Are Guests Ruining your wedding pictures and videos?

unplugged-weddings-guest-in-aisleIt may sound like an attention grabbing headline but it’s very true, more and more at weddings we encounter guests ruining wedding photos and films by distracting the bride and groom, ruining intimate moments, or constantly in the background of the photographer’s and videographer’s lens just so they can get their shot! It has been on the rise for a few years now but it seems to have peaked in an onslaught between guests with cameras and the professionals you have hired. We were shooting a wedding this weekend and two of the guests were up at the alter, pushing us out of the way or getting in our way just to get their own shots! They also stood up and blocked our view from shooting down the aisle and their heads and bodies are in half of the ceremony shots. Since both of them were doing it all day we had warned them sternly about doing it during the ceremony, yet they did not seem to care. We finally asked them to please find their seats.

There usually isn’t a problem when guests take pictures but when they get in the way of the professionals you hired it becomes a conflict. You hire a professional photo and film team because they have experience capturing weddings, this is their job.

Many times we now have to contend with 50-60 cell phones, even iPads being whipped out while you walk down the aisle and they are all in the shot. People lean in or even step into the aisle to get a “better shot” for themselves and often step right in front of our line of sight to you walking down the aisle. Think about this for a second. Do you want to see a bunch of cell phones in front of the faces of your friends in the background of your wedding pictures and video or just the faces of your friends taking in the special moments?  You want them to be there and share the moment with you – thats why you invited them – not to be on their cell phone, facebook, twitter, instagrap, or snapchat.

 

are-guests-ruining-your-wedding-pictures-and-videos-2So what can you do to avoid the wedding guest flockarazzi from invading your wedding?

Well, there is no easy answer. For starters I would tell any known “shutterbugs” attending your wedding, to be respectful of the professional creative team. When you send out email updates or if you have your own wedding site, make an announcement stating that you hired a professional wedding photographer and videographer and to please be mindful of your professionals. Lastly, if you see one of your guests or family members in the way on wedding day, kindly ask them to refrain from being too obtrusive. They might hear you louder than they do us. Sometimes we say something to them directly and sometimes we just try to work around them but your photos and video will suffer for it if they continue to get in the way. You might even add a card to your invitations addressing the subject of photos and film.

Below is a sample of how you might word an email or a card sent in your invitations about guest taking pictures and videos at your wedding:

Dear Family and Friends, our wedding photos and video are very important to us. So important that we spent many hours finding an amazing professional photographer and videographer who we trust and have invested in to capture all our wedding day memories. We are asking that you refrain from taking pictures with your cameras, cell phones and any other devices during the most important parts of our wedding day. Since the ceremony is one of the most important parts to us, we ask that you do not take pictures or videos at all during the ceremony. Please engage and share in the moment with us and allow our creative team to capture the ceremony. You are free to take a zillion pictures during the reception but please just make sure to not be in the background of the photographers and videographers shots during our super important events such as the first dance, father daughter and mother son dance, toasts and cake cutting. These are iconic moments for us that we would love to cherish for the rest of our lives. Some of these moments organically only happen once and we don’t want to lose the essence of that magic!  Thank you so much for respecting our wishes and we look forward to sharing our wedding day with all of you.

The above is there to give you a start and of course you may change the wording to meet your comfort level. This may seem like a harsh request or even taboo but if you do not take action for the sake of your wedding photos and film I guarantee at least one of the above mentioned wedding day faux pas will take place at your wedding.

Bohemian Whimsical Eagle’s Landing Country Club Wedding | Atlanta, GA | Mia & Antonio

Bohemian Whimsical Eagle’s Landing Country Club Wedding | Atlanta, GA | Mia & Antonio

On March 19, 2016, Mia and Antonio took their sacred wedding vows at Mcdonough First United Methodist Church, Mcdonough GA. A whimsical, magical day full of love – Mia and Antonio’s wedding day was nothing short of spectacular.

The happy couple met through mutual friends and Antonio just knew it was the right time in a jewelry store – where he got down on one knee and asked Mia to be his wife.

While the bridal suite was full of makeup, laughter, and tears, the groomsmen got suited and booted for the special occasion. Mia definitely took everyone’s breath away when she walked down the aisle in the most perfect, beautifully detailed, beaded wedding gown from Pearl’s Place.

The intro to their love story was brought to life by beautiful wedding toasts at their gorgeous wedding reception. The sentiment left behind by the Maid of Honor and Best Man truly gives light to the life Mia and Antonio have vowed to share with one another. But the reception was brought to life by all the sweet dance moves of the amazing people who came together to make Mia and Antonio’s special day one to remember for a lifetime.

Another sweet highlight to the reception was courtesy of Cake’s by La’meeka who designed a chocolate construction cake for Antonio and a multi-flavored cake as the wedding cake. All the guests raved about the cake and the layers that included key lime, red velvet, strawberry, and vanilla – every layer was like a different experience!

Of course, nothing quite summed up this whimsical, romantic evening like the first dance of the happy couple to Al Green’s Let’s Stay Together. The wedding designer, Sherri D Lyle, made the wedding. The entire event looks like a million bucks – even with silk flowers since Mia’s allergies would not permit her to be in a room full of flowers. She learned how not to sweat the small stuff, and it really made all the difference. Mia and Antonio felt like all the right people were placed in their path to make their wedding day a true love story. One that is both beautiful on the inside and out.

To Antonio and Mia, thank you for letting us be a part of your big day. We truly wish the rest of your days be full of the same things that your wedding day was…“A life of magic, a life of love, a life of friendship – for the rest of your lives!”


CAST & CREW

Photography: Mecca Gamble Photography
Cinematography: Yamean Studios Films
Cake: Cakes by La’meeka
Venue: Eagle’s Landing Country Club