No photos allowed at the church!!!!

lanikai Posted: May 21, 2004 10:05 AM

No photos allowed at the church!!!!

The church where FH and I are getting married does not allow family and friends to take photos during the ceremony in order to preserve the dignity or the service (I can understand where they are coming from). Also, professional photographer is allowed to take pictures only from the balcony above the sanctuary and video is allowed at the discretion of the minister. This also must be taken in balcony or at a discreet distance.
Is anyone else experiencing these restrictions?Is this actually the norm and I just didn't know it? Just wondering how you have chosen to deal with it.

charlotte227 Posted: May 21, 2004 10:07 AM

Re: No photos allowed at the church!!!!

Wow that is too strict can you get marriied at your hall it's your day you def want it captured can't your minister understand this, it's not like a regular full fledged service going on...good luck

kazee525 Posted: May 21, 2004 10:08 AM

Re: No photos allowed at the church!!!!

i know that my church does not allow the photographer or vidoegrapher to be in the sanctuary during the wedding. which i understand completely.
i was recently at a wedding where they made an announcement that no flash photography was allowed during the ceremony...i thought that was a little strange...but people were snapping pictures left & right, paid no attention to the priest's request.

Kriss2c Posted: May 21, 2004 10:34 AM

Re: No photos allowed at the church!!!!

I had never heard this before.... I think it's a bit on the strict side. It's a wedding.... there are going to be cameras regardless.

steph4777 Posted: May 21, 2004 11:33 AM

Re: No photos allowed at the church!!!!

Our pastor told us as soon as she opens her mouth, the pictures need to stop. She said that she wants to keep the ceremony sacred and when the flashes are going and photographer moves around, it can be a distraction to her in preforming the ceremony.

I understand where she is coming from. She said that after the ceremony she will stay behind to recreate some of those moments like exchanging of the rings.

divabride Posted: May 21, 2004 11:37 AM

Re: No photos allowed at the church!!!!

Not that this will help, but try to get as many people with digital cameras to take pics. I find I almost never need to use my flash when I use my digital. I would also inquire if your photographer uses digital. You might be able to mention this to your church.

skew Posted: May 21, 2004 11:48 AM

Re: No photos allowed at the church!!!!

i have NEVER heard this. i understand about the no flash photography policy, but a no pic policy?????

Corduroy94 Posted: May 21, 2004 12:18 PM

Re: No photos allowed at the church!!!!

I started to think it was tooo strict but I saw that it was quite the norm. I looked at 14 different churches that were either Lutheran, Community or Prebiterian & all but 1 had that same policy! I mean these are suppsed to be the most liberal. We ended up having out ceremony at the reception hall. Some of the girls have posted pics in churches that didnt look staged so maybe check the Brides Helping Brides.

lanikai Posted: May 21, 2004 02:18 PM

Re: No photos allowed at the church!!!!

Thanks for your advice ladies, still trying to figure this out. I called and spoke to the wedding coordinator for the church and it seems as though they will not allow flash photography, but that they are willing to discuss other options as long as photographer and videographer are not disruptive.

BCTM33 Posted: May 21, 2004 02:46 PM

Re: No photos allowed at the church!!!!

I have never heard of this restriction before. I always take a ton of pictures at the weddings I go to.

Boop2704 Posted: May 21, 2004 04:49 PM

Re: No photos allowed at the church!!!!

Be happy you found out now. In the year and a half we met with our pastor before the weddig he never once mentioned no pictures during the ceremony. So imagine my suprise when on my wedding day, my dad walks me down the aisle and I step up on the alter and the priest tells everyone that there are no pics during the ceremony. I was so pi$$ed. I just looked at the pastor with the nastiest face. I couldn't believe that. Pictures are soooo important to me. So we had to re create all the special pics, ie. rings, kiss, dads kiss, vows after the ceremony. Although they came out nice, I still know they were not taken at the time they were actually done. I am still mad about it to this day. I have not contacted the pastor once after the wedding because I am so mad had him for not saying this to us sooner. And it wasn't even a catholic church, it was a community church!!

nehaliasz Posted: May 21, 2004 04:52 PM

Re: No photos allowed at the church!!!!

that's CRAZY!!! what are they going to do if people do take pictures? fine them? I think its way to strict. I hate how they try to have so much control. JMO.

Niecey Posted: May 21, 2004 05:13 PM

Re: No photos allowed at the church!!!!

I have heard this alot. I have actually been to weddings where someone announces it befor ethe ceremony starts. No flash photography at least.

I have also heard many churchs restrict photographers and video people. Talk to your video/photo people I am sure they know how to work within restrictions. Often I have seen they have to work from the choir and such. I actually hate seeing photographers clinb up on the alter in the middle of a meaningful part of a ceremony just for a picture.

dm24angel Posted: May 21, 2004 09:40 PM

Re: No photos allowed at the church!!!!

Our church is no flash photography at all during ceremony....I was at a wedding ceremony last weekend where it was no pictures at all during ceremony , it was a Luthern church too and I thought they were more relaxed about those things...

akanini Posted: May 22, 2004 12:03 AM

Re: No photos allowed at the church!!!!

Posted by skew

i have NEVER heard this. i understand about the no flash photography policy, but a no pic policy?????

Never heard of it myself.

june262004 Posted: May 22, 2004 12:37 AM

Re: No photos allowed at the church!!!!

My Church doesnt allow the photgrapher and videographer to stand in certain places. I have been to weddings where they say u are not allowed to take pictures but people do it anyway.

Jenn524 Posted: May 22, 2004 07:53 AM

Re: No photos allowed at the church!!!!

I've heard of this before. But what's the priest going to do if people start taking pictures, stop the ceremony?

Rob-luvs-me Posted: May 22, 2004 09:51 AM

Re: No photos allowed at the church!!!!

I don't think it is unusual - I got married in an episcopal cathedral (Robeymuse also got married in a episcopal church) and we both had a similar rule -

No photography by the congregation during the service - OK to take photo when walking up and down the aisle but not after that.

My photographers were NOT allowed to use flash inside other than for the procession and recession.

They were to stand in one single spot. Being that it was a cathedral it didn't have a balcony but they were put on the sides -

It turned out that guests TOTALLY ignored the rule - even though it was in the program - which I have mixed emotions about - some of our nice photos have guests hanging into the aisle to take a photo -so I almost wish people listened.

As far as our professionals - they were given a little leway when they got to the church as long as they were VERY discreet - I didn't hear or see mine the entire service but they cought everything I wanted so it was fine

Rob-luvs-me Posted: May 22, 2004 09:55 AM

Re: No photos allowed at the church!!!!

Posted by Jenn524

I've heard of this before. But what's the priest going to do if people start taking pictures, stop the ceremony?

Wild Rose actually told us when I mentioned our restrictions that they know that they are taken seriously and have seen the priest STOP and ask them to back off or stop taking photos. I think it depends on the priest