<p>Went to the first wedding in a long while this weekend. It actually dawned on me during the wedding ceremony that SO many people had their phones (and cameras) out taking pictures during the ceremony. I DID stop and think - is this appropriate? rude? necessary? And then I did take mine out- only at the end - for one shot of the bride and groom coming back down the aisle.</p>
<p>Then I come across this article this morning and I think, wow this could be a bride/grooms worst nightmare!!!</p>
<p>Never would of thought of how things could be spoiled like a bridesmaid posting a pic of the bride getting dressed which could be viewed by the groom pre-wedding. Or a relative seeing the pics and realizing that Aunt Susie got invited but they didn’t. </p>
<p>People have always had cameras at weddings, but let’s face it - if you are like me, the camera often gets left at home. However , most of us these days have our phone tethered to us. Handy access, easy photo taking (and posting).</p>
<p>How comfortable would you be if you were asked to turn in your phone before a ceremony (or reception)???</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be willing to turn in my phone prior to going into a wedding. I would be willing to turn it off.</p>
<p>My sister in law recently got married, and her photographer somehow broke the memory card for the camera in half after the wedding and had no back ups. They did a re-shoot with a different photographer for the portrait photos, but the only photos they will ever have from their wedding day are the ones the guests took with their own cameras. After that experience, I don’t think I’d dream of banning cameras at my wedding. You never know what moments your photographer missed that somebody else could have caught. I think the likelyhood of something bad happening as a result of guests taking pictures is pretty slim.</p>
<p>I always leave my phone in the car for the ceremony. I don’t have a need for it during the wedding. No one does. </p>
<p>I’ve worked as a wedding photography assistant and people with camera phones are the biggest pitas. Their phones block our shot, flashes can interfere with ours, and it just looks bad to have a bunch of people holding up phones in pictures. </p>
<p>I had never thought of the pre- wedding though.</p>
<p>Now the reception is another matter entirely. The more pictures the better!</p>
<p>I think the big, real problem from guest photos is the red dot that some cameras make before taking the picture. Our photographer said it’s nearly impossible to photoshop out. </p>
<p>I wish we were allowed to link to blogs because I just read a really good one on this topic. I can send it to anyone interested. </p>
<p>That said, I am glad I have guest photos. Some photographers take months to get photos back to clients. I’m glad I have some to look at until then. My mom, who doesn’t really understand Facebook and is only on to play Candy Crush tried to order an 8x10 from my SIL, lol.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine asking people to turn in their cellphones. My son is getting married this summer, and I’m sure there will be a lot of pictures taken on cell phones. We’re having a professional photographer, of course, but I also love seeing snapshots that guests take.
My view may be colored by the fact that the professional photographer failed to show up at our wedding, 40 some years ago. The only photos we had were those taken by the guests. The company that failed to show gathered photos from guests and made books from the negatives. I’m glad we didn’t ban cameras!</p>
<pre><code>The people coming to DS’s wedding and reception are big supporters of the B and G, so I don’t worry about what photos they may take or what they may post later. I think common sense will prevail, and any postings will be with good intent.
</code></pre>
<p>Would I turn in my phone if asked? I’d probably just leave it home or in the car if I knew that was what the request would be. As a guest, I’d try to honor the mood that the couple was trying to create.</p>
<p>I should add that i would never ask someone to turn in their phones. That’s quite rude IMO. I just wish people wouldn’t use them, but that’s the photographer in me talking lol :)</p>
<p>Some people do need them, particularly parents of children with serious medical conditions whose children did not come with them to the wedding. There was a time when parents of children with certain types of medical conditions were trapped in their homes or offices whenever their children were elsewhere because they might receive an emergency call from a school nurse or babysitter at any moment. Cell phones set these parents free.</p>
<p>Gah. It wasn’t that long ago that noone had cell phones. An emergency number can be given for those guests who have a kid on the transplant list waiting for that liver, or who are afraid grandma will take her last breath while they are at the wedding, or whatever reason important enough to disrupt a wedding. The reason this comes up at all is because there are too many thoughtless people who will disrupt a a wedding or anything with cell phone calls, photos, etc. A shame, but a fact. I wish there were a way to just neutralize all of the phones in a locale. That would fix everybody.</p>
<p>What a pity. It wasn’t that long ago brides were putting disposable cameras at each table encouraging everyone to take pictures. Now with social media the way it is, we really all have to watch our steps. A couple who might let loose dancing is risking going viral with their dance moves. Every foolishness can be reported.</p>
<p>As for one third cousin not invited and another has been—well that happened, happens and will happen when there are head count limits. Yes, feelings get hurt. But now they find out much more quickly. That’s just too bad. Even without photos, a Facebook line or Tweet saying. “Went to B’s wedding”, will let all those not invited who know B know.</p>
<p>I can’t really see asking people to hand over their phones either; hosts shouldn’t act like the TSA, and in any case I really wouldn’t want the responsibility for all those iPhones. Many houses of worship already have pretty strict rules about recording, photos etc. in order to preserve the dignity of the ceremony. I guess you could always put a line in the program: “Please silence phones. No photography permitted. Thank you.” As for the reception, I guess you have to trust that your friends and relations love you enough not to want to embarrass you for all posterity.</p>
<p>I guess we are all “celebrities” now, in that we have to watch what we do and say all the time in the social media era. Personally I don’t think it’s worth it but that ship has sailed.</p>
<p>I clicked on this thread wondering if there was a movement afoot to unplug the amplifiers through which DJs and bands blast the music during the reception. THAT would be a very good idea.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be comfortable telling guests what to do with their phones, nor would I be comfortable being told how to use mine. But I would have mine turned off, in the bottom of my purse. And I wouldn’t post a wedding picture before the bride/groom or a family member had the chance to do it first, because it’s their day and I’m just a small part of it.</p>
<p>OP, at my best friends wedding they actually set up a photo station where people could load their digital photos onto the couples laptop as a gift to them. Reminded me of on the past were people bought those disposable cameras for the reception tables.</p>
<p>A sign of the times, but a good idea, I think, and I’d be happy to comply. I draw the line at making people hand their phones in, though. Announcements can be made ahead of time that there will be no photography (some religious ceremonies don’t allow these in any case). </p>
<p>Not only can a flash from a guest camera ruin the photographer’s one chance to get a particular shot, but now that everyone has a camera in their pocket or bag, it seems as if cell phones and cameras crowd out the faces in many shots. I think it’s fine to take photos at your own table or of your own group during cocktail hour etc, though I would respect the wishes of any couple who asked for a totally unplugged affair.</p>
<p>It’s also quite rude that people post photos to social media without permission.</p>
<p>I would personally rip the eyes out of anyone who took a picture of me getting dressed: my body isn’t public property. But other than that, as long as people aren’t messing up what the paid photographers are doing, have at it.</p>
<p>(Personally, I am no longer a believer in “you don’t need your phone.” I had been a believer in that until two years ago, when I left my phone on silent while meeting with a client. Two hours later, I had ten missed calls and five emails from my family, telling me that my mother was on death’s door in the ER. Now, I put it on vibrate and check if it rings a few times in succession.)</p>
<p>Ema…The photographer that we hired for D1’s wedding brought an assistant whom also took photos just in case there was a camera accident. I think they each took most of the same poses. I haven’t been to a wedding that didn’t have a photographer using multiple cameras for a long time. Yikes! That would make me very unhappy!</p>
<p>Was just at a wedding where the priest began the service by telling everyone to please take out their phones, and turn them off unless they were waiting for a transplant or babysitter’s call…It was wonderful to have a beep free zone!</p>
<p>Pre-FB days, my kids didn’t have to know they weren’t invited to some parties, likewise they didn’t have to invite the whole gang so people’s feelings wouldn’t be hurt. Since FB, people could view parties/weddings in real time. It is really too much information sometimes.</p>