Photographer Thomas Stewart recently posted an excellent unplugged wedding post on facebook. You may have seen it – it was shared more than 65,000 times.

Yeah. You read that right. 65,000 shares.

It’s an awesome post. He hits the main points well and hard:

• Guest devices and cameras get in your photographer’s way.
• They get in your way (that pitiful groom, leaning into the aisle to see his bride).
• It’s not usually worth the trade – guests’ pictures suck.
• Your guests are less engaged in your big day

It clearly struck a nerve – it was passionate and well-written.

But I do have one bone to pick.

In your invites, tell everyone you’re having an unplugged ceremony: no technology, please, Write it on a chalkboard which guests can see as they arrive on the day. Tell your celebrant / minister / priest to tell the guests at the start of the ceremony. HIRE A PLANE TO WRITE IT IN THE SKY!

Here’s the disconnect. Invitations are not the right place to announce an unplugged wedding.

Invitations need to convey some very specific things:

• Who’s inviting
• Who’s getting married
• Where’s the wedding
• When’s the wedding

And they often have to do a lot more – convey information about the reception, attire, schedule, etc.

Including a note about an unplugged wedding dilutes the important details.

It gives more information than is necessary.

 

The better place to announce it

I think the absolute best place to announce an unplugged wedding is at the wedding. Thomas hit that right on the head. Write it on a mirror. Put it in your program. Have your officiant announce it. These are all perfect places to do this.

Why?

Because it’s there when your guests actually need to be reminded.

Putting it in your invitations isn’t going to cause your cousin to leave her gold iPhone at home. She’s bringing it either way. Frankly, by the time the wedding comes, she’s probably not going to remember that you asked her not to take pictures anyway. But telling her while she’s sitting in her seat, phone in-hand, is much more likely to be effective.

Please. Consider having an unplugged wedding. You and your guests will have a better experience.

But please consider waiting until the big day to ask your guests to put down their phones and be present.