Why I Don't Take a Million Photos at Weddings

Bossyboots and I have been invited to ten weddings in twelve months, including our own. That's right - ten in twelve months. Here's the proof!

Wedding #4 - Took no pictures (!)

Wedding #7 - Took no pictures (!)

My blue wedding dress is clearly in heavy rotation, huh?

We've completed seven of the ten weddings, with the next three coming up this spring. Lucky, in that we've gotten to attend a number of really fun weddings, with some of the people we love most. It feels like everyone I know is getting married or having a baby!

In attending all these weddings, I've had a bit of a change of heart when it comes to snapping photos. I usually bring a camera, but I really only use it to get a photo with my friend (if they're the bride/groom) and with Bossyboots. Otherwise, my camera stays mostly packed away, and I often walk out with less than five photos on my memory card.

On the surface, this may seem surprising, but lately I've really been thinking a lot about tech pollution. That's right, I said tech pollution - where people spend an entire evening buried in their phones or various technological devices, instead of experiencing the moment! When it comes to cameras at weddings, we've all seen this:

By Birchtree Photography

I'm a hobbyist photographer and I really love taking photos almost everywhere I go, but when it comes to weddings, I sit back and let the true pro do her job. I feel like the sea of people with cameras really goes against the spirit of a wedding, which is to spend time with your loved ones on one of the most important days of their life. 

I just can't imagine that pro photographers are excited about taking photos of wedding guests who are holding up a phone, camera, or camcorder. I'm sure they'd rather take photos of people actually connecting and living in the moment - not on Facebook. And for me as a guest, I'd rather be present, too, not hunkered down trying to find reception for my mobile upload.

For our Snapdragon wedding, I'm sure there will be abundant cameras, phones, and all manner of tech. That's perfectly fine with me - I am only a control freak when it comes to food and my wedding shoes. Mostly. But for me, I've found I have a much better time at life's important events when I leave my camera [and all her friends] at home. Because I'm really, truly present and accounted for, and I don't miss a thing.

What about you? Are you a reformed wedding-techie? Or are you hardwired to your tech goods?