You’re kind of a big deal. You have hundreds (maybe thousands!) of friends and followers who check out your posts on social media. More importantly, you’ve been asked to be a part of one of the biggest days in your friend’s life.
So if you plan to live your best life at a friend’s engagement or wedding, you need to be aware of a few simple rules.
Social media tips for friends and guests:
Never Post Before the Bride!
Don’t share a thing until the bride herself shares her engagement or walks down the aisle. This is absolutely the MOST IMPORTANT rule.
Give the bride a chance to call her family and BFFs before you announce her engagement to the world. It IS her engagement, after all! After she’s posted her #SMPringselfie, you can go crazy with the public congratulations.
On her wedding day, hold ALL posts until after the ceremony. You’d never want to spoil your friend’s first look or reveal her dress before she walks down the aisle. Save your adorable “getting ready” pics for the day after the wedding.
Don’t Livestream the Surprise
For obvious reasons, don’t live stream, Facebook Live, or Snapchat the engagement or any part of the pre-reception wedding process. See obvious reasons in Rule #1. Remember, these moments are about the bride, not your social media followers.
You can always record the video and ask the bride’s permission to share later. Bonus: she’ll be thankful to have a copy to watch over and over again.
Watch Out for TBT
You might be tempted to “tease” the wedding with a #TBT post with the bride (or groom). Check yourself before you post that crazy college spring break picture. Fun and silly is one thing; drunk and disorderly is another. This can be a stressful time for your friends – don’t ruffle any feathers by posting poor decisions or past flings.
Filter Out Private Moments – And Bad Angles
While there are so many sweet moments to capture, not all of them are appropriate for your social media feed. Check with the bride before posting anything intimate, like the first time her dad sees her or her emotional prayer with her grandmother.
This probably goes without saying, but make sure any photo you post is flattering of the bride and everoyne in the picture. Check the background of any bridal suite pictures to make sure everyone is decent.
Use the Official Hashtag
If the bride created an official hashtag, join the conversation! Then the bride – and everyone else on social media – will be able to click on the hashtag to scroll through all the wedding fun. Tag the bride and groom in any adorable picture you post of them. They’ll be glad to have those memories on their timelines, especially while they wait for the professional photos to come back!
Let the Professional Do Her Job
Avoid any aisles or angles that block the professional photographer. Look around before you stand to snap the first dance or lean to get the cake cutting. While the bride loves you, she won’t love having the back of your head in all her wedding pictures.
Take Full Advantage of the Photo Booth
Grab some friends and go all out! It’s impossible not to have fun in a photo booth. And you’ll get some real gems for social media…
Social media tips for the bride + groom:
Call Your Family
Shortly after he puts the ring on your finger, take a few minutes to call (or text) the people closest to you. You’ll want to hear their reaction firsthand – and cut down on any social media leaks.
Keep Posts Positive
It’s tempting sometimes to vent online about the more stressful wedding planning elements. That’s when your mom or maid of honor come in handy. Your friends and followers on social media want to experience all the love and joy of your engagement and wedding! Don’t let a few emotional minutes kill the vibe for everyone else.
Designate Any Day-Of Posting
Be present on your wedding day! If you’re dying to post, designate a bridesmaid to share or monitor on your behalf.
These days, social media is a huge element of any celebration. So go ahead – give the people what they want! Just make sure your posts only add more love and excitement to your friend’s big day.
Style Me Pretty Contributor – Madeline Littrell is a corporate PR strategist and freelance writer. Born and raised in the South, she loves big hair, country music, and chicken fingers. Madeline lives in Dallas with her Sheltie puppy, Tennessee.