Dear The Bridal Guru,

Our church has strict rules. You cannot take pictures during the ceremony. I have been to many weddings at our church. And I have seen people stand up and take pictures with their phones and their small cameras. It looks like a circus when this happens. I don't want this at my wedding. What can I do?

Marilyn in Maryland

Dear Marilyn in Maryland,

Many churches have strict rules, yours is not alone. It's for the very reason you mentioned that churches have these guidelines. It upsets the flow of the ceremony and interferes with the professional photographer(s) that you have hired to take your photographs. There are a number of things you can do to prevent this from happening at your wedding.

1. Tell your friends and family about your concerns and the church's rules and ask them not to take pictures from their phones or cameras during the ceremony. You many enlist their help and ask them to stop others from doing this.
2. Put a small notice in the ceremony saying that photographs are not allowed to be taken during the ceremony and to refrain from this.
3. I mentioned this in an earlier blog, but you can have a phone and camera check-in and ask guests for their devices until after the ceremony and then they will be returned.
4. Finally, your priest or clergy can make an announcement before the ceremony begins regarding the rules of the church. They can ask guests to please refrain from taking pictures during the ceremony.

Marilyn in Maryland, I hope you have a beautiful wedding with no flashes, no paparazzi "wanna-be's" and respectful guests. Best wishes!

The Bridal Guru

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Check out past blogs. I may have already addressed your issues. Most important, have a blessed wedding!