It's hard to imagine, but there was a time when getting engaged meant wanting to run into your nearest and dearest (or sworn enemies and exes) to show off your new jewellery. However, we are increasingly in the habit of discussing everything from our #NewPedicure to the #GreenJuice we drank for lunch, so it seems only reasonable that a wedding (yours or someone else's) would be a popular topic for social media. And, although it is undoubtedly a milestone worth sharing with your followers, there are a few general guidelines to follow before hitting "publish."
Below are some guidelines for wedding media that encompass the full wedding season; follow these or risk becoming a screenshot in a group chat of Mean Girls—who secretly simply want to be invited to your wedding!
The Engagement
Given that "The Engagement Post" is your first announcement of the wedding-related posts to come, it's critical to get the tone right. A few general guidelines are as follows:
Don't just publish a picture of the diamond. This is gaudy and braggy, and, perhaps most significantly, it leaves onlookers wondering: who is the charming young gentleman / lady who gave you the diamond?
Furthermore, do not share a slideshow of photographs of the ring from various perspectives. We don't need to see everything from every viewpoint. All it will do is highlight how long you spent taking these images.
Choose your caption with care. We understand that the hashtag #ISaidYes is quick and simple to use, but there is nothing more predictable: of course, you said yes. (Wouldn't it be weird to share a photo if you answered, no?)
Do not use the wedding hashtag in your engagement photo. Nothing underlines the fact that you've been sitting on that one since the second date. A premature wedding hashtag is the digital equivalent of jotting your first name and your crush's last name on a notebook even without speaking to him.
Wedding Preparation
What do you think no one needs to see? A countdown to your wedding on a daily basis. We don't need to be reminded every day that there are only "276 days until I do!" no matter how happy we are about your approaching nuptials. There appears to be an app for that, so if this type of countdown sounds necessary, download it now and do it. Privately.
#SheddingForTheWedding is a very personal experience. We IWE believe it's amazing that there are social media groups of brides and grooms-to-be who share their #Fitspo for the wedding day. What we don't think is amazing is over-sharing details about your frantic weight-loss struggle with the rest of us. The hashtag and the numerous photographs make it appear to be an extreme sport. We realise that women want to look their best on their wedding day, but don't they also want their Instagram followers to recognise them?
Say yes to the dress, but no to discussing each choice with us. This is best saved for a group feed with all of your bridesmaids and besties. They will be as delighted as you are and will want to offer their comments, and these are the perspectives that should be considered. Do you truly want opinions from the rest of us? (We say no.)
The Special Day
To be honest, the wedding hashtag has always confused us. Who are these hashtags intended for? We're I assuming you already follow the individuals who have been invited to your wedding, and many of them follow each other, so won't they have already seen all the nice photos of you serving cake to your newlywed? The hashtag is intended for outsiders and those who were not invited. We guess we can all admit to clicking on a hashtag and ending ourselves at a wedding we weren't invited to.
Don't force it if the last names don't lend themselves to a simple hashtag. No one needs to see 137 images tagged with #MrandMrsWhootersplatSayIDo, #HappilyEverDumasses, or #HolySchmidtWereGettingMarried (though that one is really nice...).
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