Nieces wedding last year, a third of the guests were from photography, media in various forms and working in various mediums, also a good number from hair and beauty as we all arrived at the church on the day,
the signs were up to clarify the position at their request at the back of the church, it was also in the order of service and announced by the priest.
There was a request that no photos be taken during the ceremony but there would be posed photos on the altar at the end, the bride and groom did all the shots, then with their children, each family and both families.
Then they asked family and friends to arrange themselves in small groups and we could get photos with B&G which was lovely.
Then the traditional receiving line only this was as we left the church and was mainly for the video where we were allowed up to a minute each but could spend less if needed talking to the couple.
Then a dove release in the churchyard, at which point a mobile catering van pulled up with tea and coffee for everyone, the bridal party went off to do formal photos and were at the hotel in less than 90 mins.
Meantime we had the canapes, champagne and a chance to chat and mix. There was a room set aside for the canapes, champagne and a bar and everyone in it together and games on the tables, I ended up playing Connect 4 with the grooms great granny. There was twister and others, great fun to watch in wedding garb. lol
The candid photos from everyone were encouraged and when the B & G came back they joined the room for about 20 mins mingling and taking pics and chatting with everyone.
There were entertainers for the children and 3 babysitters to cover those who were staying in the hotel or had been relocated to the bride and grooms home that night if their parents were going to stay there.
We had the meal, more time to mix and talk, this time it was a magician who filled in the time until the band was set up and the B&G could give us their first dance, then the groom and his best man had their "last dance".
The band played till 11.30pm, followed by a stop for more tea/coffee food (bacon butties etc) and then the bride and groom while people were eating had a video of photos of them growing up, set to music and which lasted a few minutes and
then "interviews with those who have gone ahead of us"... words of wisdom on life, marriage, and love which we had all been asked to contribute to but didn't know exactly what we were doing, it was hilarious,
When that was over, the bride flicked over to FB on the tab underneath and changed her name, that was the go-ahead for anyone to post photos.
Bear in mind a lot of people couldn't stand up by that stage so was quite safe, midnight passed and most photos didn't appear till the next morning.
The disco finished just after 2 pm, then we had a sing-song till almost 4 am
from 10pm 2 of the brides youngest sisters friends were set up with 2 laptops and all the leads needed and another sign / chalkboard explaining what they were there for, as some people were leaving anytime after that they were encouraged to share direct from their phone onto the hard drive of the laptops which were then moved onto an external hard drive, and backed up online on Picasa so over 4-5 hours of sitting around playing with computer games as much as possible and getting some £ for it, the couple managed to gather up another 4000 images from the wedding, ones that wouldn't have been caught otherwise. Getting them before they left meant they deffo got the images when copying they kept the screen in view for the person and only copied wedding ones.
Not one person broke the "don't post till the couple does", She had it changed on another device as the video advice slots were ending.
Definitely a good idea, as long as you are clear across every channel possible and that you are shy about social media so aren't keen on being literally all over it.
There were lots of group shots of friends with B & G and single shots all taken more naturally, more relaxed and it was said it would be announced when the bride and groom were going to post on social media and then it was a free for all. She also said she got more time with the groom as well as wasn't feeling someone was about to FB live in her face all the time.
Enjoy your wedding and your marriage