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Updated Feb 10, 20235 Reasons People Might Not Be Using Your Wedding Hashtag
Is nobody posting with your hashtag? You may be making one of these mistakes.
Hopefully your wedding guests will be taking photos and posting on social media all throughout your wedding events—but if no one's using your wedding hashtag, there's no easy way to see all the great shots from the engagement party to the last dance (which is why you should use a photo-sharing app like Veri too). To make sure your wedding hashtag is everything it should be (read: clear, personal and not too long), avoid these common hashtag mistakes with tips from Deron Dalton, deputy editor (and Hashtag Queen) at The Tylt. Here are five reasons your hashtag might not get used.
1. It's just a little too long.
Don't feel like you need to keep it super short—and you may not have a choice if one or both of your names are on the lengthier side—but in general, your hashtag shouldn't be "annoyingly long," as Dalton puts it. And since this can be a pretty subjective unit of measurement, a concrete guideline to follow is keeping your hashtag no more than three or four words, and no more than 20 characters. "It's a tough feat sometimes, but teamwork and brainstorming can lead to some clever and punchy hashtags," Dalton says. "Couples should work together to find a hashtag that encompasses their love while also meeting the standards of hashtag etiquette."
2. It already exists.
It may feel personal to you two, but chances are #EmilyAndAlex or #MeetTheCohens is already taken. So while it's simple enough for your guests to spell and use, it'll seem like no one's using your tag when your photos are getting mixed up with those from other weddings and events.
3. It's too general.
This might not be a priority for you—but if you're looking to make a splash with your tag, think beyond your first names or something basic like #MrAndMrThompson. "Try to be punny and clever to add some umph in that hashtag," Dalton says. "It should be a fun call to action that makes people want to interact with you."
4. It's too complicated.
You don't want to create a hashtag that makes no sense to anyone but you. "Couples should make sure their hashtag is inclusive of their family and friends, and isn't too complicated," Dalton says. "You don't want your hashtag to be an inside joke or go over folks' heads." If it's stuffed with made up words or makes a reference to something obscure, your guests might feel demotivated to use it.
5. You're overusing it.
Definitely introduce your hashtag when you announce your engagement—put it on your save-the-dates and post it in any engagement-related photos on Instagram. "That way your hashtag has time to register with your friends and family, and your followers can begin mobilizing around the hashtag," Dalton says. Keep using the tag throughout your engagement, wedding and honeymoon—but proceed with some caution. "There's technically no wrong time to use a hashtag, but don't use it for every photo during your engagement or people will be tired out by the day of your wedding," Dalton says. "Wedding hashtags are like using any hashtag—if you go overboard and oversaturate people's feeds with the same one, they're less likely to engage." Dalton suggests going nuts with your hashtag the day before and the day of your wedding. During the honeymoon, however, pump the breaks and use it sparingly (people still want to see a few shots of your trip). When you get home, be careful about posting a new photo with your hashtag every single day. Instead wait until your anniversary to roll out your favorites and revive that hashtag.
