CONSIDER HAVING AN ‘UNPLUGGED WEDDING’

You’ve hired a professional wedding photographer to take photos. Sometimes a professional photographer has a difficult time doing their best for you when trying to shoot around the paparazzi.

In this digital age, we have phones that have 8 mega pixel cameras and the ability to instantly share photos with hundreds of friends via social media, it is no surprise that guests are constantly snapping away and uploading photos.

Even when not taking and uploading photos they are still constantly checking comments, likes, tweets the list goes on. Then, every wedding also has someone who is a hobbyist photographer who has a great photography kit and loves to take photos. We actually encourage all of this. We adore the fact that world now loves photography as much as we do. It truly is a visual age.

But with everything amazing. Occasionally there is too much of a good thing. And occasionally just a few little rules need to be put in place.

We personally have rules here at home... just in life... no phones at the dinner table. Emails off when we walk through the door. We try to put our phones down by 9pm. These are just little life habits that we try to put into action to help us be more present in the moment and more focused on who we are with at the time.

And so sometimes, it's a nice idea to put those same little life hacks into effect during your wedding.

UNPLUGGED WEDDINGS: ENSURE YOUR GUESTS ARE ‘THERE’

We've had giant iPads stuck out in the aisle obscuring the photographer's view of the bride and her father coming down the aisle. We've had a selfie stick almost know out a groom. There's been the hobbyist friend who followed the bride down the aisle taking photos so he was in every single photo of her and her treasured images with her father walking her down the aisle.

If you have any friends or family who might get a little excited about taking photos on your day. don't discourage them. You don't want to hurt their feelings. But defineitely have a little talk to them. Explain that you've invested a lot of money in a professional photographer and perhaps they should either stay behind them. Or maybe just put the phones and iPads down until the reception.

Or maybe you might be one of our couples who actually love all the gadgetry in your images. You might embrace it maybe make it a part of your day. However, just know that you may not realise how this can effect the images and moments captured by your photographer until after your wedding day. It's just something to consider.

We think it's nice to have your guests to switch off from the outside world and enjoy the surroundings, especially for the ceremony, and have them view the day through their eyes and not an LCD screen. You invited your guests to come and celebrate your love on this day so you want them to be ‘there’.

And we're not vilifying guests. They're just excited and love to share. Taking photos of everything on our phones is now almost a habit. Sometimes the just might need a little reminder that you've invested a lot of money in hiring a professional. And you want them to be 'IN' the photos. Not taking them. Let them know that they can sit back and enjoy and appreciate the moment.

SO I SHOULD BAN PHONES?

Phones don’t need to be banned. In fact, it's fun to have some extra 'phone' shots during the non-important times.

When we plan a wedding we kindly ask your guests to not take photos during the ceremony and turn off the ring tone for the ceremony and while you walk down the aisle.

Speak with your wedding photographer, ask them if there are a few shots you can share with your guests not long after the wedding, this could be via social media or email, it doesn’t matter, just make sure your guests know they will be able to see some photos and can relive the day.

Location: The Sodoh, Kyoto Japan.

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