Couples tying the knot in the age of social media often integrate their wedding planning and ceremony details into the virtual world. Updates via Facebook, photos posted on Instagram, videos of the proposal, and extravagant engagement ring selfies have dominated social media news streams of newly-engaged couples.
A wedding is the most epic and notable of life events—until, of course, pets or kids enter the picture. The events planning and leading up to the big day are heavily documented on social media sites and pages. And when the wedding day arrives, more photos and details flood the news feed.
Still, though, how much information is too much information in today’s information sharing society?
Regardless of how important every minute detail seems to the couple, there can always be too much of a good thing. Not everyone wants to see, read or hear every detail…especially those who might not merit the guest list. Others, however, might want even more updates.
Couples who have recently sealed their future with an engagement should take heed to follow a few social media etiquette tips to ensure that future guests, online friends, family and everyone else aren’t inundated with wedding updates.
Here’s what couples need to know when taking the engagement and the wedding social:
Know what’s private, and what’s public. Settings: check them! Make sure any information that might be shared isn’t blasted out into the black hole of cyberspace. Or change settings to ensure certain friends or family receive wedding updates or details. Remember that anything you put out there has the ability to go viral…for better or for worse. The internet is a most unfaithful mistress.
Post details guests need to know. Yes, sharing the wedding colors is a good idea. Guests will then know which colors not to wear—or which colors to wear—when attending the wedding. Don’t post details on bouquets and how they will look (or, heaven forbid, actual pictures of the bouquet mock-up). Include a few funny snapshots in the dresses that did not make the cut, but never post THE DRESS. Send posts with cake flavors and a basic menu—food allergies are very common. Mail or email a Save the Date announcement with date, place and time of the wedding. Only distribute an announcement to those who will receive an actual invite.
Set up a wedding website. Future guests will appreciate a website that gives additional details about the wedding. Post hotels where rooms have been saved. The personalized wedding site also may include the wedding party list, registry details and a bio about the couple and their engagement. Send the site link to interested guests via social media or email.
Communicate photo requests to guests. Almost everyone has a phone with a camera. Most of the guest also will bring their phone to the wedding. Make it clear to guests if they may take photos during the ceremony or at the reception. Some couples have a ‘no pictures’ policy during the ceremony but encourage photos during the reception. Whatever the preference, make sure guests know ahead of time and spread the word via social media channels. If the couple allows photos at the reception, set up a photo sharing site for guests to download snapshots. Everyone will love browsing the gallery of funny and sweet photos. Sometimes the best photos are the spontaneous snapshots taken by guests.
Say thank you…but not in an email. Social media, email and text messages have changed how many of us communicate. However, technology should not change how we say ‘thank you.’ All thank you notes should be hand-written, and never emailed or texted. Send a nice handwritten note for every gift received; the thank you need not be long, but it should always be personal.
With the rise of social media, major life events are able to be documented instantaneously and to a host of friends at the click of a mouse. While a wedding is one of the most exciting and extravagant life events, couples need to think twice before documenting every moment and detail on social media channels. Share details with future guests, close friends and family members in limits. Giving out too much detail about a wedding is like revealing the ending of a great book. Let guests enjoy reading about the journey, but also allow them to look forward to the happy ending that is the wedding day.
Written by Naomi Shaw: @NaomiJShaw
