(I'm the bride) I HATE taking pictures and I have my whole life (hate being the center of attention). I am paying for a pro photographer and have the pro take a few pictures with my soon-to-be husband and our children and just be happy. At the reception the photographer will take a few pictures of everyone, except me. I'm not handing out any pictures with me in them, just pictures with the kids and my fiance. How do I add no cameras of any kind allowed?? Or should I just call everyone and let them know? All my family knows I don't take pictures and so does my fiance. But because this is a wedding, i know people will think they should take pictures. Thanx
2007-07-25 05:28:19 · 38 answers · asked by Amused 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
I don't want cameras at the reception either...I am really camera shy.
2007-07-25 05:36:05 · update #1
I didn't know not liking to take pictures was a deep phobia. LOL Thanx. I know this may seem crazy but I have compromised already for this wedding...most women would like to have their dream wedding. I'm not. I wanted an intimate ceremony, just me and him but he wants the whole big deal. All I need are suggestions on how to word this. I'm not concerned with the other stuff. Thanx a alot, I have gotten some good advice though!!!
2007-07-25 05:50:59 · update #2
There is absolutely nothing wrong with being selfish on YOUR wedding day. If you want to get married in a big elaborate church wedding, or just a backyard barbecue, that's your prerogative, and your family members and friends should respect you for that. I feel that the same goes for cameras. If you don't want any photographs taken except for your professional ones, that is totally your call. Other people can berate you all they want on here, calling you selfish, or telling you to get over yourself, but they're not coming to your wedding, nor are they planning it or paying for it. I feel that this is one day where you can make the rules yourself.
I would address this issue by asking "No Cameras Please" in the invite, and again in the church program. Best of luck to you.
2007-07-25 09:02:44 · answer #1 · answered by Elle C 4 · 3⤊ 5⤋
I really hate being the center of attention and having my picture taken as well, but, quite honestly, the pictures other people took at my wedding were among my favorite pictures of the day. The truth is you are going to be CRAZY busy all day, with you mind full of a billion things including "WHOOPIE! I'm getting married." You won't even notice other people with cameras. The photographer will be focused on you and the wedding party, he(she) will miss all of the fun things the crowd is doing. Everyone else will get those awesome pictures.
I really and truly know how you feel about pictures, I never let people take my picture. Sometimes, if I am helping someone with their digital camera, I'll erase any pictures of me that I see.
But I think if you make this rule, people won't listen to you anyhow, and it'll be one more thing that you stress about.
2007-07-25 08:03:59 · answer #2 · answered by Liza S 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Avoiding photography during the ceremony shouldn't be much of a problem. If a wedding is in a church or other religious site, photography is sometimes not allowed during the ceremony (due to the religious nature of the event). If you're getting married in a church that can make a good excuse as many people are familiar with that custom. Most couples handle this by some sort of announcement on the ceremony program or by having the officiant make an announcement before the ceremony begins (as others have suggested). If the ceremony is not in a religious setting, I think it would still be appropriate to have an announcement---something to the effect of "The bride and groom ask that you please refrain from taking photographs during the ceremony."
The reception will be more difficult as many people will want to take pictures of themselves at the event also. I'm not sure you can ban cameras outright because of this. However, your family and members of the wedding party (bridesmaids, if you have them) can help you here by sticking by you throughout the reception and subtly shooing people away who try to take pictures with you in them. If you have a wedding coordinator he or she can help with this also. There are certainly ways for you to get what you want on your day and also allow your guests the freedom to take photos and remember the day for themselves. The big photo op moments are the cake cutting, first dance, etc. Your DJ can make another announcement, similar to the one made by the officiant before the ceremony...asking that guests again refrain from taking photos of the couple.
What can really help is to ask your family and friends who know your feelings to inform everyone about the photo ban...subtly fit it into conversations, etc. Most invitees will hear about it through word of mouth, which will hopefully have more of an effect than directives on the invitation.
I hope this helps...best of luck to you and your fiance!
2007-07-25 07:05:03 · answer #3 · answered by LF 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Word of mouth might be your best choice... I suppose you could put it somewhere in the invitation packet, I just can't really think of where or how to word it.
Ask the minister or celibrant to announce before the ceremony that it is requested that no one take pictures. You can have the DJ/emcee do that same at the reception. Or have a classy little sign at the entrance (maybe by the guest registry) that says something like "The couple kindly requests that you refrain from taking pictures during the ceremony and reception. Thank you."
Professional photographers have had problems in the past with others taking pictures at the same time as them (something about the lighting from flashes interferring), so that might be a good excuse.
2007-07-25 05:37:34 · answer #4 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
A lot of people hate having their picture taken. I know plenty of them! But, seriously, just get over it for one day. It's really not that big of a deal. You don't mind walking down the aisle and having literally EVERYONE'S eyes on you, but you don't want any one to take pictures? That makes NO sense whatsoever! You're going to be the center of attention whether you like it or not. Besides, what's the point in paying good money for a photographer if you don't like having your picture taken so much? To be perfectly honest, if I got a wedding invitation in the mail saying "no pictures" I probably wouldn't even attend the wedding. You're being very selfish. I know it's your big day and all, but be reasonable!
2007-07-25 08:09:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
A lot of professional photographers don't want flash photography at a wedding b/c the flashes ruin their pictures. In addition, if you don't want picture taking at your wedding, I think people should respect that. I would put on the reception card, lower lefthand corner, "We respectfully request that you refrain from bringing cameras to the reception."
2007-07-25 06:36:49 · answer #6 · answered by Ms. X 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I suppose you can just add a line to the bottom of the invitation that says "We request that you not bring cameras to this event."
Be warned, though. No matter what you say, people will bring cameras. Even if they don't take pictures of you, weddings are a great time to take pictures. Everyone is all dressed up!
2007-07-25 05:33:19 · answer #7 · answered by corinne1029 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Well, I think that your wedding day is meant to be the happiest day of your life and if you are committed to making this marriage work then you will be "beaming" from ear to ear on the big day and delighted to have your friends and family there to share in the joy & happiness. Its supposed to be a celebration in which your guests will like to look back with fond memories of the wonderful day. Good Luck to you both and keep smiling.
2007-07-25 06:40:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it may come off as a bit rude if you ask everyone to leave their cameras at home. As someone has already mentioned, they are not just taking pictures of you, they are taking pictures of themselves, friends, family and other things. Guests go to a lot of trouble to get themselves ready for your wedding and it is a nice oppurtunity for them to get fancy shots with their loved ones as well. It is not fair to only let in the pro photographer as guests would then have to buy photos from him.
On my wedding day guests were free to bring cameras and almost none asked me to take posed shots, they just stuck to candids and it was great they could email me some of these long before the professional photos were ready. The guests won't be hounding you for posed photos and some will ignore the no camera rule anyways.
2007-07-25 06:07:16 · answer #9 · answered by Meems 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
You can state so on the invitation but do not be surprised if you see cameras coming out to take pictures during the ceremony and reception.
Just state it on the invitation but don't go ballistic if you see them at the wedding.
2007-07-25 05:38:01 · answer #10 · answered by Terri 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋