Dos and don’ts of going social
MARK MILESTONES
“Some brides take selfies in their robe while wedding dress shopping. Venue walk-throughs, cake tastings, floral design consults, bridal showers, engagement parties, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and rehearsal dinners are fun parts of the process to keep up with on social media. Couples also use such occasions to build excitement for out-of-town wedding guests,” says Samantha Roberts, a New York-based social strategist specializing in the wedding industry. HASH IT OUT
“A wedding hashtag is a fun tool to document your wedding or relationship story through photos. Encourage your vendors to use it, too. Be unique. Search Instagram to ensure it hasn’t been used. Don’t make it too long or difficult to misspell. The more fun, creative and memorable it is, the better. It gets people more engaged,” says Roberts. Check out HappilyEverHashtagged.com for help generating yours. SPLURGE ON A MANI-PEDI
Before you take photos for your ring reveal, get your nails done, says Hall.
“Social media loves pictures of diamond rings. Tag your ring brand and thank your vendor. Giving such credit exponentially extends your reach, as they will be more likely to share your photos.” NO EARLY DRESS SHOTS
Never post a picture of any aspect of the wedding dress before the ceremony starts. “The dress reveal post gets the most reach on social media. It’s mentioned for peace of mind in my contract that I will not share the dress before the ceremony has started,” says Hall.
UNPLUG
“Keeping phones on and in use during the cocktail hour and reception is okay, but not during the ceremony, as it could interfere with the photographer’s photos. Ask your officiant to remind guests to shut down or have a sign at the entrance announcing this,” says Roberts.
BE IN THE MOMENT
“If you can’t hire a social media liaison, ask someone in your bridal party to share for you on social media in lieu of a gift,” says Hall. “Sometimes brides and grooms get so wrapped up in wanting to share that they are not in the moment. There’s a fine line between being timely on your wedding day and being able to enjoy it.” SHARE YOUR LOVE FROM AFAR
The honeymoon reveal and cute photos from your destination is another opportunity to be featured online. “BlackTomato.com, a luxury travel agent, loves sharing its newlywed couples’ adventures,” says Roberts.