Considering an Unplugged Wedding?🤳Pros and Cons To Help You Decide.
Unplugged ceremony signs are becoming increasingly popular, and I totally understand why.
With social media dominating our lives and every moment being shared online, it’s refreshing to see couples taking a step back and choosing to have a technology-free wedding ceremony.
Of course, it’s not for everyone, but it’s definitely a trend that’s on the rise. A recent survey on Hitched showed that up to two-thirds of British couples are either having or considering a snap-free wedding ceremony.
What is an Unplugged Wedding?🔌
Essentially, it’s when the soon-to-be-wed couple asks their guests not to take photos or use their phones or cameras📸 throughout the ceremony. There are different levels of unplugged ceremonies – some couples just request no photos, while others want guests to be completely off their devices.
So, Why Do Couples Choose To Have An Unplugged Ceremony? ⛔
Many want their guests to be fully present and engaged in the moment, rather than focusing on capturing the perfect shot or viewing their wedding through a lens. Others prefer to keep their wedding photos a complete surprise until their professional pictures are ready to be shared. They don’t want any part of their wedding on social media until they are ready to share moments from their day🎉.
HEY, HAVE WE MET?👋
Well, if we haven’t met- then Hi, I’m Schuggie, and I run the multi-award-winning Schuggies-Ceilidhs (it’s pronounced ShUUg- eee s – Kay-Laes btw🎉).
I’ve been hosting wedding ceilidhs since 2012, and that means I’ve experienced well over 150 in all sorts of themes and alternatives.
Whilst unplugged is a fairly new concept, this year so far (June 2023) I’ve witnessed a few whilst providing PA and background music during the daytime wedding activities. By the time your ceilidh kicks off, phones are the last thing on your guest’s minds as they have the time of their lives – ceilidh dancing at your wedding🎶.
As you consider whether to unplug or not, if you need help deciding; then book a chat and I’d be happy to help, even if I’m not actually involved in your wedding.
You can book that chat here.
Pros of Having an Unplugged Wedding✨
Guests are more present and engaged in the moment:
By asking guests to put away their devices and refrain from taking photos or videos,
you’re encouraging them to be fully present and enjoy the ceremony without any distractions😍
Better quality photos:
With guests not taking photos and videos themselves,
the photographer has a better chance of getting clear and unobstructed shots of the wedding ceremony and reception⚠️
No unflattering or unwanted photos:
By having an unplugged ceremony, you can avoid any potentially unflattering or unwanted
photos of you or your guests ending up on social media👎
Professional photos stand out:
By waiting for your professional wedding photos to be ready before sharing them,
you’ll ensure that they’re the first photos that people see, and they’ll stand out more👍
Cons of an Unplugged Wedding😧
Missing out on guest photos:
By asking guests not to take photos, you may miss out on some candid or
spontaneous moments that your professional photographer might not capture🤯
Difficult to enforce:
It can be tough to enforce a no-photos rule, especially if guests aren’t
aware of it beforehand or don’t take it seriously 🙄
Guests might be disappointed:
Some guests might feel disappointed if they’re unable to
take photos or share their experience on social media📱
Communicating Your Unplugged Wedding Policy📋
If you have made the decision to have your wedding unplugged, you need to ensure you communicate that with your guests. If they happen to take a picture but weren’t told not to, it’s not really their fault.
There are plenty of ways you can announce you’re unplugged ceremony 📢
I’ve listed a few of the best ways here – you can choose one, or decide to give your guests multiple reminders.
Whether or not to have an unplugged wedding ceremony is a completely personal decision that should be based on your own individual preferences and priorities.
While an unplugged ceremony can help guests be more present and engaged in the moment, it can also result in missing out on guest photos and can be difficult to enforce. However, by waiting for professional photos to be ready before sharing them, couples can ensure that their special day is captured in a way that truly reflects their vision.
Ultimately, couples need to weigh the pros and cons and then do what’s best for them and their wedding.
By the time your first dance and ceilidh are underway, the stress of unplugging or not will be a dim and distant memory.
Whichever way you decided though, having fun, social and inclusive wedding entertainment that your guests will rave about for years to come- was certainly the right choice.
Hi, if you skimmed past my introduction earlier- Hello I’m Schuggie and I run Schuggies-Ceilidhs. I specialise in providing high-quality authentic Scottish style (well I am from Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland) ceilidhs with a contemporary twist. I know how to make sure everyone has a great time. I’m a multi-award-winning Scottish Ceilidh-Caller based in the East Midlands.
So when it comes to your wedding entertainment I’m the perfect solution!
A ceilidh (pr. kay-lea) is probably the most inclusive dancefloor you could have😍
It doesn’t matter how many of them you’ve done before, or if you’ve done none at all.
The person calling the dances tells everyone what they need to do, and keeps it going.
Everyone dances with everyone, whether you know each other or not.
The more people the better! Everyone gets a go. No one has the chance to bust different moves, and because no one *really* knows what’s going on🤣 it’s very difficult to feel self-conscious.
Essentially, most people are just guessing what they’re supposed to be doing, and that makes it brilliant.
You can check out my Prices and Availability online. You can even book your day and pay your deposit here without getting off your sofa.
Still not sure, I’ve loads of Testimonials and Reviews on Google & Facebook to reassure you that I am as good as I day I am. You can stalk me over social media- Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and even TikTok.
Did you know you don’t actually have to have that traditional first dance? If you book a ceilidh to celebrate your wedding (preferably with me calling obvs) then you have fun, social and inclusive entertainment to keep your guests entertained all night AND you can have a ceilidh first dance alternative.
Click this link to check out my free wedding planning download on the subject.
How to make your wedding unique with an alternative to a traditional first dance.
What else? Well here are some Tips for wedding speeches
Feeling anxious as you build up to the big day? Here is another blog that is sure to help How To Minimise Anxiety As You Plan Your Wedding
Finally, you can book a ceilidh chat here and talk through your plans- or get some inspiration from me. Either through Zoom, Teams, Skype, WhatsApp or just a phone call. It’s not a sales call so you can relax.
Slàinte Mhath,
Schuggie
