Weddings & Social Media
The world of social media has become quite vital to the daily lives of countless people across the world. Whether used as a way of sharing pictures, promoting a business or brand, discussing important topics, or showcasing special milestone moments, there are a plethora of reasons people flock to social sites like Instagram and Facebook. For all of the benefits of this connection, however, there are just as many cons. Plenty of people get too invested in social engagement, allowing negative emotions to dominate them when “doomscrolling” through their feeds.
When it comes to weddings, couples tend to be split on the best way to incorporate social media into their events. Some want their guests to keep their phones out and to record and share everything as they please. Others prefer unplugged events where the usage of devices is asked to be kept to a minimum. To figure out a good course of action for your nuptials, look over this quick overview.
The Social Media Moment
If you’ve been to a wedding in the last decade, you likely were one of many people who snapped photos and videos. That also includes shared hashtags, and tagged friends and relatives in albums on social media. It makes sense to want people to capture and promote your big day. As you will want to focus a majority of your own attention on enjoying the event and not looking at your phone. Instead of just being general about how guests go about sharing, you can consider a “social media moment” as part of your celebrations.
Essentially, a social media moment is a chance for all guests to grab some great photos at the same time. For example, you might have something special planned for your first dance with your spouse. Having the emcee give the crowd a slight advance notice to get their cameras out for a “social media moment” can help everyone be prepared for the most sharable and captivating parts of your nuptials.
The Unplugged Affair
On the flip side of things, there is the unplugged wedding. According to countless studies, social media usage has led to huge increases in the number of people who are suffering from depression, anxiety, substance abuse, feelings of inferiority, feelings of apathy, and a myriad of other horrible things. Though most of these problems come from how social media is being managed by the brands that run them, the effects are still very real and very problematic. This has led plenty of couples to move away from digital devices on their big day.
Taking pictures of a wedding might help to capture it forever but it takes the person shooting the photo out of the moment. When all of your guests are watching the wedding through the cameras on their phones, few are actually connecting to what is happening. Pushing for an unplugged wedding doesn’t mean people need to leave their phones in a basket when they enter the venue; it simply means you’re suggesting guests keep usage to a minimum in order to maximize their enjoyment of the wedding.
The Final Thoughts
You don’t necessarily need to go all-or-nothing when you’re exploring your options with social media and your wedding. For a few couples, the decision to use digital devices is placed entirely on the guests. You can create hashtags and ask guests to snap pics of some specific moments for you to encourage a bit of usage, but you can also let guests know that there’s no need to share anything if they don’t feel inclined. When all is said and done, you should pick whatever makes you feel the most excited about your big day.
Think about how you want your event to unfold before you make final decisions on the social media front. With a little time to ponder what you really want, you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect fit.
