Pet Peeves: Cell phones at Weddings

We attended a lovely wedding this afternoon. The bride was red-headed beautiful. The groom's smile carried enough wattage to light up the entire sanctuary.

Everything was proceeding with perfection until a cell phone started vibrating under someone's behind. It was someone on our pew, and I thought at first that it was a woodpecker. He quickly leaned forward and attempted to turn it off. However, it started buzzing from beneath his butt once more. I noticed several others in our general area searching for their cell phones to turn them off.

Less than thirty seconds later the music of a cell phone set on loud burst forth across the aisle and back two rows. About five women reached for their purses and one of them was the culprit. At that point there was a general movement through the entire congregation of women pawing through purses to check their cell phone status, and others checking pockets to do the same.

I took a deep breath and tried to focus once more on the lovely words spoken by the father of the groom. He completed his part and handed the microphone to the father of the bride who had also prepared a special dedication to his daughter and her wedding day. When they were finished speaking, they returned to their front row seats.

The Pastor took over the remainder of the ceremony. He began preparing the couple for the exchange of rings when one more cell phone with a ringer echoed from the opposite end of the church.

There were two video photographers taping the entire service. Thirty years from now when the couple watch it on their anniversary, I wonder what they'll think about those darn cell phones.

Comments

Biker Betty said…
Gosh, that is too bad. I'm sure the bride and groom will be annoyed with the distractions on reviewing the video. You'd think after the first loud ring, everyone would have turned them off. Was there a request on the program for all cell phones to be turned off? That might have helped a little.
theotherbear said…
How rude of them!

I hate mobiles. Back before we had them, you actually had to turn up on time, be where you said you'd be, make plans and stick to them. Now it seems ok to be dreadfully late and it's ok because you can ring to say "I'm running late".

I hate phones on in the movies, in meetings, whenever.

Of course having said that I do have a mobile (HA!) - but only because I need it for work. It is almost always set on silent.
Anonymous said…
In thirty years, they'll probably think the same as I do now: modern technology has produced mobile phones that are small enough to be used as an enema, and I wish they would be.

My view is that if it's that much of an emergency, I'd be calling 000 (911 to you guys).
Beccy said…
Gosh, that is so rude. If I was going to a wedding I'd happily leave my phone at home so I could enjoy with no interruptions. If someone needs a phone the least they could do would be to have it on silence and only if they were expecting a very important call!
BarnGoddess_01 said…
how rude~!

That would anger me if it was my wedding......
Anonymous said…
Something always goes wrong in a wedding. I'd rather hear a few cell phones than come down with hives hours before the wedding. (Yep. That was me.)

PS. Come to my blog. I have a surprise for you.
Anonymous said…
I know that Star Wars: The Phantom Menace was ruined for me by the teenage kid behind me whose cell phone kept going off. Dang rudeness.
Rose Ghost said…
For a second I thought you were going to write that it was the bride's phone...Now that would have been funny! :-) That is really terrible though, leaving a mobile on during a wedding or a funeral is just about one of the worst most embarrasing things you can do.
Masago said…
Such a common thing today...you've described this in such an amusing way!
Anonymous said…
And I'm sure all of them were neurosurgeons and had to get up and leave immediately? No? Hmm....
Anonymous said…
If I were the couple, I'd be really upset especially since an announcement was made. How hard is it to turn off or silent a phone?
Bibi said…
This illustrates my pet peeve. Like any of us are so important that a cell phone has to be on 24/7.

I was at the movies last night and the guy behind took 3 calls during the show ...
Dear pamela. I recently saw a movie in London and it's the first time I've seen a movie outside Oz (in a cinema). There were, no kidding, about 10 ads to turn off the mobile. I did think it was a bit of overkill at the time - there were only 4 people in the cinema besides me - but after reading this, I certainly appreciate that there was only one interruption before the movie started, telling us to switch off the buzz, rather than three or four during the film. On another note, I hope you had fun at the wedding!
Anonymous said…
gosh, I hate, hate, hate cellphones! No one..and i do mean NO ONE seems to know to use them as they would a phone at home!

it seems most things that are made to be good, and make life easier gets abused.. this one is one of the biggest of all being misused!
Anonymous said…
Some random thoughts:

1) They've become a "necessary" evil.

2) Most people don't seem to know you can turn them OFF! You don't ALWAYS have to be "in reach".

3) I prefer the term "Manners Mode" to "Vibrate". It just sounds nicer :).

4) Sometimes I wish you could "silence" crying/screamin/whining babies at times like this (as easily as you can a cell phone).

That's all...that's enough.
Anonymous said…
or your behind them in line at the bank and they talk on the phone instead of to the teller. you want to shove it up their ear. just like it sounds baby, just like it sounds. ivy

Popular posts from this blog

Apparitions in my Garden

An Old Cold Spot

I Can Almost Smell it