I know that it may sound harsh, but I prohibited phones from being used during my wedding ceremony. I wanted to be seen by the guests, not through a camera (which is admittedly a bit selfish), and for them to hear the vows.
We didn’t use a hashtag for our wedding, and I was careful not to look at my phone during the day, much less post a #ootd photo on Instagram. Why? It’s hard enough to keep up with everything without being distracted by social media. Nothing goes faster than your wedding day.
According to a study, 84% of brides under the age of 35 use social media during their wedding.
It affects the millennial generation, just as it does many other issues, such as housing for first-time buyers and poor spending habits.
Only 7% of brides request that their wedding be unplugged. 64% of them ask guests to use the wedding hashtag on Instagram.
In fact, 837 of the 837 brides surveyed admitted to using social networking in the lead-up to their wedding day. This is quite normal. Pinterest is the best place to find inspiration.
It all begins on Facebook when you announce the big news. 78% of people share their engagements on social media in less than 24 hours. 11% further share it on digital platforms within a week.
The next step is planning. 67% of women admitted that they had created a Pinterest board before they got engaged.
There’s also a downside to this. We know that social media apps affect your mental well-being. And brides-to-be are not an exception. 42% of brides say seeing other brides’ wedding photos makes them anxious about theirs.
What’s the answer? OnBuy.com suggests following a digital etiquette.
- Check with the wedding guests to make sure that the bride and groom did not request an unplugged ceremony.
- Under NO circumstances should you post a picture of the bride before the wedding.
- While the best man is talking, don’t scroll through social media.
- You have 247 new likes for your newly engaged status. You don’t have to invite everyone.
- Keep your hashtags short and sweet.
- Put your phone away as a bride or groom on the big day. You don’t have to worry about your ex-colleague Jane’s newest pictures from Tenerife when you’ve got all of your family and close friends with you.
- Do not compare yourself to other weddings uploaded on social media if you’re feeling anxious about your big day. Envy is your worst enemy.
- Embrace it! Social media can help you capture memories, whether it’s through the Pinterest boards that are used to plan the wedding or the photos taken afterward. Wedding planners and professional photographers may not be able to do this.
