How to keep your wedding guests from running out of battery

Why phones run flat at a wedding

A full wedding, from the ceremony to the last dance, can last ten hours or more. Hardly anyone leaves home with a phone ready to last that long, let alone while using it non-stop.

Taking photos and videos, posting stories and sending messages are among the tasks that use the most battery. On top of that, many venues are outside town, with poor signal. When the signal is weak, a phone uses more energy searching for it, even when you're not using it.

If the wedding is in summer, heat doesn't help either: phones warm up in the sun and the battery drains faster.

Before the wedding: tell guests and plan ahead

Part of the problem is solved with information. If you have a wedding website or a group chat with your guests, a simple reminder helps: come with a charged phone and, if possible, a charger in the car.

Talk to the venue about sockets. Ask how many there are, where they are and whether they can be used during dinner and the party. They're usually taken by the music, the lighting and the caterers.

• Add a line to the practical information: “Please arrive with a charged phone”.
• Ask the venue where there are free, visible sockets.
• Think about when phones will be used most: the ceremony, the drinks reception, the first dance and the party.

During the wedding: charging points in plain sight

A charging point hidden in a corner isn't much use. It works better close to where people are: next to the drinks bar, beside the dance floor or near the photo corner.

Avoid phones ending up charging behind the bar. The catering staff aren't there for that, phones get mixed up and some go missing. And the guest is left without a phone just when they most want to use it.

What options are there

Each option has its pros and cons. It's worth choosing according to the size of the wedding and the venue.

• Extension leads and cables: cheap, but the phone is left plugged in on its own, and you need cables for every model.
• Charging lockers: the phone is protected, but the guest is without it while it charges.
• Rented portable power banks: the guest takes a power bank with built-in cables, keeps it on the dance floor and returns it before leaving. The phone charges without leaving their side.

Details that make the difference

If you choose a power bank station, it can be part of the wedding rather than looking like a gadget. A white or black station, matching the decoration, blends in.

If it also has a screen, it can welcome guests with your names, show the day's schedule or display a QR code for the shared album. That way guests go to it for more than just a battery.

Think about returns too. At a wedding, the charging is usually a gift from the couple, so what matters is that the power banks come back. A deposit or someone in charge of collection sorts it out without bothering anyone.

Quick checklist for the day

If you remember only one thing, make it this list:

• A reminder for guests to arrive with a charged phone.
• Charging points near the bar and the dance floor, not hidden away.
• Cables or power banks that work with iPhone and Android.
• A simple way to return anything that's lent.
• Nobody on the catering team charging phones behind the bar.