The Bride's Guide to Social Media Wedding Etiquette
ByRachel Wilkerson, Lover.ly
While we think the web and wedding planning go together like, well, love and marriage, even we have our limits. Getting wedding inspiration on the Internet is awesome, but not every moment of wedding planning or the ceremony needs to play out on social media. So as you get ready to head into wedding season, here are our tips for handling wedding planning and social media etiquette.
Photo by: Kate Harrison on Snippet and Ink via Lover.ly
Think before you update your status. Even though Facebook is a fast and easy way to update everyone on your change in status (or show off your shiny new engagement ring), make a point to tell close friends and family first. They will be hurt if they find out through Facebook, and do you really want to start off wedding planning with your grandma ticked at you? (And if you run off to the courthouse over the weekend and get hitched, definitely tell people personally before you post pics online. That's the kind of thing that it can take a family years to get over!)
Photo by: Natalie Spencer Photography on Bridal Musings via Lover.ly
Make the most of your wedding website. A well-done wedding website (we have tips for creating one...bonus points if it's mobile-friendly!) is a great resource for guests. And if your wedding website template has a blogging feature, use it! Then, instead of posting every detail of wedding planning on your social media sites (and making them sick of the wedding before you've even mailed the invites, interested guests can check in periodically for updates. And you won't wind up inundating all the people on Facebook and Twitter who you aren't inviting with the details of your wedding.
Photo by: Morrissey Photography on Heart Love Weddings via Lover.ly
Let guests know how to contact you and make life easier for yourself by sticking to one contact method. We love the idea of setting up a separate email address for emailing with vendors; put that on your wedding website too so guests can send questions there. And if they keep sending you messages on Facebook or via text, respond with "Cool, can you just email me this so I can respond more easily? Thanks!" until they get the hint.
Photo by: Marvelous Things Photography on Heart Love Weddings via Lover.ly
Make your feelings about social media known. More and more couples are option for unplugged weddings; if that's your thing, just put a note in your wedding program letting guests know. But if you go this route, make it easy for guests to see and order the photos your photographer takes by sending out the link to the online gallery as soon as possible or printing out slips of paper with the photographer's info to tuck into thank you cards. (And if you're a guest? Respect the couple's wishes! If you're snapping photos, you're probably not paying attention to the ceremony anyway, and if they asked you not to share photos of them, there was likely a good reason for it.)
Photo by: Josh McCullock Photography on Every Last Detail via Lover.ly
Don't get so caught up in pretty wedding photos that you forget to enjoy the day. Hey, we appreciate gorgeous wedding photos more than anyone, but how your wedding feels is way more important than how it looks. So don't forget to hand your phone to your maid of honor the morning of to avoid last-minute stress and to be fully present with your friends, family, and new partner.
More from Lover.ly:
Photo booth props your guests will love
Our favorite engagement photo ideas
Have a grand exit when you leave your wedding
