In time, technology will change everything we do in our daily lives. As an example, a big part of the traditional wedding planning process has always been to hire a professional photographer who would be responsible for capturing all the key moments of the wedding and reception. Along comes the smart phone, and the gallery is suddenly full of amateur photographers wanting to do their part.
Thanks in large part to the advent of new technology and social media, brides and grooms have much more to consider when it comes to capturing their nuptials for prosperity. The decision must be made related to how the photo-taking option is going to be handled. Assuming a professional photographer will always be in the mix, the question is, “do the bride and groom really want guests taking pictures of a bridesmaid dress and posting in on Facebook or Instagram?”
Remember, the bride has most likely been envisioning this day since she was a little girl. If she wants a picture of the gold bridesmaid dress, it’s up to her to decide who has the right to take it. It could be she doesn’t want any pictures of a bridesmaid dress. The point is guests should be prepared to honor any decision made about who is going to be allowed to take a picture of the gold bridesmaid dress or anything else. With that in mind, here’s the three most popular picture-taking options for a modern day wedding.
Option #1 – Open to All – With this option, guests should be informed that picture taking and sharing is more than welcome. The atmosphere is going to be a bit on the hectic side and could interfere with the ceremony or overall schedule, but most guests will use common sense and know when it’s appropriate to whip out the cell phone or camera. The real benefit for the bride and groom is an abundance of pictures commemorating the event. As a word of caution, guests should be informed a professional photographer is present, and that person should get priority during key moments.
Option #2 – Keeping Control – The best way to permit picture taking without it possibly interfering with the nuptials, the reception schedule or a professional photographer is by setting aside designated spots and scheduled timeframes for picture taking by guests. This option is effective when guests are informed ahead of time they will get staged opportunities to take pictures. The couple could then take further control of the picture distribution process by asking guests to share their pictures through a common #hashtag.
Option #3 – No Pictures – To avoid being overwhelmed by guests clamoring to get pictures of key moments during the event, it might be necessary to ask guests to please refrain from taking pictures. This sentiment could be made directly on each invitation with a “no pictures” sign posted at the event as a reminder. There won’t be much of a social media presence for the wedding, but some couples might actually prefer it that way. Well-taken professional pictures have been more than enough for decades.
The day belongs to the bride and groom. It’s out of mutual respect that the bride and groom should decide ahead of time how they wish to handle the taking of pictures for their wedding, and it’s up to the guests to happily comply.