August 2026

Imagine being at a wedding, chatting to friends, enjoying a drink and having a laugh — completely unaware that someone nearby could be wearing glasses capable of recording you. Would you be comfortable with that? Smart glasses have come a long way. Products such as Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses look, at first glance, like an ordinary pair of glasses. But they contain cameras and microphones, allowing the wearer to take photographs, record video and capture audio. Meta does include a small external capture LED intended to indicate when the glasses are taking a photo or recording video. But let’s be honest… How many people actually know what that little light means? And how many people would even notice it at a busy wedding? Why does this matter at weddings? As a close-up magician, I work at weddings and events where I’m interacting with dozens — sometimes hundreds — of people. Guests expect to be able to relax. They might be having a private conversation. They might be entering their PIN at the bar. They might be talking about family matters. Children may be running around. Someone might simply not want their image appearing on somebody else’s social media. There is a big difference between someone standing there with an obvious camera and someone wearing what appears to be an ordinary pair of glasses. And that’s where I think we need to have a conversation about consent and privacy. Informed consent If you’re filming someone at a wedding, shouldn’t they have the opportunity to know they’re being filmed? Professional wedding photographers and videographers understand this environment. They are there specifically to document the day, and couples know who they have hired. A professional camera is also pretty obvious. Smart glasses are different. They make recording technology wearable, portable and much less conspicuous. Children and vulnerable guests This is particularly important at family events. Weddings aren’t just attended by adults. Children and potentially vulnerable people may also be present. The idea that somebody could record people without them realising it raises obvious safeguarding questions.   What happens to the footage? This is another question worth asking. Once something has been recorded, where does it go? Who has access to it? Could it be uploaded or shared? Could somebody appearing in the footage ever find out that it exists? These aren’t necessarily arguments against smart glasses themselves. There are legitimate uses for wearable technology, including accessibility and hands-free photography. The issue is responsible use. If you want your wedding filmed, hire a professional There’s actually a very simple solution if you want your wedding captured on film: Hire a professional wedding videographer. Rather than secretly recording guests, you’re deliberately choosing someone whose job is to capture the important moments of your day professionally and respectfully. One company I would recommend couples take a look at is D&T Video Services. They are a professional husband-and-wife team with extensive experience producing wedding films. Their wedding coverage includes everything from bridal preparations through to the first dance, with full-length wedding films incorporating the ceremony and speeches, alongside highlight films. That’s the difference. You’re not wondering whether someone is secretly recording you. You know who’s holding the camera. And, importantly, the couple has chosen them to be there. If you’re planning a wedding and want to preserve the memories of the day, I’d much rather see you invest in a professional wedding film than rely on random footage captured by guests. And as for me? My glasses don’t have cameras in them. They don’t have microphones. They don’t record you. My glasses are so I can see things clearly. And that’s probably how I like it. Because when I’m performing magic at your wedding, I’d rather you were looking at me wondering “How the hell did he do that?” …rather than wondering whether I’m recording you. What do you think? Were you aware that smart glasses like these can record video and audio? Would you be comfortable with somebody wearing them at your wedding? Do you think the recording indicator is enough, or should people be explicitly told when wearable cameras are being used? Is this simply the future of technology — or are we crossing a line when cameras become almost invisible