Have you “Insta-banned” any of your wedding guests yet?
I know this might sound like a made-up word, but Insta-ban is actually a thing now!
In our social media optimized world, where we can even live stream instantaneously from a friend's wedding, couples need to start thinking about the limitations they want to place on their guests.
While most wedding couples are pretty laid back when it comes to social media sharing and their wedding, it's important to know the specifics of how these social media streams like Facebook live, Instagram, Snapchat and Periscope can all come into play on your wedding day.
I put together some quick tips to help you not only understand how these social media sharing options come into to play on your wedding day, but the limitations that you might want to set upon your guests…
Live Streaming
Facebook live has become quite a phenomenon in the social media sharing world. We now have the ability to share with all of our Facebook friends, family, and complete strangers, what we are doing live in video format at the very moment that we're doing it. This can either be a huge benefit for your wedding or it can be a huge distraction.
You need to decide if you are okay with the idea of multiple guests holding up their mobile phones during your wedding ceremony, recording live video. You need to decide with your partner whether Facebook live streaming is something that you will allow, or even encourage, at your wedding.
The fact of the matter is this is your wedding day, and if you did not invite certain people for a specific reason, then you might not want to allow Facebook live streaming from your wedding.
Hashtags
Another way that many wedding couples control social sharing at their wedding and reception is by using hashtags.
You've no doubt seen the chalkboards and different signage used to announce the wedding hashtag that you should use on Instagram and Facebook.
Most wedding couples do this so that they can track down all the photos that people take during their wedding. By simply clicking on that hashtag that wedding guests are supposed to post in the description of the photos or videos, the wedding couple can easily be taken to a list of all photos and videos that were taken at their wedding.
Limiting Social Sharing at Your Wedding
If you want complete and utter control over the photos and videos that are shared from your wedding, you are going to have to make it perfectly clear to your guess that your wishes need to be followed.
As an experienced day-of wedding coordinator in Arizona, I have personally seen many well-intended guests take social media sharing to an unpleasant level (i.e. blocking the view of the professional photography). However, the fact of the matter is that most wedding guests do not share photos or videos with malicious intent. They are excited for you and they just want to share the experience.
If you want complete control over social sharing, you'll need to mention on your wedding website or a sign at the guest registration table. You'll need to simply state that photos and videos are definitely welcome at your wedding, but they need to be shared with in your wedding Facebook group only. You can ask guests to post any of the photos and videos that they would like, even instantly as you take them at your wedding, but keep them within the Facebook group so that only the wedding guests can see them.
After the wedding, you have control to review all those photos and videos and decide which ones you want for yourself and which ones you are comfortable sharing out to the public.
Social sharing is a huge element of weddings these days. You will need to decide how you want to address the issue, if you want to address the issue at all.
Happy Planning! ~Janet