Expect to be snapped every six seconds on your wedding day

Thanks to snap happy guests, couples are likely to be photographed more than 3,000 times throughout their big day; that's once every six seconds, according to a recent survey by online smartphone retailer Mobiles.co.uk.

The research also found that just one in 20 couples trust family and friends to take all their wedding photos and prefer to pay for a professional photographer to do the job.

In total 1,015 recently married or engaged couples and 1,015 recent wedding guests, were quizzed about the role of photography at a wedding, and whether guests taking regular smartphone snaps is a help or hindrance to the happy couple.

The results revealed that more than three quarters (77%) of guests will whip their phone out to capture special moments, with an average of 28 photos taken per person. Add professional photos to the equation, and a bride and groom can expect to be snapped every six seconds during their big day.

Of the non-professional photos taken, around a third (29%) are put on social media and 39% are actually shared with the bride and groom. Just under a third (29%) of guests will print photos, while one in ten turn their photos into a special wedding gift. The research showed that although guest-captured photos are popular with wedding parties, more than a third (35%) of newlyweds-to-be plan to employ a photographer for the entire day.

The findings were based on a wedding party of 100 guests, with 77% taking 28 photos each, from 2pm to midnight, plus 1,000 photos taken by a professional.