She told me about her idea months before leading up to the wedding. And I thought it was....brilliant.
As the day got closer, I couldn't wait to see how it would all play out.
To see whether the guests would actually go along with it. To see if the phones and cameras would really get put away. To see if they would all be shooing us the evil eye the whole time because they thought it was our idea & we made them do it. :) I was intrigued to say the least.
To say that wedding guests have been getting more ummmm.....ambitious ....might just be the understatement of my year. We had two weddings this past weekend, and I got elbowed in the head by guests with cameras at BOTH of them. Once in the eye, and once in the ear. :) One guest went ahead and rested his camera right on my shoulder. And I get it, I really do. Photography is a beautiful thing. And it's so, so easy to fall in love with it and not want to put your camera down. But when people start throwing elbows- literally- it might be time to reign it back in, no?
Our bride Spring is a wedding photographer herself. And she knew she wanted something more for her wedding. So she decided on what we're calling "The Unplugged Wedding Manifesto." And then she did something even bigger....she actually sent it out to her guests. First in the invitation and then again with this sign at the wedding. It says:
An Unplugged Wedding:
We want you to be able to really enjoy our wedding day, feeling truly present and in the moment with us. We've hired amazing wedding photographers and videographers who will be capturing the way the wedding LOOKS and we're inviting you to sit back, relax, and just enjoy the way the wedding FEELS. We respectfully ask that everyone leave all cameras and cell phones turned off. Of course we will be happy to share our wedding photos and video with you.
Now of course as a photographer, when I heard about the idea of an unplugged wedding I was celebrating the idea of not getting elbowed in the head for just one wedding. :) I was celebrating aisle shots without twenty guests jumping into the middle of them. And I was celebrating the idea of family shots not taking twice as long because there are four cameras and no one is sure where to look.
But what actually happened was SO much more.
When Spring & Silas were having their first dance, I was shoot-shoot-shooting away when I realized that something was....different. At first I couldn't put my finger on it. Spring & Silas looked beautiful & their first dance was going along so sweetly as most first dances do. But somehow, this one was more. I couldn't get rid of this nagging feeling trying to figure out what it was, and that's when I looked up and noticed that guest after guest had tears just streaming down their faces. They weren't focusing their iPhones or trying to figure out the settings on their DSLRs....they were just watching two people in love. And that emotion pouring out in love and hope for them was nothing short of electric. They were actually there and present for this moment when two people were starting a life together.
And that was the difference. That being unplugged actually made them more connected.
There are so many great ideas out there for weddings that spread like wildfire. Wouldn't it be amazing if this one caught on like that too?
I don't know about you guys, but the Unplugged Wedding gets my vote for the must have trend this year.
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