This is a thread that was started in our old BlissWeddings.com forums by andreanne on 6/11/02. Feel free to add your comments by pressing Post Reply.
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posted by andreanne
I attended a wedding a few weeks ago where about 50% of the guests had brought their cameras. All I could hear and see during the ceremony was "click, click" and flashes everywhere. Some guests even got up so they could get better shots and one camera that was at the end of its film started to "roll" during the mother of the bride's reading. I thought this was extremely annoying, and I was just a guest. I'm now worried the same thing may happen at my wedding and I am seriously considering to request from guests not to take pictures during the ceremony. Would it be rude to do so? If not, how should I pass the word about this: in the programs, by the ushers?
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posted by feb-bride
In my ceremony, my photographer actually took care of this. She told people that she would prefer they not take flash photography during the ceremony as it would interfere with the pictures I paid so much for her to take. I'm not sure that this was necessarily the best way to address the issue, but it worked.
If I were you, I'd have the ushers or the ceremony officiant politely tell guests to not use cameras during the ceremony.
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posted by angel17
I've seen worse - people climbing up and around the front (yes actually go on the altar) to get better shots!! Quite annoying!!
At a wedding I attended last year there was a note at the front entrance (which also mentioned to turn off phones,pagers) and in the program - NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY during the ceremony. The photographer did one better - while he was taking pictures prior and after the ceremony he did not allow anyone else to take pictures (to avoid having shots where everyone is looking at him except one person) - it was the first that I had seen anyone do this and the brides pictures came out beautifully.
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posted by feb-bride
In addition to my photographer telling people to not use flash photography during the ceremony, she took care of the after-ceremony "multiple photographer" problem by having our ceremony officiant instruct everyone not involved with the post-ceremony pictures to please proceed directly to the reception site and we'd meet them there. That way, we didn't have a bunch of people hanging around after the ceremony.
It worked - there are no pictures that my photographer took where someone is looking at a different camera.
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posted by syringa
Most churches have a policy about pictures being taken during the ceremony, including those taken by the photographer. The church's policy should be communicated to you when you meet with the minister or church coordinator.
If you are having the ceremony at a location other than a church and there is no policy, be sure to place a note in your program saying that no pictures are to be taken during the ceremony. You might also create a sign that is placed next to your guest book so that everyone can see it. In addition, instruct your guest book attendant and the ushers that if they see anyone enter with a camera, to let them know that they may not take pictures during the ceremony.
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posted by mielle
at the last wedding i went to there were no signs or postings but there were alot of cameras.
it worked out well though, because not one picture was snapped until the recetional (most of them of the bride's train moving down the aisle)
yadda yadda yadda maybe to appease the shutterbugs you could ask that they refrain from taking pictures until the ceremony is done - unless it would violate church rules
best of luck on your wedding day adreanne !!
*mielle*
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posted by Fifficus
I have read all your concerns about the photography during the ceremony with great interest. We are photographers in Cancun, Mexico and constantly face the problem of 'eager' guests getting in the way of the job that we are paid to do. In our experience we have found a few ways to more or less successfully overcome this problem:
We usually ask the couple to assign one of their guests to help us out with information about names, relationships to the couple, etc. and also to inform the other guests that the couple is paying a lot of money to hire a professional photographers for their wedding and that we will do our best to work together with them and set aside some time for them to take shots wherever possible but surely they do not want to spoil the photos for them. Obviously one cannot forbid guests to take photos/videos but usually they are very understanding and respect this.
If time is no option, another alternative is to tell guests in advance that you do not wish anyone but the photographer capturing the ceremony but that you will 're-enact' the ceremony for a few minutes so that everyone can take their shots.
If you are paying your photographers by the hour we suggest to plan all key moments close together (ceremony followed by congrats, champagne toast, cutting the cake, throwing of bouquet/garter) in order to ensure that all special moments are captured professionally. We fully realize that some wedding planners do not agree with this, however, please bear in mind that you are the couple getting married and you call the shots! Do ask for references and photos of previous weddings and remember that a cheap photographer is not necessarily the best. Most people go through a lot of trouble and expense to plan their wedding but want to cut costs on something,- your wedding photos are the only 'evidence' of your big day, for those trying to save on this - you may be dissappointed with the result. Generally speaking destination weddings attract a lot of 'photographers' that have no former qualifications they just want to top up their housekeeping money. (No problem with that but be aware!) Another reason to ask wedding planners for previous wedding photos is that big resorts have contracts for photographers. These are generally not professional photographers but a company that puts in the lowest bid and then hires 'joe bloggs' to take photos of your wedding. If in doubt ask, ask and ask again, anyone who really cares will have no problem answering your questions
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posted by SuzyBride
The church I am getting married in has a no photography during the ceremony policy. The preacher announces before the ceremony starts that no photography will be allowed. They do this so that the photographers pictures come out better and so guests aren't climbing over everyone trying to take pics. I would just ask the officiant to announce that guests cannot take pictures.
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posted by syringa
"If you are paying your photographers by the hour we suggest to plan all key moments close together (ceremony followed by congrats, champagne toast, cutting the cake, throwing of bouquet/garter) in order to ensure that all special moments are captured professionally. We fully realize that some wedding planners do not agree with this, however, please bear in mind that you are the couple getting married and you call the shots!"
I am one of those wedding planners who doesn't agree with the above scenario. If activities appear to be rushed, guests leave. They assume that the party is over. If the bride creates a schedule or time line of activities, it is easy to capture the important shots while the photographer is still there and still allow the bride and groom to enjoy their guests and their party without feeling like they must rush from activity to activity. Planning and staying on schedule are the keys to a well-organized wedding and reception.
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posted by feb-bride
I agree with syringa. If you jam all the "main" events together, your guests will assume you don't want a long reception and most of them will leave early.
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posted by wedbyjean
I am in agreement with syringa and feb-bride on this one as well. By planning all of the key moments together any comfortable flow to the event becomes disrupted, and it takes any joyful memory out of the event because the moment becomes forced and merely something to check off of a list things-to-do-at-the-reception.
Unless the photography budget is so tight, don't cram. Let us get things done in a relaxed, comfortable, yet timely fashion. Yes, it can be done without having everything planned one right after the other.
About getting the post ceremony photos done without interruption by others' cameras -- I always recommend that the bride & groom make a fake get-a-way after the ceremony. Guests will see them go, then they themselves will proceed to the reception site.
Pictures during the ceremony
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