In today’s digital age, there’s no denying that the hashtag has become commonplace in the world of social media. Formerly known as the “pound sign,” the most popular platform for using hashtags is Instagram, which currently has more than 500 million registered users worldwide.
Most couples about to head down the aisle choose to embrace this personalized pound sign for their wedding to help generate an online collection of photos to document the entire process of getting married, not just from their perspective or the photographer’s, but from the point of view of their guests, family and friends.
Deciding on the right hashtag for your wedding can be challenging. Of course, you want to come up with something unique enough to set your online pictorial compilation apart from the rest of the world’s couples. At the same time, you want the hashtag to be easy enough to remember and share with family and friends so they will be more likely to use it when uploading wedding photos to the internet.
The method of concocting a wedding hashtag is not rocket science, but there are a few tricks that may help you to make the decision, especially for those who are not as technically savvy or who have a million other wedding items on their checklist to focus on. Here are a few suggestions and tips to help you generate and implement a hashtag for your wedding in order to collect, preserve and share the moments before, during and after the big day.
1. If you want to take the easy route, or simply want to get some ideas flowing, there are free hashtag generators available online. Simply google “wedding hashtag generator” and your results will lead you to pages where you fill in your names, the date of your wedding and voila! Dozens of different hashtag ideas will appear for you to consider.
2. If you want to create a wedding hashtag on your own, the first and most obvious place to start is with your names, either your first names together, or a hashtag incorporating the last name you will soon be sharing. You want to be creative, but you also want something people are going to be able to remember so that they are more likely to use it. For example, #BaileyWedding is probably too generic, but #TheGreatBaileyWedding or #TheBaileysWedInBedfordFalls might be more memorable. #GeorgeAndMarySayIDo is a great example of how to incorporate your first names, but you can also follow your names with other wedding jargon such as #…GetMarried #…TieTheKnot, #…GetHitched, or #…AlmostEloped, to name just a few.
3. If you want to keep it simple but still want to set your hashtag apart, consider adding numbers. For example, include the date of your wedding, the year you met, or the location in which you plan to tie the knot. Try to avoid just using your initials and numbers, as these tend to be uninteresting and guests lose the momentum to include it in their posts.
4. Use your imagination and come up with something clever using wordplay if you feel up for the challenge. Think of funny puns or plays on your names to get your guests laughing, help them to remember the tag, and to create a fun, memorable experience. Is your last name White? #NiceDayForAWhiteWed ding, perhaps? Or maybe even come up with something funny that tells a story about how you met, or something interesting that characterizes you as a couple, like #HeProposedOnACamel or #WeMetInMadrid.
5. Help the hashtag flow by avoiding consecutive letter repetition, like #carlaanddavid. Also, capitalizing the first letter of each word will help guests to quickly recognize what you’re intending to say, so #DavidAndCarla is a better option than sticking entirely to lowercase letters.
6. Double check to make sure the hashtag you decide on is not being used for another wedding, or even worse, for something you wouldn’t want your grandma to link to and see. If you come across the same hashtag, consider throwing in a number or two to change it up and ensure your photos remain on their own for the most part.
7. Share it! Once you’ve decided on your hashtag, go ahead and spread the word to family, friends, and your wedding party. Spread your new hashtag by word of mouth and by including it on your “save the date” invitations, wedding website, etc. Also, be sure to include a sign at the ceremony and reception that reminds guests of your hashtag and to use it when uploading their photos from your special day.
These tips should help you get started as you begin to create your personalized wedding hashtag. Have fun, don’t overthink it too much and just remember, you want it to be meaningful. If it feels right, go for it! Happy hashtagging! ♥