10 Do’s and Don’ts of Smartphone Wedding Etiquette

Here is a handy list for your guests of the 10 Do’s and Don’ts of smartphone wedding etiquette. It’s a rare wedding that doesn’t have guests filming on their phones, but the only problem is we tend to get carried away in the moment. We forget about a little thing called wedding smartphone etiquette.

Then we find out later that we were the ones who blocked the view of the altar, talked during the first dance, and generally messed up the professional photographers shot. Ouch.

Here are some wedding smartphone etiquette tips to avoid being that “that guy” or that “that girl” at the wedding.

1. Upload it – Don’t Text it

Yes, texting is a great way to share pictures and videos – but it is also very limiting! While it looks great on your phone, you can’t print the photos, and the videos are way too small to ever look good on your tv. Who wants to look like a lego mini-figure in their wedding video?

To share photos and videos with the bride, upload the full resolution files to their WeddingMix account for free. This gives them the freedom to include the high quality clips in their wedding video later.

2. Hold the Phone Sideways

What good Hollywood film would have black bars on either side of the screen? That’s what the video clips will look like if you hold your phone vertically – and the stars of the show (the bride and groom) deserve MUCH better than that!

Make sure to hold the phone sideways, so the video clips will look good in wedding video later. This bit of wedding smartphone etiquette ensures a consistent, high quality wedding video at the end!

Get all those smarphone clips edited into your wedding video with WeddingMix!

3. Do NOT Photobomb the Vows

We can’t say this enough. Do not photobomb the vows – just don’t do it. The couple hired a professional photographer, so they really don’t need you getting all up in their business while they’re saying the vows.

The day belongs to the bride and groom – don’t do anything to steal the spotlight from them. Let the couple have their moment and stay back with the crowd in your seats, unlike this goofy incident of a baby upstaging a couple’s vows:

4. Enjoy the Reception – You Can Comment on Photos Later

You took that once shot of the bride and groom’s first kiss that you just HAVE to Insta – the lighting was perfect, the couple looked stunning – you just can’t get enough of that photo and you want the world to see it too. We understand – but your friends spent a small fortune on this reception – don’t waste the night standing against the wall staring at your smartphone!

There will be plenty of time to comment on the photos uploaded by your other friends later. For now, pay attention to the party you are now attending. Live and have fun! This is a time to make memories you will treasure for years to come.

5. No iPads – an ESSENTIAL Bit of Wedding Smartphone Etiquette

This should be a no brainer. Seriously – there’s no way to not be obnoxious when filming with a big honking iPad. Just use your smartphone or a handheld camera.

photo credit: Mgiddings

Filmed on your phone!

6. Don’t Block the People Behind You

Be respectful of the people around you. Grandma doesn’t want to be stuck behind the “paparazzi” during the ceremony – and not every guest is going to be tall enough to see over your camera. If you want to take video during the ceremony, sit on an aisle and be respectful of the people behind you.

Also, some photographers sit in the back of the church and use a long lens to capture the ceremony. Make sure you’re not blocking their shot!

The view was nice and clear for Jen and Alf’s ceremony! Each special moment, from the vows to their first dance, were perfectly captured in their wedding video.

We really wanted to find a way of documenting our wedding without having to spend money on a videographer.  Crowd sourcing our wedding video was a fun and appealing idea to us.  All we cared about was capturing our special day on camera. “- Jennifer and Alfred

Hear what other brides had to say about WeddingMix:

WeddingMix was an inexpensive alternative to hiring a videoagrapher, which can be really pricey, and it ended up being a lot of fun for everyone! We captured some of the late night and behind the scenes footage that we would not have trusted a stranger to see ;). Our video is personal, hilarious, and heart-warming. It’s the video to share with our friends for a laugh, and one day our kids to prove we were once a lot of fun. I highly recommend this option for your wedding- you and your guests will love it!” – Stefani G

 

This was the perfect option for us to get footage of our wedding. We did not have the budget for a professional videographer to my standards so we just made our own! Our friends had a great time shooting the footage and interviewing each other with the camera. I am so relieved that we chose to get a video service after all! I would of regretted it if I didn’t have my wedding on camera.” – Caitlin D

7. Be Your Own Tripod

Filming a long clip can be exhausting on your arms, and naturally they begin to drift downwards. Your best bet is to be your own tripod: grip the phone with two hands and gently brace your elbows against the top of ribs. This is super important to remember whilst filming the first dance!

8. Don’t Photobomb the First Dance

This is a very intimate moment between the newlyweds – and if they’ve hired a videographer, this is one moment you can guarantee they’ve planned to capture. This moment is very important to them – stay out of the frame so they can have the video keepsake they deserve.

Just look at these EPIC first dance clips – captured using the WeddingMix app and cameras!

I understand that you want to film it too, so you can post to Facebook, instagram, etc, but be courteous of the videographer’s angle.

9. Shut Up

This might sound a little harsh, but it’s true. The bride and groom really don’t need (or want) your commentary. This day belongs to them – let’s keep it that way.

10. Your Boobs are NOT a Home for Your Smartphone

Our wedding video editors have seen many a clip of bridesmaids grabbing their smartphones from in between their boobage. I don’t care HOW much you need to update your Facebook status – Wedding day boobs are for fun, not to hold your phone.

So there you have it – a crash course on wedding smartphone etiquette. Have another piece of advice for fellow wedding guests? Share with us in the comments!

See how we can help you capture and enjoy your big day for a lifetime. Learn more about DIY affordable wedding video at our website or feel free to give us a call at 800-831-1649.