Can you remember the last wedding you attended without its own Instagram hashtag? Neither can we. The same can be said of the photo booth, which isn’t just a great way to get those all-important guest snaps, but has now become an integral entertainment factor (how much does Nan love those oversized novelty glasses?!)

The enterprising minds at Social Playground jumped on these growing trends with a product that seamlessly marries the two; the Live Instagram Printer. It allows wedding-goers to print their Instagram photos instantly by tagging the couple’s unique hashtag. The best part? Images can be snapped anywhere and anytime, meaning absolutely no queuing for the booth.

WEOA recently awarded Social Playground Photobooth Hire of the Year. We chat to the team to get a little insight into this fab new product and why it’s the perfect wedding accessory.

What was the inspiration for starting SP?

We read an article about a prototype printer that would connect in real-time to an Instagram Account, printing from a hashtag. There was nothing like it is Australia and we knew there was a huge market down-under for printing Instagram photos.

Back in Australia we could see the trend for Instagram was only increasing in popularity, particularly for events and weddings providing a unique new way to capture and share moments. We could also see a trend toward tangible photos; people craved print-outs ‘Polaroid-style’. This insight led us to creating something new to bridge the gap between the new digital world and the old school world!

How exactly does it work and why is it great for weddings?

It’s so easy. Pre-event we create a unique wedding hashtag for the couple, for example: #aintlovegrande #romancingthestonelys. The couple communicate their hashtag in advance through their invitations, website, menu and the on the night through the MC.

The couple can choose from one of 5 themed templates for the printed photo. This includes their names, the date and unique wedding hashtag.

On the big day itself guests take photos with their own smart phone and upload to Instagram from the ceremony through to the first dance, these are captured though the hashtag on our software. When we set up at the reception in the evening the photos from the day are printed plus the photos from the reception itself. We also have an event attendant on hand to snap the oldies and anyone who isn’t keen on sharing to their own Instagram account.

It’s unique because we capture all those golden “behind the scenes” moments that the bridal party otherwise miss out on. We can provide props and wedding albums to further enhance the engagement.

It’s a great addition to a wedding because guests enjoy being in the driver seat, taking photos anywhere in the venue as opposed to waiting in a queue for a traditional photo booth. Brides and grooms love it too because everyone is where they are meant to be – on the dancefloor!

How about Pricing?

Our packages start at $1,110 + GST* for 3 hours and this includes and event attendant with iPad to take photos of people without Instagram, your choice of printed photo template, unlimited printing and set up. We also offer a range of add-ons like props, wedding albums, backdrops, selfie-sticks giant Instagram frames and so much more!

For more info, visit socialplayground.com.au or head to the Directory.