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For all the good it's done, social media has also made it really hard for brides to enjoy their wedding day. For one, there's the undue pressure created by sites like Pinterest to have a picture-perfect wedding. Secondly, there's all the pressure for an original, sensical hashtag (why even have one?!). Then, on the day-of, you've got all these guests posting pictures that you have NOT given final approval of. It's dizzying. That's why we've come up with the list of 6 social media mistakes brides should never make on their big day.
1. Posting incessantly. Yay! You got engaged. People want to know, and some may even be curious to see your ring. Go ahead and post it. Okay, you picked a date and venue. Exciting! Oh, wow, you've got bridesmaid dresses... and a dress fitting... and an engagement shoot... and a link to your Pinterest board... oh, and now you're live-Tweeting your cake tasting. Enough! The people in your social media circle do not need to feel as though we're living this experience with you. Save some surprises for the wedding day, and stop telling us every little thing that happens along the way.
2. Losing it with the hashtags. The hashtag thing has gotten a little out of control--you do not need more than two hashtags total for your wedding (including for the bachelorette, ladies!). In fact, you don't even really need a hashtag at all, you trailblazer. I've seen many wedding hashtags on Instagram with a pathetic number of posts after the bride campaigned tirelessly for them. What's the point? Don't shove hashtags down people's throats--especially ones that don't make sense. Here's an even crazier idea--in lieu of a hashtag sign posted at the ceremony, post a sign that encourages guests to put down their phones and enjoy the wedding IRL. How novel!
3. Going off on Facebook. So, a vendor screwed you over or your mother in law is driving you nuts. Time to update your Facebook status? Noooooo. Put the smart phone down and back away... going bridezilla on social media is not a good look. The internet is written in pen, not pencil. Once you've said it, you can never erase it from people's minds. It makes you look a little, um, psycho (sorry). Air your vendor grievances on their Yelp page, and save your MIL venting for your diary or a *very* close friend who cares (never, ever for your husband--poor guy doesn't deserve to be caught in the middle.)
4. Using social at all on the wedding day. You should be totally and completely unplugged on your wedding day. You shouldn't even know where your phone is. Everyone who could ever possibly need to reach you will be there--there's no emergency situation that you could need it for. Social media is distracting and takes you out of the moment, which is passable any other day of the year--but not on your wedding day. Stay in that moment, trust that your (paid) photographer is snapping away, and if you absolutely *mist*, enroll one of your bridesmaids to be the designated phone paparazza.
5. Getting too sappy. You love your fiancée--why else would you be marrying him? Don't post a super mushy message about how you're so excited to spend the rest of your life with him--that sh*t goes without saying and induces major eye rolls on social. Thank your husband, parents, bridesmaids, etc., in person rather than on social media. It will mean a lot more. Don't do it on social just to show everyone that you're caring AF.
6. Going radio silent. Don't be an elusive bride, either! If you're a person that posts regularly to social media, it would be weird if you never talked about the wedding or even confirmed that you are engaged or married, wouldn't it? Give the people what they want--the basic information and a few select pictures (one engagement post, and a small album of the best wedding shots from your photographer--no iPhone!). No TBTs for a year, though. That's excessive.
7. Letting people use social during the ceremony. This drives officiants crazy and it should drive you nuts, too. Ask your officiant to make a little announcement (in a lighthearted manner!) about guests refraining from using their phones during the wedding. I mean, definitely no flash, people! It's distracting and unnecessary. Again, your paid photographer should be capturing all the most important shots--you don't need the people in the pews to have their phones up like this is a flippin' concert.
