These days, using social media in your wedding is an absolute must! It’s a great way to share you most precious moments and memories with friends and family who are not able to spend the day with you. However, there are still some rules and etiquette that must be followed, whether you are a guest or the bride. Here are some helpful tips to get you on the right track.

For the Bride and Groom

WEDDING PLANNING

Make sure you call your parents and any close family members to make your announcement personally. No one wants to find out big news about you on Facebook, especially if you’re getting married! Announcing your engagement on social media may seem fast and easy, but even with new technology, the same consideration and etiquette must be applied.

Send traditional paper invites for your wedding. You don’t want your wedding invite to get lost in the slew of daily emails your guests receive. Save the e-vite for the rehearsal dinner or bachelor/bachelorette events. You can still make them cute! E-vite creation sites have very beautiful options and are way easy to design.

If you choose to post photos of your engagement ring, keep the details about it to yourself. Bragging about the size or cost of your new bling is tacky and it really isn’t anyone’s business but yours and your groom’s.

Create a #hashtag! Encourage your guests with an announcement or a pretty sign before the wedding takes place to use it! This way, you are able to collect everything about your special day and save it.

ON THE WEDDING DAY

Take selfies! But please don’t forget to enjoy your day! You’ll have everyone taking pictures of you, and your professional photographer will be there snapping away. You don’t want your professional pictures with your phone in your face. Plus you’ll want to spend the day connecting with those around you.

Stay positive! If something goes wrong, don’t complain about it online! If someone takes advantage of the open bar, don’t blast them on Facebook. Speak to them privately and in person, or have someone do it for you. Negativity will only create animosity and paint you in bridezilla green.

Want to go tech free? It’s okay! It’s perfectly acceptable to ask that your guests put their devices away during the ceremony. That’s what ht wedding photographer is there for – to do the work so everyone can enjoy the ceremony live and not looking through a tiny screen.

For the Guests

Give the professional photographer his or her space! There is nothing more annoying than a guest trying to steal the photographer’s poses from behind (not to mention violates copyright), and it’s extremely violating to the bride and groom. They spent good money so they can have beautiful memories of their day, so respect the photographer and let them work.

USE the hashtag! Don’t make the bride and groom chase you down for wedding pictures. It’s not nice.

Don’t spend the entire day glued to your phone. The couple invited you to celebrate with them, and you don’t want the only pictures of you with your face stuck to a screen.

Ask before sharing pictures of the bride and groom. They may want to keep certain photos to themselves, or want to share theirs first.

DEFINITE DON’T’s

Don’t post pictures of gifts. Tack tack tacky go wacky. ‘Nuff said.

Don’t discuss or complain on social media how much your wedding costs. That makes everyone feel awkward and uncomfortable.

Don’t post all the dirty details of a breakup if your engagement or wedding is canceled. Just like when you announced your engagement, your guest should find out about it through you, and not on Facebook.

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