In short
A wedding hashtag is a tag the couple invents just for their day – think #EmmaAndLeoSayIDo – and asks guests to add to anything they post. Afterwards, searching the hashtag on Instagram or another platform pulls together every public post from the ceremony, the speeches and the dance floor.
Photo: Fotógrafo Samuel Cruz / Unsplash
The hashtag only works if it is unique. Generic options like #MrAndMrsSmith will already be full of other couples' weddings. WeddingWire suggests keeping it short and memorable – puns, alliteration or a nod to your venue all help – and searching it before you commit. It also recommends showing it everywhere: invitations, programs, menus, table numbers. The more often guests see it, the more likely they are to use it (WeddingWire).
Example
Emma and Leo print #EmmaAndLeoSayIDo on their invitations and on little signs on every table. During the reception a handful of friends post stories and photos with the tag. The next morning the couple scroll through fifteen posts – and notice that nothing came from Leo's grandparents, from the colleagues who aren't on Instagram, or from the cousin with a private profile. Most of the photos from the day are still sitting on guests' phones.
What to watch out for
- Search before you print. Check whether your favourite hashtag is already in use.
- Short beats clever. Every extra letter is a chance for a typo, and a misspelt tag won't show up in your search.
- Private accounts don't count. According to Instagram, posts from private accounts don't appear on the hashtag page – only their approved followers see them (Instagram Help Center).
- Not everyone posts. Older relatives and guests without social media won't be reached at all.
- Public means public. Think about whether you want photos of yourselves and your guests visible to anyone online, and let guests know what you're comfortable with.
- A hashtag isn't an archive. For full-quality copies of guests' photos you need a second channel – see how to share wedding photos.
With Filmriss
Filmriss collects guest photos in a private shared gallery instead of a public feed: guests scan a QR code, shoot in the browser without an app or account, and every picture is kept in original quality. A hashtag can still run alongside for guests who like to post. See Filmriss for weddings.
