Bossyboots and I have been invited to ten weddings in twelve months, including our own. That’s right—ten in twelve months. Here’s the proof!
Wedding #4 – Took no pictures (!)
Wedding #7 – Took no pictures (!)
My blue wedding dress is clearly in heavy rotation, huh?
We’ve completed seven of the ten weddings, with the next three coming up this spring. Lucky, in that we’ve gotten to attend a number of really fun weddings, with some of the people we love most. It feels like everyone I know is getting married or having a baby!
In attending all these weddings, I’ve had a bit of a change of heart when it comes to snapping photos. I usually bring a camera, but I really only use it to get a photo with my friend (if they’re the bride/groom) and with Bossyboots. Otherwise, my camera stays mostly packed away, and I often walk out with less than five photos on my memory card.
On the surface, this may seem surprising, but lately I’ve really been thinking a lot about tech pollution. That’s right, I said tech pollution—where people spend an entire evening buried in their phones or various technological devices, instead of experiencing the moment! When it comes to cameras at weddings, we’ve all seen this:
I’m a hobbyist photographer and I really love taking photos almost everywhere I go, but when it comes to weddings, I sit back and let the true pro do her job. I feel like the sea of people with cameras really goes against the spirit of a wedding, which is to spend time with your loved ones on one of the most important days of their life.
I just can’t imagine that pro photographers are excited about taking photos of wedding guests who are holding up a phone, camera, or camcorder. I’m sure they’d rather take photos of people actually connecting and living in the moment—not on Facebook. And for me as a guest, I’d rather be present, too, not hunkered down trying to find reception for my mobile upload.
For our Snapdragon wedding, I’m sure there will be abundant cameras, phones, and all manner of tech. That’s perfectly fine with me—I am only a control freak when it comes to food and my wedding shoes. Mostly. But for me, I’ve found I have a much better time at life’s important events when I leave my camera [and all her friends] at home. Because I’m really, truly present and accounted for, and I don’t miss a thing.
What about you? Are you a reformed wedding-techie? Or are you hardwired to your tech goods?
I think this post is spot on–thanks for putting it out there! I was actually glad when fiance’s/my camera ran out of batteries right before he proposed. He had been planning to get it on video, but now all we have is our memories, which I think is way better.
I’m not much of a wedding techie because I’m lazy.. not because I’m making a bold statement 
I recognize that Anthropologie dress in your firts picture and I’m jealous. FYI
amen snapdragon! with the digital SLR available these days, suddenly everyone is photographer. at one of the weddings i attended, the uncle was literally standing NEXT to the groomsman and snapping away. at one point, the Pro photographer literally pushed the uncle out of the way and she missed an important shot.
I carry a camera everywhere I go (my cam’s always in my purse) and I barely remember it. As for weddings and family events I do rather enjoy the moment cause for me it’s annoying to be holding my camera the entire time.
I like looking at every angle pictures, I just don’t want to be the one snapping the pictures.
I’m a snapper…but don’t take pictures during ceremonies. I don’t think it’s the most appropriate time.
However, I do take lots of photos and get them online right away so the bride and groom have a little something to look at the next day.
BTW, you’ll LOVE the picture of people holding up their phones on this post: http://www.weddingbee.com/2011/12/06/miss-mink-ponders-the-unplugged-wedding/
It’s so bad that I wondered if it was staged!
Wow how thought provoking! This will for sure be at the back of my mind the next time I am at an event!
Yes, I’m starting to agree with you on this! And I love all your dresses!
I think you’re right on target. I hope that people will remember to enjoy my weddings and not spend the time chained to their choice of gadget.
This post is great! I tend to be like you, I use the camera very little at weddings, and relish in the moments.
Although, I will say, you are right about the tech heavy society in which we live! At my wedding someone actually yelled out during my dance with my dad “is it ok to post pics to Facebook now??”
I wasn’t offended it at all, but had to giggle about what our priorities have become in this new aged/high tech world.
I’ve realized I can never snap a good one of the couple ‘living in the moment’ aka vows, first dance, cake cutting etc. My favorite from wedding are ones of me and the mister or other friends.
I totally understand the appeal of unplugging, especially for an event like a wedding, but I totally agree with @Miss Mink as well. Knowing that Mr. P and I had a lot wait ahead of us for pro pics (we should get our gallery next week!), I so appreciated all the pictures our guests took and shared with us. When we finally had a moment to sneak onto the computer, we were overwhelmed with all of the amazing pictures our friends and family had taken, and we so appreciated every photograph. It totally made our day, and it has made waiting for our pro pics so much easier.
AGREED! This is something our photographer talked to us about as well, and suggested asking people to keep the cameras away during the ceremony so he can have unobstructed photos. I got a few comments saying that the photographer obviously just wants people to pay money for HIS photos, but I find that silly- 1) I’m going to put my photos on facebook 2) I’m going to own all my photos on a disk so if anyone wants a copy so they can print it themselves I’m totally okay with that 3) I’m not asking to keep the camera away the whole time, just during the ceremony (with the churches bad lighting anyhow) and 4) in the 18 weddings I’ve been to in my life, I’ve never once printed a photo of the bride and groom anyways… in the one wedding where it was someone REALLY important to me, they gifted a print of the two of us at the wedding.
This is something I’ve always done anyways, it’s just plain polite to keep the camera unless the bride and groom ask for photos because they didn’t hire any pro and are relying on guests (I’ve seen it done!)
As a guest its too hard to get good pics during the ceremony, and it does take away from the importance of what is going on. However, I’ve been to two weddings where the bride had specifically requested guests to take pics and send them to her afterwards. I did try a bit harder in those weddings. Got a nice one of the groom and his mom at one, the other was a destination wedding so I think the hotel didn’t photo most of the ceremony
TEN?!?!?!? You are so popular! ha ha I tend to forget to take pics and then sometimes regret it. Have to find that balance and not cross the line.
I was on a streak last year 4 weddings in 4 months. The first wedding I took a lot of pictures. 2nd wedding…a bit less. At the last wedding I think I took 1 or 2. I’d rather just experience it and save the pictures for my own wedding!
I’m an aspiring photobug. Though I do like the idea of an unplugged wedding. My BFFs and I were on vacation in New Orleans for New Year’s. They spent most of our meals and hanging out in bars surfing Facebook. Really?
Completely agree. The worst thing would be to ruin the pro’s pictures with my craptacular shot.
Mrs. Snapdragon, Chicago/Dallas Age and Occupation: 32,Associate Producer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Lighting Designer Blogging Since: November 14, 2008 Engagement Date: January 1, 2011 Wedding Date: March 2012 Venue: Marie Gabrielle About Me: Voracious reader of short stories, Russian literature, National Geographic and Cosmo. I'm a GENIUS at spicing up Weight Watchers recipes and a pathological cheater at board games. I run a slow marathon, but my feet are learning to move faster. Mornings aren't my thing, but I can night owl with the best of them. Don't tempt me with your Cherry Cokes---I'm trying to quit. Tomorrow. Or never.
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