An Unplugged Wedding is a wedding where you ask your family, friends, and guests to refrain from using their phones, tablets, and cameras during the wedding so they may be more present and enjoy the day without watching through a screen.
So here we go, Unplugged or Nah. This is such a great question with a very large popular opinion. A lot of photographers will rave over unplugged weddings, some will even give discounts to brides who decide to do them. The PRO'S: 1.) Your photographer will love it - Guests are actually sitting in their seats instead of the middle of the aisle (Aunt Nancy, you know who you are). This will allow your photographer to move around much more freely.
2.) Your guests will be present in the moment - Instead of focusing on getting the perfect shot, they will be present, watching with their own eyes.
3.) Less phones and more faces! This one speaks for itself!
Now, don't get me wrong. All of these are great reasons for having an unplugged wedding. But here is where my unpopular opinion comes in.
4 Reasons why I'm in the Nah category:
1.) Grandmas Fridge - Alright, hear me out. Picture Grandma sitting at your ceremony, snapping away on her little Kodak camera. These images are so incredibly important to her, because she took them. They are her memories. Captured with her own eyes in her own hands. 9x out of 10 she will go home and print those memories the day after the wedding and will have them on her fridge as soon as she possibly can! She is so proud of her sweet granddaughter marrying the man of her dreams, she will want to show it off to just about everyone! In a digital world, I see couples printing their wedding images less, and less. Grandma may never actually receive those beautiful wedding images, the images on her little Kodak camera may be all she has of her granddaughters wedding day. "No matter how superior my technical skills or artistic impression may be, guests want to capture the moment…for themselves." - Jasmine Star
2.) There may be moments your photographer missed - As much as I wish I could be everywhere at all times, sometimes we are photographing the cake cutting, while your sweet little niece and nephew are having an adorable slow dance. You and your new husband will be busy enjoying each other, busy saying hello to your guests, and just so caught up in the day. More than likely there will be many moments you did not witness, but scrolling through Facebook the next morning those missed moments will mean so much to you. Which leads me to the next bullet point!
3.) The Wait - You will be SO excited to see images from your wedding day on Facebook or Instagram the next day. Your first kiss, first dance, you both killing it on the dance floor! Most likely if you allowed your guests to photograph your day, you will have some pretty awesome photos from the perspectives of your guests. A popular turnaround time for photographers is 6-8 weeks. Without those photos you will be lost until that time!
4.) In case of the unthinkable - Photographers are human, and accidents happen. Whether it be a corrupted sd card, or broken equipment, they could result in lost images. In case this were to happen (I pray this never happens to anyone) your guests images may be the only documentation you have of your wedding day. To avoid this, I shoot with dual sd cards, I back up your images in 3 separate locations, and I always have backup equipment with me in case something happens. Make sure you have a contract with your photographer that protects you in case the unthinkable happens.
This may sound strange coming from a photographer! But I am passionate about this topic, because I am a photographer who was once a bride. As a bride, I was so grateful for all of those iPhone images. I went through them almost everyday until I received my professional gallery back! As much as I, a photographer, would love unplugged weddings so I don't have to work around the screens, It is not about me. It's about you, the bride and groom, and what you want on your amazing wedding day! I hope this give you more insight to another opinion on the Unplugged Dilemma. Thank you so much for reading!!