How the rules of social etiquette are changing

Etiquette at social occasions has evolved over the years, especially when a wedding is involved.

It is more than just what knife and fork to use during the reception. There was always the rule of not wearing white, or upstaging the bridge. Now there is a new rule appearing on the list of do’s and don’ts, at the request of the happy couple planning their big day,  and it has to do with your photos.

It has always been a rite of passage to take your own happy snaps of the bride and groom, but couples are now making more clear the rules they want you do abide by, and it is all due to social media.

Take photos but wait

Some brides want to be the first to post on social media announcing their big day. They are happy for you to take photos throughout the day but may request photos not be put on social media like Facebook or Instagram until after a certain point in time. This could be later in the wedding day but it could be days or weeks after the event. When it is finally time to share your photos see if the couple have suggested a hashtag for you to include, as a way for them to create a collage all the images from the event. This just means putting # and whatever words they have set up, with the photos you post online.

Take photos at certain times

This may be a rule of the bride and groom, photographer or the celebrant, but it should be obeyed as a mark of respect. Particularly when it comes to church weddings, there may be restrictions on flash photography inside a church or the celebrant not wanting distractions during key points of the service. Professional photographers might also request certain times there are no photos being taken to prevent their shots being ruined by a random flash or iPhone screens, or worse, iPad’s, cluttering the view of the happy couple. Don’t worry, your time will come, and you will be able to get that shot eventually.

No photos at all

It is becoming more and more common that photography is being banned completely for all guests. With couples spending large amounts of money on a professional photographer and videographer, they want the best shots possible. Unfortunately, this means you don’t get to take yours. While that might seem extreme, for some couples they want to have full control how their special day is recorded, and shared on social media. The good news is thanks to social media you will get to see those magic shots without having to go visit the bride and groom personally to look through their wedding album, as they will most likely be shared online.

This story was inspired by the Azazie Wedding Blog Going Unplugged or Going All In: What is right for your wedding?

Do you like to take photos when attending a wedding?