What is an unplugged ceremony? Let’s discuss the advantages and disadvantages of having one at your wedding so you can make the right decision for yourself. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for the latest to your inbox. It’s fun, promise!

What is the meaning of an unplugged ceremony and should you have one at your wedding?

More couples these days are considering unplugged ceremonies. However, the mention of a ceremony that is “unplugged” sounds confusing to some guests who may not know the meaning of it or what it entails. This blog post will tell you exactly what an unplugged ceremony is, the pros and cons of having one, and show you how to inform guests of your decision to have no cell phones at your wedding.

The term unplugged means to turn off your cell phones and cameras. No devices. Eyes up, focus on the couple.

Consider it a “no phone zone” at your wedding.

It applies solely to the ceremony, so guests needn’t worry: those bad dance moves and the evening celebration will be perfectly captured by all at the reception. :)

Think of an unplugged ceremony as a gentle reminder for guests to remain present at your ceremony. This means no fussing with cameras, no snapping social media posts on cell phones, and no attempts at one-upping the professional photographer you already hired.

Why Guests Take So Many Photos

Most guests aren’t trying to be rude; rather, they’re simply trying to capture a little memento from your ceremony but may be inadvertently getting in the way of a good snapshot from your wedding photographer.

The Trouble for Photographers

And since most cell phones are within an arm’s length these days, your photographer has a tougher time capturing the smiles and tears of joy on faces, and instead, gets a bunch of smartphone screens in front of their faces. This is not idea, as you can imagine.

It’s More Than Just the Photos

The unplugged ceremony meaning doesn’t only apply to the wedding pictures. It also has to do with the distractions that Smartphones, tablets, and cameras cause during the ceremony itself.

While guests are trying to listen intently to your wedding vows as you recite them, it can be disruptive to have your aunt or cousin fishing around in their purses or trying to take a full-length video.

It can be tough enough to hear the couple on the microphone, let alone focus while someone is trying to take dozens of snapshots while it’s happening in real life.

So, put the phone down. Focus. Put your eyes up and keep those smartphones out of view. It’s a nice thing to do for the couple and will make the event more memorable to you, as well.

Advantages of an Unplugged Ceremony

When you have a ceremony with no phones to disrupt it, here are some of the major pros you and your guests will enjoy.

► No screens visible in your professional photographs

► Easier job for your photographer (with fewer photo-shopping tasks after the fact!)

► No added noise and distractions from guests

► Seeing your guests’ beautiful faces in real life (not behind a screen!)

► A more peaceful, serene, and focused ceremony setting

► More attention on what’s important: uniting in marriage!

Disadvantages of an Unplugged Ceremony

On the other hand, here are the disadvantages of an unplugged ceremony.

► Guests may be irritated that you asked for no photos (but it’s your wedding, so…)

► Some guests may not understand and do it anyway

As you can see, the pros outweigh the cons. I think having a ceremony without distractions is a fantastic idea.

In order to to combat the biggest issues of having no phones at your wedding, you can do the following things to inform guests of your decision.

How to Inform Guests of the Unplugged Ceremony

You can’t blame guests who pull out their phones if you don’t properly inform them of proper protocol IF you do not attempt to explain what an unplugged ceremony means.

Many guests don’t know may snap pictures out of the kindness of their hearts. (They just want to capture the moment!)

So, do your best to inform them as much as possible before the ceremony begins to avoid a faux-pas.

Here’s how to have an unplugged wedding ceremony without sounding rude.

1. Unplugged Ceremony Sign

The best way to inform guests of your unplugged event is with a ceremony sign. You can place a sign like this one — it is easy to make and affordable here by iCustomLabel — and place it on an easel at the entryway of your ceremony site.

Here is the proper wording for an unplugged ceremony sign — as shown in the example above — that explains its meaning and is also worded kindly and with proper etiquette.

Welcome to our Unplugged Ceremony

We invite you to be fully present with us during our ceremony

Kindly put away your cell phones
and cameras until after the ceremony
and enjoy the moment with us.

With love,

[ Name & Name ]

As an alternate, you can select this version:

It reads,

“Eyes up, phones down, hearts open”

It’s simply put and recommended for guests who already know what an unplugged ceremony means.

For either style of sign you choose, a simple easel like this is all you need to display it, as the signage is a nice lightweight style.

When you place your sign at your ceremony, it is one of the first things your guests will notice and with which they’ll comply — hopefully.

In addition to the unplugged sign, be sure to follow it up with:

2. An Announcement from Your Officiant

The best way to inform guests in addition to an unplugged ceremony sign is with a formal announcement by your officiant. He or she can simply ask, “Please take a moment to turn off all cell phones at this time and keep cameras off until the reception.”

This way, if your guests do not know or understand the term unplugged and that it applies to both cameras and phones, it will be a reminder to keep devices in a pocket or purse.

While an unplugged ceremony may not be a good fit for all couples, it is one way to ensure your ceremony is more focused and has fewer obstructions in view. When you know the pros and cons of having one, you can make the decision that works best for you as a couple. This is a common thing nowadays to ask guests to put devices down, even if to avoid a phone ringing mid-ceremony (yikes!) By turning off phones and devices of all kinds, you can ensure your vision for your ceremony is perfect.

Now that you know the meaning of an unplugged ceremony, if you plan on having one it’s a good time to make a sign for it! This way, you’ll be able to inform guests of your decision and give them a “heads up” to respect the ceremony.

• Click here for one fantastic place to get an unplugged ceremony sign. They have many options available to suit your needs.

You’ll have it ready to display at your venue.

Hope it helps!

xo
Emma

This is a sponsored post.