Here's How to Get Your Guests to Actually Use Your #Hashtag

Updated 11/14/16

Whitney Johnson

You spent a lot of time creating the perfect, catchy hashtag to describe your happy union. And you'll be very disappointed if no one uses it.

"Couples opt for a wedding hashtag so they can easily see all of their guests' photos in one place, and they often spend a lot of time and creativity coming up with the perfect one," explains Jaclyn Fisher, owner of Two Little Birds Planning in Philadelphia. "So it's only natural for a couple to be upset if their guests don't actually use their hashtag."

You could (and of course should) post signs that include your hashtag and how you'd like your guests to use it. But signs might not be enough. So, here are five other ways to get your guests to actually use your hashtag.

1. Spread the word on your own social media.

Fisher suggests incorporating your hashtag into any social media posts about your wedding. After all, if you don't use it, why would your guests? "Tweet about booking your venue, share photos from your bridal shower on Instagram, and SnapChat from your bachelorette party," she says. "Guests will quickly catch on and start using the hashtag too."

2. Get your wedding party to spread the word.

When you bridesmaids post sneak-peeks of them trying on their gowns, ask them to add your hashtag to their caption, says Amy Nichols, owner of Amy Nichols Special Events and co-founder of The Poppy Group. "Your guests are likely connected to your wedding party as well, and this will help to begin laying the groundwork for getting the hashtag out to guests," she says.

3. Make it easy to remember.

Few people will want to use a long, complicated hashtag. On the flip side, "choosing a hashtag that's easy to remember will increase the chances of your guests actually using it," says Fisher. "Rhymes, alliterations, and puns are all ingredients for an awesome and memorable hashtag." We even have tips for choosing the perfect hashtag here.

4. Send it out before the big day.

Don't spring your hashtag on guests at the wedding. Instead, "start using your hashtag before the big day by featuring it on your save the date, website, invitation, and welcome bag," says Fisher. "Guests are more likely to remember and use your hashtag after the repeated exposure."

5. Include it throughout the wedding.

Nichols and Fisher agree that you should go beyond signs to show off your hashtag. "The more creative, the more likely your guests will take notice," Nichols says, while Fisher suggests printing your hashtag on everything from your menu to your table numbers to make a maximum impact.

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