Unplugged Weddings?! What are they and should I have one?

Unplugged Weddings?! Yes or no? The short answer – Yes!
So many people now a days walk into a wedding ceremony and instead of focusing on the ceremony, they’re focused on taking out their camera, cell phone or worse their iPad–they walk around the ceremony site, stepping out into the aisle to grab just that perfect shot.

photo credit: http://www.cordelephotography.com

While yes, I am a firm believer in capturing the moment–I mean, duh, I am a photographer–I also believe in making sure that those super duper important and special moments be captured on a camera that is of professional quality.  Unfortunately we photographers are seeing a rise in missed shots because Aunt Betty just had to step out into the aisle as you and your brand new Groom take your first kiss, so she could get the best angle and not have cousin Jim’s head in the shot.

photo credit: orangegirl.com

 photo credit: Something New Entertainment

Well, this is wonderful for Aunt Betty, that her 6 megapixel iPad was able to capture this moment, but this is very unfortunate for you who spent thousands of dollars for us to capture that kiss on our 36 megapixel professional camera.

photo credit: Corey Ann Photography

The purpose of an “unplugged wedding” is to encourage and ask your guests to put away the phones and iPads and celebrate the moment with you. To be in the moment and watch your first kiss and capture it with their eyes and let us capture it on film. Film that we will share with everyone to put onto their phones so they can look back at it whenever they wish to.

photo credit: joesanphoto.com & Corey Ann Photography

Another factor is that sometimes those point and shoot camera’s flashes blow out my flash and sadly…these images aren’t savable 🙁

photo credit: Corey Ann Photography

People are taking a couple different approaches to encouraging their guests to “unplug”–from placing a sign at the front of the aisle, putting a note in the program, having your Officiate make a comment at the beginning, or even some couples have gone to the extreme measures as to ask family and friends to put their devices into baskets before the ceremony and to collect them at the end.

photo credit: Rustic Wedding Chic

Whether you decide to have an unplugged wedding and how you decide to ask your guests to respect those wishes is completely your decision. But I promise, it will be a decision that we will completely and totally support here at MEP! Even if you decide not to have an “unplugged wedding”, no worries, we’ll do our absolute best to get that kiss!!!