Should you have an unplugged wedding ceremony?

The short answer

It is your choice, and both choices work. An unplugged ceremony asks guests to keep their phones and cameras away while you marry, so they watch with their own eyes and nobody steps into the aisle. Some couples ask for it for the ceremony only and welcome phones again afterwards.

We photograph and film your ceremony either way. The useful question is what you would enjoy most as you walk down the aisle.

What unplugged means

There are three common versions. The first is ceremony only, where phones stay away until you have walked out. The second is the whole day. The third is a gentle request with no formal rule: stay in your seats and keep out of the aisle.

Whichever you choose, say so clearly and early, and ask your celebrant to repeat it at the start of the ceremony.

Why couples choose it

Faces, not screens. With phones away, there are fewer raised arms in the frame and more of your guests’ expressions to photograph and film, and you see them looking at you as you arrive.

Clear angles. We move around each other instinctively and agree where each of us will stand so guests are not blocked, and fewer arms and screens in the aisle make it easier for everyone to see the moment.

Presence. Your guests are fully there for the vows, the readings and the first kiss, and so are you.

Why some couples skip it

Some couples would rather not ask anything of their guests. A grandparent may want to share the moment with a relative who could not travel, and a request can feel formal for a relaxed day. If that sounds like you, it is a perfectly good choice.

You can also meet in the middle: no phones in the aisle, and one or two guests you trust to take a quick photograph for family who are not there.

How to ask kindly

Put it in your invitation or on your wedding website, so nobody is surprised. Add a small sign at the entrance, and ask your celebrant to say a few words before the ceremony begins.

A friendly, simple line works best. For example: “We would love you to be fully present while we marry. Please keep phones and cameras away for the ceremony. We have a photographer and videographer, so you can simply be there, and phones are very welcome at the party.”

Sneak peeks help too. With our photography and photo and video packages we typically deliver them around 24 hours after the wedding, so you can share a few photographs with guests who would love to see the day.

How we work, plugged or unplugged

Either way, we plan your ceremony with you. On our planning call about a month before the wedding, we talk through your venue layout, any officiant rules and any reading or surprise. Our main camera angles are managed personally, and a second angle may be added during the ceremony.

We work as a team, each capturing a different medium and often sharing angles, and we use a subtle nod to shift angle. The microphones on the groom and the officiant capture your vows in either case.

If you are still deciding

Ask each other what you would like the ceremony to feel like, and how much you would like your guests to be looking at you rather than at a screen. If you are not sure, start with ceremony only. Our guides to how long group photographs take and whether to have a first look cover two more choices that shape your day.

When you are ready, send an enquiry with your date and venue and we will reply within a few hours. An enquiry does not reserve your date; the £120 deposit does, once you are happy to go ahead.

Questions couples ask