During the last couple of years, many extra elements made their way to the wedding planning process: one of them being the wedding hashtag. Although a wedding hashtag is by no means essential, it sure is a free and fun way to build excitement around your big day. Also, the first thing a bride usually wants to see after her wedding is the photos. Unfortunately, it can take a while before the pro's photos make their way to your inbox, so many brides opt to create a hashtag for their special day.⁠

Also, let's be realistic; your wedding photographer can't capture three relatives having a blast on different sides of the room. So why not trust them to capture these casual moments that you can be privy to afterward on the 'gram? We get it; it became hard to differentiate yourself from the masses with so many different hashtags to choose from. But, seeing that they're not going anywhere soon, we've compiled a list with a few pointers to help you along the way! So grab a pen and paper, and let's start brainstorming!

TIP 1: GATHER INFO

Okay, you're probably rolling your eyes at us for stating the obvious; but gathering info makes for a good starting point. So many wonderful possibilities have come from using first names, last names, nicknames, the date or theme of the wedding. Also, you can finally start benefitting from that unique couple name your friends bestowed on you many moons ago. Who will ever forget Brangelina or Bennifer? Even though the former is not together anymore, their couple name still lives on in our collective memory. A unique couple name will definitely make your hashtag memorable and user-friendly. So start brainstorming and jot down all the possibilities even if they'll never see the light of day. But avoid going too generic like #BettyAndPete. You don't want your hashtag to get buried!

TIP 2: AVOID ANY CONFUSION

When people start drinking, they are not known to be the best spellers. So to avoid your photos ending up all over the 'gram, don't make your hashtag too difficult. It's also confusing when two of the same letters in different words stand next to each other. So instead, capitalize the first letter of each word; it won't affect the discoverability of your hashtag pinky-promise! Also, make sure your hashtag is not too long; try to keep it no more than three to four words or 20 characters.

TIP 3: SEARCH YOUR HASHTAG

Do a quick Instagram search to see if your wedding hashtag has already been used. You might want to consider spicing your hashtag up to avoid fading into the mix with other wedding photos.

TIP 4: TIME TO GET CREATIVE

Okay, not everyone is Phil Dunphy around here, but we're pretty sure everyone has a friend who can land a pun or two. So why not ask them to help? Otherwise, why not use good ol' Google? Puns, rhymes and synonyms go a long way when it comes to your wedding hashtag.

TIP 5: MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS AWARE OF THE HASHTAG

It doesn't help you've got a killer hashtag, but only your own four posts leading up to the wedding are tagged under it. Aside from using your hashtags on wedding-related posts, make sure your hashtag is included on your save the date and wedding invitations for extra visibility. You can also show it off on the ceremony programs, menus, and photobooth props.