'I want to ban vaping from my wedding – it's tacky and ruins pictures'

A woman sparked controversy after admitting she wanted vapes completely banned from her wedding, because they give her "the ick". She explained her wedding is at the end of August, and they're having a ceremony and outdoor reception with a "festival vibe". But this is why she began panicking about the fact that everyone would be vaping.

"The photos of the day are really important to me, and I’ve spent a small fortune on our photographer. He’s a casual photographer, so he will be mingling through groups of friends to take natural shots rather than staging anything," she explained on Reddit.

But she shared because the event is outside, she was "worried about how many people will be vaping".

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She said many people who will be there do vape. "I really can’t stand people holding a vape in photos, it gives me the ick," she seethed.

The bride-to-be explained on Reddit's 'Wedding Planning' forum: "I’m really worried it’s going to ruin the aesthetic and cheapen the photos of the wedding, I don’t want to look back at these pictures in years to come and see people puffing on vapes or with vapes in their hand."

She continued: "I want to send an email out through our wedding website asking guests to either hide their vapes in photos or even better to not bring them at all!

"Has anyone else banned vaping from their wedding before, or do I sound like Monica from Friends?"

In the comments, someone urged her to write the following on an invite: "Smoking and vaping will only be permitted in a designated spot per venue regulations."

They did warn, however, for her to "be prepared to have a big chunk of the guests in that designated spot for much of the wedding".

Someone penned: "Vaping is very second nature to a lot of people who do it. They don’t even really notice they’re doing it. So I would still be prepared to see people doing it. But a smoking area will be helpful for people to be more mindful."

A Redditor said if there is a designated smoking area, people will use it, but one man wrote: "Tell that to my aunt, who was smoking a cigarette at her seat during my brother's outdoor wedding. She also showed up late."

"A very much your aunt and unique problem," somebody responded.

A woman replied: "Not super unique. Some people will smoke anywhere and don't care at all if it's prohibited in that spot. I experience it every time I go to an outdoor concert at the big outdoor venue near me. It's banned, people do it anyway and it's never enforced."

However, another suggested they could go about it a different way, by mentioning vapes to the photographer, saying: "You unfortunately can’t really have it both ways - if your photography is doing natural/unstaged shots then they’re gonna capture people as they are which means with vapes in hands.

"You can control your photographer much more than your guests so maybe just tell the photographer to try to avoid getting vapes in shots."

David Donaghy, from Quit Smoking Missionaries, Riot Labs, who has a dedicated page for advice on triggers for quitters at Riot Rehab, shared his advice.

He said: "Weddings are emotional, social, and often alcohol-fuelled events – all of which are common smoking triggers, whether you’re the bride, groom, or a guest. It's important to be prepared with tools to resist temptation, like e-cigarettes, zero-nicotine alternatives, or support from a quit buddy.

"Around 5.6m Brits vape, so the likelihood is there’ll be people at your wedding who depend on vaping to keep off cigarettes. While it’s your big day, I’m sure most wedding organisers would want to cater for their loved ones and support their quit smoking journey.

"Vaping is proven as the most effective tool for quitting smoking, but there's a time and a place. We agree with a number of users on Reddit that creating a designated place for vaping, out of sight, is the best option. Obviously, mid-ceremony, or for a photo with the bride, it’s best to keep your device in your pocket!"