When I got my first (and actually, only so far) smart phone, it was when I decided I was going to blog full time. Since my entire livelihood would now be reliant on the Internet, I needed to have it in my pocket at all times.
I was late to the smart phone party. Really late. The latest phone at that time was the iPhone 4S, so its grandpa, the iPhone, was already five years old. Three years later I still have the 4S, filled with photos and apps. Like most everyone else, I don't go anywhere without my phone -- not even weddings.
And that has changed weddings. We've had to worry about things like unplugged weddings, which was something brides didn't have to worry about in the past. Yes, a guest would bring a camera and take a few photos, but when your camera lives in your pocket and social media is a mere app away, it's so much more tempting to take a photo and immediately tweet it or Instagram it. And then your guests are spending time looking down, watching your wedding through a screen instead of their own eyes.
But there's a way to do social media properly at your wedding.
Five Social Media Rules For Your Wedding
1. No posting photos of the bride or groom before the wedding.
This is a rule that you assume is a given, but it's safer to spell it out than assume. Your bridesmaids and parents will have phones in arms reach when everyone is getting ready for the big day. They'll be snapping selfies, photos of you, and photos with you. And that's fine. They are going to want to preserve these memories just as much as you do. But just make sure they don't immediately preserve them and post anything to social media before you walk down the aisle. And, to take it even further, make sure they don't text any photos out (at least of you) before the wedding either. The bride's reveal is huge and such a beautiful moment. You don't want one tag on Facebook to ruin that.
2. If you're really worried, change your privacy settings on Facebook.
I don't post on my personal Facebook page all that very often. I post on A Bride On A Budget's Facebook page several times a week. The last time I posted on my personal page was August 30 because I was doing some five days of grateful challenge. That was day four. I never made it to day five. But the last time a friend posted on my timeline was this morning. So even though you might not really be into Facebook, your friends might be. Be sure to change your privacy settings so you have to approve any tagged photos before they appear on your page. That way, you can make sure nothing unflattering shows up while you're on your honeymoon.
3. Create a wedding hashtag ... and let people know about it.
So many people mock hashtags, including Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake, but hashtags can actually be really effective. I use the #BridalBabble hashtag on Twitter every week to host our wedding chat, but you can use them for a wedding too. Create a hashtag that is unique to you (and be sure to check social media for that hashtag first because, believe it or not, you might not be the first couple trying to use #MrAndMrsSmith). Be sure to post on social media that you are, indeed, using a hashtag. But also, make business cards to share at the welcome table and/or each individual table or wedding welcome bags so your guests know what the wedding hashtag is. If no one knows, no one can use it.
Small aside: I actually designed the cards above on PicMonkey and had them printed at CatPrint. What I really like about CatPrint -- and why it's so wedding friendly -- is there are no order minimums. Want ten Instagram wedding hashtag cards because you'll have ten tables? Sure. They can do that. Need five personalized cards to ask your girls to be your bridesmaids? Done. Need 100 save the date postcards? They can do that too.
But what I like most about them, especially as a bride, is how incredible customer service is. When I was designing my cards, I had a few issues: First it was with orientation (but that was more of me not understanding the design process rather than an actual issue), second it was bleeding (or something like that, which I still don't fully understand). When you're planning a wedding, you know any minor crisis turns into something insurmountable. CatPrint's customer service did a lot of hand holding for me. I ended up sending them a desperation email that was something along the lines of, "I'm sorry. I don't understand. Can you just fix it for me?" And they did. Done. They even offered to send a free hard copy proof -- something they offer every customer. It adds a few days onto your production time, but you are able to receive one copy of your item in hand before an entire order is created. You can check spacing and coloring (and you know just how important color matching is). You can receive a free online proof, but that isn't ideal for colors. For review, I received these Instagram cards plus a full order of business cards (which I posted a photo of on Instagram). I love them. They're thinner than business cards, which gave them such a smooth feel in my hands. They just felt elegant, and that's the exact feeling you want for a wedding.
4. Wait a few days to change your status on Facebook.
I know, your friends want you to immediately change your status from "engaged" to "married" but really, this isn't something you need to change on the alter. After the "I Do's," you'll be taking wedding photos then going to your reception (and cleaning up), then passing out. If you remember this post, you'll remember that you don't even have the time or energy to be romantic on your wedding night. So the last thing you should be concerned with is a Facebook status.
5. Text your family who couldn't make it before posting on social media.
There is a good chance that the next day, your phone will be flooded with photos from your friends and guests. They'll have shots of your cake, of you walking down the aisle, of your first dance. And they will send them all to you, way ahead of your photographer's professional shots. Take one of those photos and text it to the important family members who weren't able to travel for the wedding with a short, "Wish you were here yesterday!" message. Then, and only then, should you post anything on social media. You don't want your relatives to see your wedding day because they happened to sign into Facebook at the same time someone was posting something on your wall. Just as you wouldn't post on Facebook that you were engaged before calling your friends and family, don't post any photos before everyone has seen it from you first. Your family will really appreciate it.
BRIDAL BABBLE: What other social media rules for your wedding do you have?
Check out Cat Print on social media: Twitter | Facebook
Turn off your phone in the church!
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful tips. It seems simple enough but sometimes you have to spell things out. It is probably really difficult to get guests to unplug at the actual ceremony. I love the idea of hashtags and signage about your hashtag at the reception. It helps to keep all of those great photos in one place.
ReplyDeleteThank for the advice
ReplyDeletegreat post - we just DJ'ed a wedding that had their own hashtag & it was INCREDIBLE! It works so nicely to keep wedding photos "organized" in one place!
ReplyDelete