Unplugged Wedding: How & Why to Ban Phones at a Ceremony

While some couples choose to create the perfect wedding hashtag, live stream an aerial view of their ceremony via drone, or even have a robot serve drinks at the reception, others are going in a different direction entirely. Embracing technology can be a fun touch, but it can also be distracting and take away from the real sentiment of the day.

That’s why many couples are choosing to have an unplugged wedding ceremony. According to our First Look Report, 75% of couples will have unplugged weddings in 2024. Whether you choose to ban phones is entirely up to you (it’s your day, after all). Here are the pros and cons of an unplugged event.

What is an unplugged wedding?

An unplugged wedding is when a couple requests that their guests not use their phones, cameras, or any other recording devices during the ceremony. This ensures that attendees are present in the moment and allows the photographer to get clear and unobstructed shots of the couple.

Why do an unplugged wedding?

When deciding whether to ban devices for your ceremony, there are a few reasons to implement the popular rule beyond "just because I want to." Here are the most important.

Your guests will be more engaged.

The main reason to ban phones at a wedding is that your guests (and you) will be fully in the moment at your ceremony. When you walk down the aisle, you’ll be able to look everyone in the eye and see their reaction, versus having their screens staring back at you.

Your photographer will have clear shots.

Your wedding photographer won’t have to compete with people’s arms in the way of their shots, giving them a clearer view. Many beautiful professional shots have been ruined by a smartphone (or worse yet, a tablet) in the way, which is a true shame.

You'll keep your photos and moments private—for now.

For whatever reason, you may not want family and friends to leak photos of you before you’re ready to share. You’ll also protect everyone’s privacy. You wouldn’t want your partner to see a shot of you while scrolling through someone’s feed before the actual face-to-face reveal, right?

You'll win back a bit of free time.

Finally, banning phones may mean less stress for the entire affair. You won’t have to stop and pose for everyone’s selfies and shots every few minutes. Plus, you can instead focus on greeting guests, dancing, and having fun.

How to do an unplugged wedding

Ready to plan your unplugged wedding? There are a few easy steps to consider before your ceremony to make sure everyone is on the same page.

1. Make the decision with your partner.

There are two of you getting married, so the decision to ban phones at your wedding should, of course, be decided by both of you. If you are in favor of an unplugged ceremony, but your partner isn’t, remind them of some of the benefits and see if you can reach a compromise. For example, you can let guests use their phones as much as they want at the reception. (That wedding hashtag isn’t going to fill itself!)

2. Communicate to your guests.

Once you’ve decided to host an unplugged wedding, you must communicate the plan to your guests from the get-go. You don’t have to print this on the wedding invitation itself, but include an enclosure card in the envelope and post it on your wedding website, too.

You can word the addendum like this: “We invite you to be fully present with us at our ceremony. We will kindly ask that you turn off your phone and keep it in your bag or pocket. We look forward to sharing professional photographs when they are ready.”

At the ceremony, post a sign (make sure it’s large enough that everyone can see it) reminding guests to unplug. If you want to make it more fun, you could also put out baskets or have a “phone valet” where everyone checks in their phone before the ceremony.

3. Inform your wedding officiant.

Tell your officiant about your desire to have an unplugged wedding, and they’ll likely be able to help! Before the ceremony, have them remind your loved ones to please keep their phones off before the ceremony begins. Or, if some guests insist on taking pictures, your officiant can even give them a “social media moment” to take photos briefly. If nothing else, phones should be put on silent mode so there are no distractions. Imagine a phone ringing during the first kiss— boo!

4. Handle the response.

Some may call you a Luddite, but stick to your guns. Until about 10 years ago, no one had smartphones or social media at their weddings, and everyone survived. If your family or friends protest, remember that it’s your day and your decision. They can all survive for a few hours without their phone (we promise!) and may even end up loving it.

One caveat to this: Some wedding guests may need access to their phones. These guests may have small children and need communication with their babysitters, for example. Be sure to field requests for phones with understanding and hear everyone out. Some people may welcome a break from their phones. Others will not—and one or two folks will always do what they want no matter what. So don’t stress too much, and focus on enjoying your wedding day.

Looking for more ways to take charge of your big day? Learn how to handle overbearing parents and guests begging for plus-ones. Tackle problems with finesse with Zola’s expert advice.