TO POST OR NOT TO POST? 5 TIPS FOR SHARING YOUR WEDDING ON SOCIAL OR KEEPING IT PRIVATE
How do you feel about details of your wedding day being posted online? Do you want guests to share as many images as possible, or would you much better prefer to share the first image yourself or do you like for everyone to put their devices away completely and connect with you and your wedding instead? Whatever your feel is right for you and your fiancé. Here’s a few tips on how to manage social media at your wedding day.
TIP ONE
The number first thing to do is to make the decision where you stand on the whole question of social media. Please decide BEFORE the big day itself. Remember it’s your day and you’re the one making the decisions and don’t think of others be selfish at this point. Make sure you are clear with your decision and add this to your wedding planning to-do list.
Ask yourself, do you want an entirely ‘unplugged’ wedding with no social media at all? Would you prefer that images are shared only once you’ve shared the first and definitely not on the day itself? Would you be happy if your guests shares photos of the details and décor only? Are you completely happy for your guests to share images if they want to? Are you wanting your guests to go all out and share, share, share?! As you can tell by this post, this is absolutely something that have to be discussed together because your decision or not decision could end up having quite an impact on your day.
TIP TWO
Once you’ve made the decision on what your social media is, you now need to let your guests know your preferences and best is to have that done in advance of the day itself. Why not including some wording on your info cards or on your wedding website or invitations so that there are no discussions along the day. If you’ve decided ‘no social media’, the importance of making it clear that this applies to everyone can be helpful. On the other side, if you’re more than happy for your guests to post all day long, they’ll need to know the right hashtag to use! Yes don’t forget the hashtag.
TIP THREE
If you’re happy with guests posting photos and videos from your special day, I recommend creating a hashtag before your day, that will allow you to easily see all their photos and posts from your day. The best is to add your hashtag to all your wedding signage and wedding day stationery so that everyone easily can use it and share some love with you. Also when it comes to creating your hashtag, please keep it simple (remember a few drinks and typing can get tricky!) and don’t forget to look to see whether anyone else has used it before. Don’t want to get lost in someone else hashtag.
TIP FOUR
The most important I would say is the decisions should always be yours. Please don’t worry about what the guests will think and simply go with the decision that suits you and your fiancé the best and what you’re the most comfortable with.
TIP FIVE
The last advice is to let your photographer and videographer know what you’ve decided when it comes to social media. If you’ve told your guests no phones for the ceremony. I promise you’ll have your photographer’s undying gratitude and you’ll certainly get better pictures and coverage without any guests leaning out into the aisle to snap pics of you as you arrive or for the kiss. That’s a photographers nightmare guests being in the way.