All iPads Ipad as a wedding celebrant

[Teachmindset]

Hi there - am considering using an iPad in my work as a wedding celebrant. Any advice from anyone else using it for such purposes? Any killer accessory recommendations for cases that look suitable in such a setting? Any pitfalls? Worried I guess about battery / device failure on a big day such as this - so guess would need a paper backup of the script! All thoughts welcome!

 

[Gregg2]

Well, run through a typical ceremony starting at 100% charge and see how much is left when you're done. You'll need to practice anyway. Once in a while, scrolling can be tricky for me, but that's when I'm on a web page.

 

[darngooddesign]

What about a stylish e-ink tablet like the Remarkable which has battery life measured in days instead of hours. They are also much lighter for carrying around all day.

 

[sracer]

What about a stylish e-ink tablet like the Remarkable which has battery life measured in days instead of hours. They are also much lighter for carrying around all day.

I won't use any of my iPads or other LED tablets when preaching for a variety of reasons, but one reason is how the screen lights up my face (or reflects off of my glasses). Turning on dark mode will help minimize/eliminate that, but then the overhead lights produce glare on the screen that can make it dicey to read at times. Even with matte screen protectors, the glare is still there... but more diffused.

I wanted to see if an e-ink tablet would solve those issues for me. After watching reviews, I decided to pick up a Kindle Scribe when Amazon had a sale on them last month or so. I knew going in that it had only the very basic notetaking functionality compared to the others, but with the sale, it was also the least expensive by a significant amount... enough to try it as a proof of concept. (over $200 USD less expensive for an apples-to-apples comparison)

My initial thoughts after a month of heavy use.... it is excellent. battery life is insanely good. (I use it heavily each day and battery dropped down to 74% after 2 weeks of use) e-ink is definitely a good fit for me. The Scribe (with the Amazon folio case) is the only tablet option (e-ink or otherwise) that equally caters to right-handed people and left-handed people (like me). THAT was a pleasant surprise.

I've had to slightly modify my digital planner/journal to work on the Scribe, and adjust a few of my workflows, but it is a keeper for me.

I too suggest that the OP consider an e-ink tablet.

 

[ignatius345]

I won't use any of my iPads or other LED tablets when preaching for a variety of reasons, but one reason is how the screen lights up my face (or reflects off of my glasses). Turning on dark mode will help minimize/eliminate that, but then the overhead lights produce glare on the screen that can make it dicey to read at times. Even with matte screen protectors, the glare is still there... but more diffused.

I wanted to see if an e-ink tablet would solve those issues for me. After watching reviews, I decided to pick up a Kindle Scribe when Amazon had a sale on them last month or so. I knew going in that it had only the very basic notetaking functionality compared to the others, but with the sale, it was also the least expensive by a significant amount... enough to try it as a proof of concept. (over $200 USD less expensive for an apples-to-apples comparison)

My initial thoughts after a month of heavy use.... it is excellent. battery life is insanely good. (I use it heavily each day and battery dropped down to 74% after 2 weeks of use) e-ink is definitely a good fit for me. The Scribe (with the Amazon folio case) is the only tablet option (e-ink or otherwise) that equally caters to right-handed people and left-handed people (like me). THAT was a pleasant surprise.

I've had to slightly modify my digital planner/journal to work on the Scribe, and adjust a few of my workflows, but it is a keeper for me.

I too suggest that the OP consider an e-ink tablet.

On the more low-budget end of things, I find it very useful to send text directly to my Kobo e-reader. Out of the box, there's no obvious way to do it but I've come up with a workaround:

1. Install the "read it later" Pocket app on the Kobo. (This you should do anyway because it lets you send articles from the web straight to the Kobo.) But Pocket only works with URLs, so if you want to add your own text to it...

2. Install Simplenote on whatever computer or phone, or just use it through the website. Start a new note, paste in your text. Use the "publish" feature to generate a URL.

3. Open that URL in your browser and send it to Pocket. Sync the Kobo and it should appear in short order.

Probably this would be too small of a screen for your purposes, but it's still a very useful workflow as an alternative to situations where you would print something out, or maybe something long is emailed to you, etc.

 

[Teachmindset]

All very helpful everyone and useful food for thought! I will try the scribe - I realise limitations of file management etc but as long as can send to kindle the PDF pre formatted and legible can do some testing checking the refresh rate ; accidental loosing place in script.

 

[darngooddesign]

All very helpful everyone and useful food for thought! I will try the scribe - I realise limitations of file management etc but as long as can send to kindle the PDF pre formatted and legible can do some testing checking the refresh rate ; accidental loosing place in script.

I don't think e-ink readers have a refresh rate as you think of it with LCD or OLED. Only changing the content refreshes the screen. Thats one of the reasons why they have such stellar battery life.

 

[sracer]

I don't think e-ink readers have a refresh rate as you think of it with LCD or OLED. Only changing the content refreshes the screen. Thats one of the reasons why they have such stellar battery life.

You are correct. There's technically NO refresh rate as in... refreshing the content of the screen. Once the image is on the screen, it's there. But... loading the next page is not as instant as LED. The delay is slight and noticeable but not disruptive, but that is highly subjective.

 

[Teachmindset]

I won't use any of my iPads or other LED tablets when preaching for a variety of reasons, but one reason is how the screen lights up my face (or reflects off of my glasses). Turning on dark mode will help minimize/eliminate that, but then the overhead lights produce glare on the screen that can make it dicey to read at times. Even with matte screen protectors, the glare is still there... but more diffused.

I wanted to see if an e-ink tablet would solve those issues for me. After watching reviews, I decided to pick up a Kindle Scribe when Amazon had a sale on them last month or so. I knew going in that it had only the very basic notetaking functionality compared to the others, but with the sale, it was also the least expensive by a significant amount... enough to try it as a proof of concept. (over $200 USD less expensive for an apples-to-apples comparison)

My initial thoughts after a month of heavy use.... it is excellent. battery life is insanely good. (I use it heavily each day and battery dropped down to 74% after 2 weeks of use) e-ink is definitely a good fit for me. The Scribe (with the Amazon folio case) is the only tablet option (e-ink or otherwise) that equally caters to right-handed people and left-handed people (like me). THAT was a pleasant surprise.

I've had to slightly modify my digital planner/journal to work on the Scribe, and adjust a few of my workflows, but it is a keeper for me.

I too suggest that the OP consider an e-ink tablet.

How do you file things? I find having books and notebooks etc all very distracting in one place on the scribe. Wish it had better file management. At least there are folders within folders now I guess.

 

[sracer]

How do you file things? I find having books and notebooks etc all very distracting in one place on the scribe. Wish it had better file management. At least there are folders within folders now I guess.

I never use the "Home" section.

My notebooks only appear in the "Notebooks" section. My digital planner, journaling Bible, and "reading" Bible, (all hyperlinked PDFs), along with other books, appear in the "Library" section.

In the "Library" section, I tapped on the filter icon (upper left) and filtered it to display only books that have been downloaded to the device. That eliminates the noise of displaying all of the books linked to my Amazon account.

for a little background...
On my iPad, I use GoodNotes with a custom digital planner that I created. It contains monthly overviews and weekly details views with plenty of space for notes, diagrams, etc. There are specialized sections for Bible reading tracking, prayer requests, Bible study templates, sermon notes, and verse indices based on topic.

This is possible because I can duplicate and move template pages as needed within GoodNotes.

I've had to change things a bit with the Scribe because the digital planner appears as a "book" on the Scribe. It treats it as a physically printed book in that I can't add pages or move pages around. So I created separate notebooks for each of the sections of that GoodNotes planner... a separate notebook for prayer requests, another for indexing favorite verses, another for Bible study.

It has been working pretty well so far, but if I find that bouncing between notebooks becomes cumbersome, then I'll rework my digital planner to have enough specialized pages to accommodate my needs for a longer period of time.

 

[penlost]

Just as an additional comment. Been taking weddings with my iPad for a few years. I have the document in PDF and have a Twelvesouth BookBook case that looks like an old book. The only thing I make sure is that they place the rings on the book part, rather than the iPad screen 🤣

 

[darngooddesign]

To fight glare on the screen you can use a matte-finish, anti-fingerprint screen protector.

 

[sracer]

To fight glare on the screen you can use a matte-finish, anti-fingerprint screen protector.

A matte screen protector doesn't eliminate glare, but it does reduce and diffuse it. And because the LED screen emits light to display the image, it can appear washed out depending upon the strength of the overhead lighting.

The nice thing about e-ink, the stronger the overhead lighting the BETTER it looks.

 

[karlcrazyman]

Using an iPad as a wedding celebrant can be a great way to keep your notes and scripts organized and easily accessible. However, as you mentioned, it's important to have a backup plan in case of battery or device failure.

One option is to have a paper backup of your script as you mentioned, in case of any technical issues with the iPad. Additionally, it's a good idea to have a backup battery or charging option available, just in case your iPad runs out of power during the ceremony.

In terms of accessories, there are a variety of cases and stands available that can help protect your iPad and make it easier to use during the ceremony. Look for cases that are lightweight and easy to carry, but also offer sufficient protection against drops and scratches.

Some popular options for wedding celebrants include the Zugu Muse case, which offers multiple viewing angles and a protective cover, and the Smart Cover from Apple, which is lightweight and easy to attach and remove.

Overall, using an iPad as a wedding celebrant can be a great way to stay organized and prepared, but it's important to have backup plans in place and to choose accessories that offer the right balance of protection and convenience.

 

[Teachmindset]

Using an iPad as a wedding celebrant can be a great way to keep your notes and scripts organized and easily accessible. However, as you mentioned, it's important to have a backup plan in case of battery or device failure.

One option is to have a paper backup of your script as you mentioned, in case of any technical issues with the iPad. Additionally, it's a good idea to have a backup battery or charging option available, just in case your iPad runs out of power during the ceremony.

In terms of accessories, there are a variety of cases and stands available that can help protect your iPad and make it easier to use during the ceremony. Look for cases that are lightweight and easy to carry, but also offer sufficient protection against drops and scratches.

Some popular options for wedding celebrants include the Zugu Muse case, which offers multiple viewing angles and a protective cover, and the Smart Cover from Apple, which is lightweight and easy to attach and remove.

Overall, using an iPad as a wedding celebrant can be a great way to stay organized and prepared, but it's important to have backup plans in place and to choose accessories that offer the right balance of protection and convenience.

Thanks so much! Great advice . Will check out the zugo muse case and yeah always carrying a backup sensible including paper

I guess also if things are in sync would have the iPhone .

Will get a good padfolio case too for everything.

 

[Teachmindset]

Just as an additional comment. Been taking weddings with my iPad for a few years. I have the document in PDF and have a Twelvesouth BookBook case that looks like an old book. The only thing I make sure is that they place the rings on the book part, rather than the iPad screen 🤣

Hi there - the BookBook case looks fab! Perfectly blending into weddings / funerals! I think this is what I will go for - thank you!

 

[Teachmindset]

Using an iPad as a wedding celebrant can be a great way to keep your notes and scripts organized and easily accessible. However, as you mentioned, it's important to have a backup plan in case of battery or device failure.

One option is to have a paper backup of your script as you mentioned, in case of any technical issues with the iPad. Additionally, it's a good idea to have a backup battery or charging option available, just in case your iPad runs out of power during the ceremony.

In terms of accessories, there are a variety of cases and stands available that can help protect your iPad and make it easier to use during the ceremony. Look for cases that are lightweight and easy to carry, but also offer sufficient protection against drops and scratches.

Some popular options for wedding celebrants include the Zugu Muse case, which offers multiple viewing angles and a protective cover, and the Smart Cover from Apple, which is lightweight and easy to attach and remove.

Overall, using an iPad as a wedding celebrant can be a great way to stay organized and prepared, but it's important to have backup plans in place and to choose accessories that offer the right balance of protection and convenience.

Do you use an teleprompt type apps or just scroll through a PDF?

 

[Teachmindset]

Just as an additional comment. Been taking weddings with my iPad for a few years. I have the document in PDF and have a Twelvesouth BookBook case that looks like an old book. The only thing I make sure is that they place the rings on the book part, rather than the iPad screen 🤣

Any app recommendations on ipad that make your life easier? Or do do you just use a PDF reader?

 

[penlost]

Any app recommendations on ipad that make your life easier? Or do do you just use a PDF reader?

I just use a PDF reader, or a kindle version of the book I use which has all the words in. It has never let me down … yet!

 

[Teachmindset]

Now just need to work out - which iPad! iPad air vs pro !

 

[Teachmindset]

Do you use an teleprompt type apps or just scroll through a PDF?

I just use a PDF reader, or a kindle version of the book I use which has all the words in. It has never let me down … yet!

got the twelvesouth case! Looks the part indeed!

 

[penlost]

Now just need to work out - which iPad! iPad air vs pro !

Which iPad did you go for?