What is an Unplugged Ceremony, and Should I Have One?

Picture the scene: you're walking back up the aisle as newlyweds, greeted by the smiling faces of your loved ones, and there's not a single phone in sight. Doesn't that sound dreamy? In a world of constant connection, oversharing on social media, and 24/7 notifications, the idea of stepping into a world where love takes centre stage, and you say your vows surrounded by beaming faces instead of screens, is becoming increasingly popular. An unplugged ceremony offers a moment of pure connection, free from the distraction of screens, at one of life's biggest events: your wedding day.

Wedding ceremonies have undergone significant changes in recent years. Of course, there are some tropes and traditions that remain the same; the giving away of the bride, the legal vows binding you as a couple and the exchanging of rings. But there are many other ways in which this historic gesture of love and partnership has evolved and moved with the times; the inclusion of modern readings, bespoke raps and poems, the fact that the bride and groom can include personalised vows to each other, and the benefits of technology when it comes to wedding planning.

It’s fair to say that our phones are the centre of everything these days. They're our calendar, our bank, and our means of socialising and communicating with, well, everyone! Some might say we’re spending too much time on our phones, relying too heavily on them and not engaging with the world around us (that’s another article entirely!), which might go some way to explaining the growing trend of unplugged ceremonies. Understandably, some couples have just had enough!

So, what is an unplugged wedding ceremony?

An unplugged ceremony is where you politely ask your guests to turn off their devices, whether that's mobile phones, iPads, or cameras, basically turning this key moment in your wedding into a blissfully tech-free zone, which in turn means no distractions for the entire ceremony, leaving just you and them, fully present in one of the biggest events of your life. Going unplugged is most commonly limited to the wedding ceremony, though you may want to extend it to other key moments in your reception, such as your speeches and cake cutting. These days, it's not completely unheard of to have a totally unplugged wedding day.

You may wonder why on earth you’d have to stipulate something so simple to your guests - surely it's common sense that they shouldn't be on their devices? After all, they turn them off at the cinema! Sadly, common sense doesn't always prevail, and we often hear from professional photographers and celebrants who have had a beautiful ceremony interrupted by a WhatsApp notification, or the perfect shot ruined by a guest stepping into the aisle to get their own wedding photos. And just imagine walking down the aisle as beaming newlyweds to be faced with a sea of phones pointing at you instead of the joyous smiling faces of your loved ones…exactly.

Please don’t assume that your guests will naturally put their tech to one side for these special moments, because it’s likely they won’t - the temptation to capture it for themselves is just too great!

Banning mobile phones on your big day

Whereas it used to be common to find an "Uncle Bob" or two with their long lenses and nerdy interest in the latest photography gear at every wedding, these days, everybody fancies themselves an amateur photographer. And with phone cameras that really do give their professional counterparts a run for their money, it's no wonder. Everyone wants to capture picture-perfect images for Insta, or cinematic footage for TikTok, and what better place to flex your skills than at a beautiful wedding? But this is your beautiful wedding we're talking about, and perhaps you don't want your celebration overshadowed by a hundred phone screens!

If you’re considering an unplugged ceremony, it’s a good idea to give your friends and family advance notice and remind them again just before the ceremony begins. Initially, you could tell your guests via a note on your wedding RSVP website or on their wedding invitation. However, let’s be honest, we all need a little reminder now and again, so why not create a custom sign in your wedding colours and/or pop a note in the order of service. You can even request that your celebrant reiterate the message when they introduce your ceremony.

Here is a fun but firm way to include the request within your wedding signage…

Welcome to our unplugged ceremony. We have waited a long time to celebrate this moment with you, our favourite people. Please turn off and put away your phones; we just want to see your happy faces. We've hired an amazing wedding photographer who will be capturing the entire ceremony, and we promise to share the professional photos!

Sharing your professional photos

One of the beautiful things about having an unplugged wedding ceremony is that when your professional photographer delivers your gallery, it will be the first time you've seen any photos of you getting married - what a way to relive all the wedding feels! Once your photographer has delivered your pictures, you should be able to easily and seamlessly share them with your guests from your online gallery. From there, guests can usually download digital copies or purchase prints directly from your photographer.

Ultimately, requesting an unplugged ceremony is not too much of an ask - after all, this is your celebration, and you make the rules! Your guests should absolutely respect your wishes, and once they've adjusted to the idea, they're guaranteed to be much more present. As a result, you will all benefit from a much more memorable experience on the day. Plus, we can guarantee your photographer, videographer, and celebrant will thank you, too. It’s win-win all round!