Tell me if this sounds familiar to you: I watched a man walk out into traffic this morning, completely oblivious to any life-threatening danger because his face was buried in his cell phone. Someone honked, but he just carried right on, entranced by his little screen.
I heard recently that more people were killed last year due to mobile phone-related accidents than in shark attacks. I mean…what!?
Let’s face it people, we are all addicted to our cell phones. How long can you go without checking to see if you’ve got mail, messages, tweets, likes or follows? I have to put myself in this category too if I’m being honest, even though I don’t consider myself to be as bad as some people.
Yes, I’m talking to you. You know who you are!
In this age of social sharing overload, it’s no wonder that some of our clients have begun opting for an unplugged destination wedding.
What is an unplugged wedding, you ask?
The Huffington Post labels an unplugged wedding as ‘when a couple getting married have made a decision that they would prefer if their wedding guests didn’t take photos and/or upload them to social media.’
It seems to mean different things to different people. To some brides, it means a ban on cell phones during their wedding ceremony. To others, it can mean a total social media blackout of their entire event.
Is an unplugged destination wedding right for you? Here are 5 great reasons for having an unplugged wedding if you are getting married on the beach in Mexico.
1. Mobile phones can ruin your wedding photos
As wedding photographers in the Riviera Maya of Mexico, guests’ cell phones have become one of the thorns in our side. Everybody just needs to get that photo on their phone!
Wedding photography will be one of the most expensive items in your wedding budget, and for good reason. We are expected to deliver beautiful images that serve as the memory of one of the most important moments in your life! And yet, all too often we are competing for an unobstructed shot of the bride walking down the aisle or the couple sharing their first kiss as husband and wife because there are so many devices thrust in our way!
Consider that most professional wedding photographers also use special lighting techniques during the dimly lit reception. Cell phone flashes can over expose and ruin the effect that we are going for, and often we don’t get a second chance at a magical photo opportunity.
How do you present your wishes for an unplugged wedding ceremony to your wedding guests? Give them plenty of advance notice. Put it in your wedding invitation, your welcome bags, or make a cute sign. And you can even ask your wedding photographer or officiant to remind guests before the ceremony begins.
2. Help your wedding guests enjoy the moment
Picture it: You are getting married on the beach in Mexico, your toes buried in the warm sand, and the ocean waves crashing in the background. Why wouldn’t you want everyone you love to drink this moment in? The Knot suggests that the moment smartphones are pulled out, you lose something genuine. By having an unplugged ceremony you are helping them to be in the NOW, rather than living a beautiful moment through a tiny little screen.
How do you sell this idea to uncooperative guests? Arrange to have your wedding photographer release a sneak peek on a special social sharing platform within days of your wedding so that everyone can share and save.
Download our FREE Ultimate Guide To Getting Married In The Riviera Maya
3. Social media posts are not always flattering
How many times has it happened to you that a ‘friend’ posts a photo you are tagged in, and obviously they look spectacular, but you look like you’re 6 months pregnant? And there it is, out in the world for everyone to see.
You’ve worked so hard to look amazing in your wedding photos! Every photo that circulates should be of you glowing and looking 100% your very best self.
What is the best way to get guests onboard with putting down their phones? Easy. Tell them that every photo that circulates of THEM should have them looking 100% their very best self too!
4. Be the first to announce you got married in Mexico
There is a lot of hard work that goes into planning a destination wedding. You will agonize over details that you never thought mattered, and you will earn the right to be the ones who tell the world that you are married!
You want your announcement to have the maximum effect, don’t you?
If all your wedding guests post pictures from your wedding throughout the day, it just thins out the excitement that you are entitled to.
How do you control the posts to social media from your wedding? If you do not want a complete cell phone ban, ask your guests to respectfully wait until after you have made an official announcement before posting their own photos from your wedding day.
5. Not everyone can attend your destination wedding
There are so many reasons that somebody you love might not be able to see you get married at your destination wedding: Finances, responsibilities, health, an intimate guest list. Can you imagine how awful it must feel for them to have that thrown in their face with a barrage of posts in their newsfeed from the guests who did make it to your wedding?
But what about those guests who DID make the journey to celebrate with you? We think a great option is to book a photobooth at your wedding reception so that they have something special and unique to take home as a momento of the trip.
Hey, we get it. Putting down the cell phones for a day can be a crazy thought! And expecting your wedding guests to get on board with your unplugged wedding might result in a little push back. But ultimately, this is your day, and if you want to unplug and enjoy the moment, you know your loved ones will understand.
So, will you be having an unplugged destination wedding? We want to hear your comments below!
If you will be getting married on the beach in Riviera Maya, and want the best Playa del Carmen wedding photographers to capture your unplugged destination wedding, then contact us today! We are Fun In The Sun Weddings, the best Riviera Maya photographers.
Download our FREE Ultimate Guide To Getting Married In The Riviera Maya
This is the more beautiful place for wedding. This place is looking so gorgeous .
There is no place better than Mexico for beach weddings! Thank you for your comment, Sarani.
I’m interested in these wedding packages please call me at 8186266831
Hi Nancy! We would love to chat about your wedding 🙂
Please send us an email at [email protected] or an inquiry through our website. You can contact us through any page.