Unplugged Ceremony Wording: Signs, Programs & Officiant Scripts

An unplugged ceremony works best when the request is warm and specific: phones and cameras away during the ceremony, then welcome again afterward. A sign alone is easy to miss, so pair it with one short officiant announcement.

Short sign wording

• Please silence phones and put away cameras during our ceremony. Be fully here with us.
• We invite you to be present. Our photographer will capture the ceremony; phones can return after the recessional.
• Unplugged ceremony, plugged-in reception. Please save photos for after we say “I do.”
• The best gift you can give us is your full attention. Please put phones away until the ceremony ends.

Program or website wording

“We have chosen an unplugged ceremony so everyone can experience this moment together. Please silence and put away phones, cameras, and tablets from the processional through the recessional. We would love for you to take photos and celebrate with us afterward.”

Officiant script

“Before we begin, [Name] and [Name] invite you to silence and put away phones and cameras. They would love to look out and see your faces during the ceremony. Their photographer has the memories covered, and there will be plenty of time for photos once they walk back down the aisle.”

Make the request easy to follow

Place one readable sign at the ceremony entrance and ask the officiant to say the same thing just before the processional. Do not put a long policy on every chair. If you want guest photos later, make that invitation clear at cocktail hour with a separate photo-sharing message.

For reception wording, read wedding welcome sign wording and how to collect wedding photos from guests.

FAQ

What do you say for an unplugged wedding ceremony?

Ask guests to silence and put away phones and cameras from the processional through the recessional, then let them know when photos are welcome again.

Should an officiant announce an unplugged ceremony?

Yes. A brief spoken reminder reaches guests who did not see the sign.

Can guests take photos at the reception after an unplugged ceremony?

Yes. Say that clearly so the request feels limited to the ceremony rather than restrictive for the whole event.