When it comes to social media and wedding days there are two camps: the “capture the moment” camp,

and the “live the moment” camp.

We’re here to propose a third camp. The camp that has goose-down comforters and really cute scarves to wear by the fire someone else builds (we obviously prefer glam-ping.) Our stance is, social media has become integrated into our very lives for a reason – everyone wants to be connected. So, why can’t we have both? A social media-friendly wedding is totally possible and it begins with the happy couple making it intentional.

It begins with a #hashtag.

There are some really big benefits to incorporating social media into your wedding preparation, especially if you have friends and family who are unable to attend and still want to feel included. Creating a hashtag for everyone to use when posting pictures of your bridal shower, bachelorette, etc. are great ways of getting a variety of pictures and not worrying about losing them to the Internet.

One way to keep your snap-happy guests in check is to create a reminder to leave the ceremony and first dance pictures to the professionals. This way your photographer can get the angles you want without worrying about phone flashes and stray hands in otherwise picture-perfect shots.

Filter it.

Another way to add to the reception fun and make your guests feel included is to create your own SnapChat geo-filter. Simply design and upload the filter to SnapChat’s site, or let our graphic designers do it for you, then reserve the filter for your day and geolocation.

Take it LIVE.

Facebook has recently added a new feature, allowing any user to “go live” and record whatever is happening is his or her world. This is a great way to record things like the Cha-Cha Slide at the reception, or opening gifts at the shower. Not only will people who are not able to attend feel more included, but also the couple can keep the candid videos for posterity.

Again, make sure to remind your guests that important things like the ceremony, the bride getting ready (no spoilers!), and particularly unruly (over-partied) guests should maybe stay off the LIVE feature.

Overall, acknowledging and being intentional about social media is the best way to prevent it from being used in a way that has a negative impact on your wedding day. Being mindful that there will be someone who wants to help you celebrate your joyous occasion via a tweet or post will help you manage your expectations of your wedding’s presence on social media and how best to approach it.

How do you plan on incorporating social media into your wedding day? Post in the comments below, we would love to hear from you!