I’d like to start with a little disclamer…Forgive my honesty but I like to call things for what they are.

An “UNPLUGGED CEREMONY” is a ceremony where you need to spell out clearly to your guests some basic rules of a good education.

I know, I know, some people cannot survive more than 30 seconds away from their cell phones. Except for the fact that it is totally possible!

Some people are so incredibly social that they need to take a pic and post about their lunch, their coffee at Starbucks, and every little silly thing that happen to them any second of their day.

Believe me: the world will not stop spinning if you do not check Kim Kardashian’s last pose on Instagram.

Life will continue if you do not comment on the last Tweet about Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s trial.

It looks like we are so busy being social on our phones that we forgot how to look in the eyes of people around us and be present. If that is not enough some people forgot their good manners along the way as well.

Unfortunately in today’s era, we need to spell out that the bride and groom would like for their guests to switch their cell off during the ceremony. Most of the time the couple really wants to share this important milestone with the important people in their life. The ceremony is a solemn moment and it should not be interrupted by hip-up ringtones.

It sounds crazy to me but there is the need to specify to family and friends to please stop and dedicate the couple about 30 minutes of their undivided attention.

We also need to specify that there are professional photographers and videographers in the house and it will not be nice if somebody will stand in their way. These professionals are paid to capture the moment in the most amazing way but… I did see some situations where the poor photographer had to “fight” with dozen of cells up in the air or in the middle of the aisle obstructing a decent shot.

The very active internet user has some justifications about their “paparazzi behavior” like:

-…After all, the video could go viral-  or

-The flower girl could do something funny or the ringbearer could have a meltdown-

Some want to be the first to post the bride’s beautiful gown.

Well… They might mean well but I find this very disrespectful!

The fact that family and friends are not able to switch off their cell to really listen and be a testimony of the huge step the couple is making to me is like saying that Kim Kardashian’s butt, for example ( with all the respect for Kim and her lovely curves) is more important than a ceremony that will bond 2 people in love for the rest of their life.

Working on more than 600 weddings, I  did witness a bit of everything including the father of the bride taking a call, standing up, and leaving in the middle of his daughter’s wedding ceremony.

To the guests: Please be nice and be polite and if the couple requests to switch off your cell for a few minutes…just do it.! I promise that all your notifications will still be there a few minutes after the ceremony.

To bride and groom: yes! You really need to ask your officiant to remind your guests at the beginning of your ceremony to put the cells away. Even if you did put cute signs at the entrance of your ceremony venue about it. If you do not do it expect to have all those cells up in the air on your professional wedding video, and during the exchange of the rings, and during your vows, and… you get the pattern, right?

If you ever need to have a deep supporting system to help you plan, design, and host the wedding celebration you always dream of, remember that you can rich me and my team here for a free 30 min. wedding planning session with no obligations. 

And yes! You can count on me to tell your guests to switch off their cells too.