Wedding days are a whirlwind for the happy couple, and many of the guests as well. On the big day, all the wedding planning, love, and joy comes to fruition. It’s nice to be able to go back and relive the day via social media posts, which can create a truly special timeline.
If you’re attending as a guest or member of the bridal party, you might not be sure how best to participate in social media happenings. We’ve provided some tips for you, so you can be a top contributor to the wedding fun.
Tip 1: Use the Hashtag!
Many couples choose a unique hashtag for guests to use when posting any photos of the big day. This allows them to see all the moments they might have missed. Use the hashtag when posting to create those memories for them. Whether it’s a sweet sentimental moment as you get ready, or a candid shot of the couple gazing into one another’s eyes, it will all be appreciated.
Cataloguing the photos with the hashtag also makes it easier for you to share and find them later. If you forget – don’t fret! You can always edit the caption to include the hashtag after the fact. This works in reverse too – if you post a photo and then later realize, hmm, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea, you still have the power to wipe it from the hashtag collection if you want to leave it on your personal timeline.
Tip 2: Get candids and details
The wedding couple has planned every detail of their big day, and sometimes the little touches don’t get captured. Take artsy shots of decorations, food, those amazingly adorable favors, centerpieces and more. The couple will be glad to have memories of every little part of their day, and who doesn’t love a gorgeous close-up of a floral bouquet?
Also, mix things up with candid shots of the guests. Posed photos are nice too, but if you see a cute moment like a flower girl dancing with a groomsman, obviously you need to snap away! Plan your photos but be ready for action.
Tip 3: Check in with the Wedding Couple
If you’re invited to the wedding, you should know the couple well enough to check in beforehand about any social media rules. They’ll be able to tell you if they want you to wait before posting pictures of the bride’s dress, or even minor details such as if Aunt Susie is camera shy.
This way, you’ll have a set of guidelines to help ensure you don’t offend anyone (especially the newlyweds) while you’re trying to document the day. They may even give you some ideas of shots they particularly want. This is
- a great way to contribute, and
- A nice, productive way to show you care for your loved ones on their special day
Plus, you’ll be able to help provide them with lasting memories that they can cherish throughout their many blissful years together.
Tip 4: Keep it Lovely
A photo captures one brief second of someone’s life. Sometimes, in that one fraction of a second, they may not look so great. Try to be mindful of how you’re photographing others and make sure everyone looks their best. If you happen to capture your table-mate midway through chewing a hefty bite of surf and turf, maybe that’s not the photo you post. Unless they’re up for it!
Also, keep in mind that the couple might be sharing the photos with friends and family, so be careful with your clever captions. Keep it PG so you don’t make things awkward for the newlyweds.
Tip 5: Include yourself!
It’s easy to forget to document your own presence if you’re the one behind the camera. But it’s important to remember that the wedding isn’t complete without one special guest – you. Take a few selfies or videos sharing your best wishes for the happy couple. It will be something they can enjoy later.
Photos with filters can be great, but check with the newlyweds before you get too wild – they may like to see things as they naturally appeared!
Tip 6: Post Memories and Adjacent Events
Whenever there’s a big wedding, there’s often a whole host of events that lead up to it. If these events capture the mood and excitement of the big day, you can include them in your wedding hashtag posts.
Feel free to go back and edit the hashtag into posts of the bride and her grandma at her bridal shower, or the bridal party enjoying a spa day for the bachelorette. Throw in a picture of everyone toasting the happy couple at the beautiful engagement party. All these events tie into the joy of throwing a wedding, and the couple will be glad to have these memories included.
Have you known the bride or groom since they were a wee one? It can be sweet to include a vintage snap amongst your collection, along with a fond memory of the old days.
Also, the day after the wedding is a great day to post all those “rehash the bash” pictures. Share collages of your favorite moments and be sure to snag some shots of everyone at breakfast the next day.
Tip 7: Don’t Spill Secrets!
Earlier we mentioned the importance of checking in with the wedding couple before the event (to hash out social media rules and goals). However, they might not cover everything, so you’ll have to be rational. Of course you won’t be posting pictures of the bride in her dress before the ceremony, but if you spy any other details before other guests (like favors or the wedding cake), wait until everyone’s seen them to post.
A lot of planning goes into these details, and part of the fun for the happy couple is seeing everyone react to their choices. Imagine if everyone had already seen their amazing wedding cake on your Instagram? It would turn a “wow!”, into an “eh.” That’s disappointing all around.
Tip 8: Manage your Time
It’s great fun to rush around, snapping pictures of the big day. But force yourself to set a time limit and stick to it. While getting a lot of great photos is fun, you also need to enjoy yourself and take a moment to celebrate the joy of marriage. That’s hard to do when you’re peering through a viewfinder the entire time.
Unless you’re the official wedding photographer, you need to take a step back and chill out. Be a good wedding guest, truly. People want to talk to you, not your camera.
Did we miss anything? Leave a comment below for the soon-to-be brides, grooms, and guests out there (so they don’t fall into any wedding social media etiquette traps)! And if you’re looking for more fun big-day inspiration, our Facebook and Pinterest are loaded with free content and photos for you to peruse!
