Unplugged Wedding: Getting Married Without Cell Phones

A smartphone-free zone. To some, that sounds wonderful; to others, it sounds scary. But for your wedding, a phone-free period can be a real bonus! To make sure you can pull off your “unplugged wedding” as successfully as possible, you’ll need the following: good communication, an exciting program of activities, and a little bit of self-interest.

Put away your cell phones, or we're not getting married!

Respectful communication is everything. That’s why you should let your guests know about your plans right in the wedding invitation and make sure the cell phone ban is communicated respectfully at your wedding venue as well. Here’s an example of how you could phrase the cell phone policy: “Watch, enjoy, and live in the moment! We’d rather see your faces than your smartphones. So please leave your phones in airplane mode for the duration of the ceremony. P.S.: Our photographer is amazing and will share the photos with you.”

Enthusiasm for the wedding moment.

Sure, not all of your guests will be thrilled about an “unplugged” wedding. But it’s your wedding, and you’re allowed to treat yourselves to a little self-indulgence. If the idea of a cell-phone-free wedding is important to you, stick with it. Plus, you can convince your skeptical guests that a wedding without cell phones can be just as exciting! So be sure to put special emphasis on your entertainment program for both adults and children.

The Benefits of an "Unplugged" Wedding.

• No distractions from Instagram, Snapchat, or games.
• The photographers' pictures show people enjoying themselves, holding at most a glass of sparkling wine—not smartphone zombies with their phones glued to them like an extension of their arms.
• There are no overzealous amateur photographers who get in the way of the professional photographer's work.
• More control over how the photos are shared: The photos taken by the wedding photographer go directly to you; you can share them or keep them to yourselves. However, when hundreds of cell phone photos are taken, many (private) photos from the wedding day end up being shared on social media—whether you like it or not.

Media Time at Weddings: It's All in the Mix!

As is often the case in life, when it comes to an “unplugged” wedding, a good balance is certainly better than rushing headlong in one direction. A wedding that starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 a.m. doesn’t necessarily have to be cell-phone-free the entire time. Perhaps it’s enough to limit the cell-phone ban at your wedding to the ceremony and the reception. After all, anyone getting married in 2022 shouldn’t turn a blind eye to the trends of the times—and cell phones are simply a part of everyday life these days.

Our tip: Create some media-free, limited-time “islands” at your wedding, and you’ll be rewarded with moments you can truly savor!