first look, pt 2

texangator

Okay, so I posted earlier about deciding whether to do a first look or not.  Then I saw a wedding video of a girl bawling her eyes out as she walked down the aisle.  Like ugly cry sobbing.  That made me immediately realize that I could very well do the ugly cry, too, if I'm super nervous/excited/anxious- so first look it is!But now I have a question for those of you who did or will do a first look.  We'll be able to join our cocktail hour about 20 minutes into it, which FI and I are super excited about.  I mean, we are planning this thing, we want to enjoy it!  But if we're all out and about during the cocktail hour, do we still have a grand entrance into the ballroom?  How does that work- just go hide, have everyone go in, and then make entrance #2?

ejayne

I would either have the announcement when you join cocktail hour or don't do it at all. I think it'd be weird to have already been mingling with guests for 40min before being announced. Just my two cents though!

txgirl7

I'm all about not having a first look just because it''s one of the traditions I definitely wanna stick too.... If I cry, then I cry, which I'm sure we both will... it's all about emotions that day! But GL with your first look... I'm sure that will be great too!

reddie36

We're planning on mingling at our cocktail hour too and will probably be introduced upon entering the reception then go right into our first dance. I don't think it is weird at all.

sweetscarlet

I'm with Reddie. We'll be mingling and then introduced. We're throwing a lot of tradition out the window, but I think this is a fun tradition to keep. It's your wedding lady! You do what you want!

rjpaulsen

I am pretty traditional, so I won't be doing the first look.  Since that is the case, the cocktail hour will be time for people to mingle and chat while we do our final pics that will have us as a couple with everyone.  We will be announced once we enter the main reception. 

FromPenceToPrice

We plan on mingling at the cocktail hour, then going away to have a quick bite to eat (and some alone time), and then being announced after everyone is seated. 

mujerboricua

Good question.We haven't considered the whole announcement thing. We figured since we were doing a first look the announcement went out the window. But why not get introduced if that's what you want? I'm sure you and your DJ can work it out.But now I am stuck wondering if I need to do a program if I don't do an announcement. Hmm...

Sheeoni

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a first look?

lynnyrd80

I think that you will be glad that you are doing the first look.  It was really special and helped reduce my nerves.We had a pretty close time line for our wedding too.  By the time that we had taken our few family pics at the church after the wedding, come back to the mansion, went up to the room so I could use the RR and have my dress bustled, our cocktail hour was winding down.  So, we had our entrance and did our first dance and opened the buffet.  BTW, texangator, if you are staying at the Mansion for your wedding night, the governor's suite is awesome.  The bathroom is to die for.  I stayed there the night before too and there is a lot of space to get ready in.I've been to friend's weddings that mingled during cocktail hour and were still announced, and I think that is totally fine.BTW, a first look is when you see your FI before the wedding to take pictures.  Usually, if you do this, your photographer will set up a private moment for you and fiance to see each other all dressed for the first time and take pics.  I loved that we did this!  It was a great choice for us.

texangator

A first look is when the bride and groom decide to see each other before the bride walks down the aisle at the ceremony.  I think the vast majority of these times it's just the bride and the groom (and the photographers) in a private place, where they can share some tears/laughter/happy dances with each other before going out for the big day.  Our photogs suggested it to us, and we were pretty ambivalent at first.  I'm not holding onto many traditions, but this was one I wasn't sure about.  Eventually we decided that 1) we wanted to maximize the time we spend with our guests (and doing a first look means we can take more pictures BEFORE the ceremony, meaning we can join the cocktail hour!) and 2) FI is afraid to man-cry at the wedding and I'm afraid to ugly cry (granted, doing a first look won't keep either one from happening, but we're hoping it will mean we're less nervous/anxious and prone to tears and more excited and happy and less prone to tears) and 3) it's an important day for us, and we'll be so busy- we should have some time for each other!

henderstraus

40 days before the wedding this "i'm NOT going to see FI before I walk down the aisle" bride-to-be is seriously seriously reconsidering that choice. I told Fi my worries on Saturday (bawling so hard I can't see or say anything, being anxious and fidgety all day, etc) and at first he was against it, but we're thinking it over this week. This is one tradition I really really wanted to hold on to, but when I think about the logistics of the day and the thought that I get teary every time I hear Canon in D, wanting to maximize time with all of our out of town guests... Ok, so this totally didn't answer your question and this post wasn't productive for anyone but me, but thanks for reading and letting me sort through my thoughts...

kelseymw

I don't think it'd be weird if you were introduced in to the ballroom. You're just mingling for a bit at the cocktail hour... y'all deserve to make a GRAND entrance!

shanwalk2

if you made your decision... that's cool. I just wanted to say, fwiw - I thought I would cry/bawl/blubber down the aisle. Not one tear. Honestly. I was way too happy to be walking down the aisle to DH to be crying. It's not always as emotional as you expect. I still cry watching weddings on tv, but mine was different. I really thought I would be the girl crying all day. Didn't happen like that. again, just my thoughts. take them for what they're worth.