically asked guests not to use their screens. Not only will it be a distraction to the photographers and videographers, but it will also be a distracting to other guests who are sitting behind or near this individual. There will also be the possibility of these devices showing up in your official photos and videos if we are not able to remove them easily.

Another possible occurance is the friend/relative who decides they want to practice being a wedding photographer at your wedding. They may bring their own professional camera and insert themselves into big moments beside the paid photographers. This can impede your professionals from moving around easily. When I arrive at a wedding, I first introduce myself to photographer and coordinate setup locations with them so that we can work around each other and avoid being in each other's line of sight during important moments. This can be complicated when an unexpected photographer shows up as well. On top of that, some venues have really tight spaces for maneuvering and extra people will make it difficult to reposition. If you have a relative or friend that wants to take photos, it is best to ask your paid professionals first to make sure that person won't be in the way.

You most likely paid a fair amount of money to have professional pictures and videos made. You should feel comfortable with asking your guests to put away their phones and your guests should be ready to respect your wishes. They will have plenty of opportunity to grab personal photos during the reception, or at other moments outside of scheduled events. At the same time, neither you or the wedding planner should feel the need to police someone if you see them snapping a quick photo, only if it becomes an obvious distraction to your professionals or other attendees.