Is It OK for Guests to Vlog at a Wedding?

The internet celebrities Kouvr Annon and Alex Warren married over the weekend on a bright, sunny day in California. Their guest list was laden with content creators, including Charli D’Amelio, which wasn’t surprising given their history. The pair, who began dating in 2018 and got engaged on New Year’s Eve in 2022, were once members of the social media collective Hype House and have more than 30 million TikTok followers collectively.

One of the creators in attendance, Lilah Gibney, has since received blowback after posting several videos taken during the wedding on June 22 at the Ethereal Gardens, a wedding venue in Escondido, Calif. On TikTok, Ms. Gibney posted a teaser video the next day, featuring intimate moments from the couple’s ceremony, including their first kiss and Ms. Annon walking down the aisle. In her TikTok post, Ms. Gibney directed viewers to her YouTube channel, where they could watch a longer vlog she had made using clips she filmed during the event.

Online, some social media users were quick to criticize Ms. Gibney for sharing content from such a personal moment, particularly given that Ms. Gibney had posted her video before the couple had a chance to put up their own wedding video. “Did you even ask if you could vlog her wedding?,” read one comment on Ms. Gibney’s TikTok account. (Ms. Annon and Mr. Warren have since posted their official wedding video.)

Neither the bride nor groom responded to requests for comment, but Ms. Annon reposted a video from another influencer, @mattiesbasement, which called out people who vlog at weddings. “Why would you do that? It’s a wedding, it’s not a theme park,” the creator said in the video. “Maybe be in the moment like a little bit.”

“Period,” Ms. Annon commented on the video. Mr. Warren also responded: “This is a very VALID take,” he wrote.

Ms. Gibney, who initially agreed to discuss the situation, was not available for an interview on Thursday afternoon. She has since deleted her YouTube video and posted a video on TikTok addressing the situation. In her response, Ms. Gibney explained that vlogging is her way of showing affection. “It is very, very, very tragic that people, you guys, millions of people can’t understand that my way of showing gratitude and love for anybody is showing my experiences,” she said in the clip.

She also stated that she had not noticed any signs at the ceremony or reception location, nor had she been asked not to share wedding-related content online. (On TikTok, social media users have shared an image of Ms. Annon holding a sign from the wedding requesting guests put their phones and cameras away for the ceremony.)

Meredith Bartel, a wedding planner and the owner of Plus One Planning in Wisconsin, said that having signs like these are a good step if couples want to ensure a phone-free wedding. She also suggested that couples include a section on their wedding website detailing phone rules for the event, and that the officiant make a verbal announcement just before the ceremony begins.

“Then the guests have either been told three times, or at least they’ve just been told one time that they can’t deny. The officiant said it, put it away,” Ms. Bartelsaid. If a couple knows a wedding guest might not comply with the rules, she suggested having a designated person — like a trusted relative or an event coordinator — on duty to keep an eye out and intervene if necessary.

“It should be socially understood that we shouldn’t be taking photos during the ceremony,” she added. “It’s disruptive and what does the couple want with an iPhone photo that’s taken between two people’s heads when they’ve hired a photographer.”

Couples who want social media content to post on their wedding day might consider hiring a professional wedding content creator. Lauren Ladouceur, a New York-based wedding content creator and the founder of Plan With Laur, works with couples to capture their wedding day and edit photos and videos specifically for social media.

“In more traditional wedding media, you are paying a photographer or videographer for a service,” Ms. Ladouceur said. “However, you may not see those deliverables for a couple of days. Could be a week, could be a couple of weeks. This allows you to start reliving your wedding day instantly.”

As for rules for guests about what and when to post, Cameron Forbes, a New York-based event planner and the founder of Forbes Functions, suggests taking cues from the couple. “Wait for them to start sharing any imagery or posting before you do,” Ms. Forbes said. “You don’t want to beat the bride and groom for the punch.”