Hoping for a Phone-Free Wedding? Here's How to Accomplish it, Without Alienating Your Guests

The key is to be firm and polite.

By: Jen Glantz

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Phones Away on the Big Day

After planning all the big-ticket items for your wedding, like where to have the reception and what kind of delicious food to put on your guests' plates, you might find yourself thinking about other tough decisions to make.

One of those more personal decisions might be around phones. Do you want to let guests record parts of your ceremony? Are you okay with people texting under the table while your maid of honor reads her speech? Do you mind if people have their phones out during your first dance?

If you’re thinking about doing a phone-free wedding, or at least limiting how much you’d like your guests to be on their device during your big day, here are a few ways you can accomplish that without making your favorite people feel uncomfortable.

Give Your Guests a Heads Up

Once you know your phone policy for your wedding day, be sure to give your guests a heads up as far in advance as possible. Share your rules on your wedding invitation (in small print), on your wedding website, or in any other types of pre-event communication. That way, your guests can be prepared to leave their phones in their car, purse, or pocket when they arrive at your ceremony.

Explain Your Why

Many of your guests might not spend too much time apart from their phones, so sharing why you decided to have a phone-free wedding might be necessary. Share the reason why you don’t want them taking photos, texting, or chatting during your wedding. Your guests want you to be happy on your wedding day, so giving some explanation as to why you made this decision will help them respect that even more.

Get Your Vendors on Board

In an effort to help get you the support system you might need to pull off a phone-free wedding, give your vendors a heads up about this before the wedding. That way, they can be respectful of your policy and also help implement it. Share with them what you’d like them to do if they see guests spending too much time on their phones and how to politely handle those situations on your behalf.

Have Signs at Your Venue

Give your guests a quick reminder when they arrive by having a sign at the wedding that shares this is a phone-free event. Even the people with the best intentions not to use their phone might be the people who could use a little extra reminder to put their device away during your celebration.

Ask for Back-Up Help

Pick a few friends and ask them to remind guests upon arrival that this wedding is phone-free. Sometimes having a verbal reminder is what some guests need to remember the etiquette for your celebration. Plus, if your friends deliver the message in a fun way, it won’t feel so serious or put a damper on the mood of the wedding at all.

Make a Little Announcement

Right before the ceremony starts, ask your officiant to share a gentle reminder that the couple has requested guests to be fully present at their wedding, without the interruption or temptation of phones. That way, when you’re walking down the aisle, you can see your guest’s facial expressions, without phones blocking their smiles or tears.

Offer Photos and Videos

Since so many of your guests will find themselves eager to use their phones to capture the key moments at your wedding, reassure them that there’s no need since you’ll share a gallery of photos and video clips they can see once the wedding ends. That way, they can feel at ease putting their phones away and just celebrating in the moment.

Create a Phone Zone

It’s not too realistic to think your guests will be able to keep their hands off their phones all night. Instead, create a phone zone where people can go to make calls or check their messages. That way, they can step away for a few minutes and see if they missed anything important before heading back into the party.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 10 Awkward Conversations It's OK to Have with Guests Before Your Wedding, 15 Unique Wedding Guest Book Ideas, 5 Common Wedding Invitation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

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