Photos before the wedding?

SonaliPop

I know we're supposed to see eachother for the first time on the wedding day under the mandap...but I notice a lot of people are getting pictures taken as bride and groom before the wedding starts.

Does anyone plan on doing it or do some of you prefer not to? A big part of me really wants me to see me all done up and ready to become his wife for the first time that day when the sheet gets pulled down. I'm not sure if I'd feel taking pictures away would take SOME of the magic away...although I know nothing can really diminish that moment!

How do you girls feel?

neetuandsachin

We are doing a "reveal" before the wedding ceremony.  In my sister's wedding years ago, things ran late, and as a result, the photographer did not have time to capture formal family photos - only formal photos of the couple themselves.  That was really my basis for the decision. 

raangoli

We made the decision to see each other and have pictures taken together prior to the ceremony. It was a special moment for us since we "kicked out" the people who had started to gather in the ceremony room (family we had asked to arrive earlier for formal pictures) and I suprised my husband by walking up behind him and taping him on the back with our photographers shooting away.  (He had walked into the room while I hid so he could not see me.)

Just thinking about the look on his face and how I felt when I saw him gets me all teary eyed again. I am go glad that we were able to each other first, priviately and have those few moments to ourselves.

I don't feel that it took away from the special feeling that I had walking down the aisle to the mandap during the ceremony. It was a surreal moment and again, I get emotional thinking about how that it was finally happening! I was teary waiting in the wings and all down the aisle as my brother held my hand and brought me to the mandap. (We broke tradition and rather than a maternal uncle bringing me to the mandap, my older brother did. Again, a decision I do not regret in the least.)

After the wedding was over and my husband and I were talking about how we felt that day, we both agreed that seeing each other privately before the ceremony was a great idea and very special.  And for what it's worth, he told me he was also tearing up behind the antarpat when he knew I was walking down the aisle towards him

MrsBM

Hey Sonali!

Yes we did a "first look" photo shoot BEFORE our reception.  We decided to not do it before the ceremony for the same reasons that you sighted...plus with all the family around and all the ceremonies (bharat, mom's puja, ganesh puja) that happen before it wasn't feasable for us...

I must say, that the pictures of the "first look" didn't look so great for us ...I think we were both a little tired from the morning and we were dealing with some family issues (sister in law drama) that we couldn't fully enjoy the moment.

DFWIndian

We decided not to do a reveal. We have enough time set aside to be able to take pics and it shouldn't be a problem I hope. I love the idea of seeing him down the aisle that day and I'm super traditional. I've seen people's reveals and they are cute. I like most of them, it's just not for me.

SonaliPop

I like the idea. I would really consider doing that. I do not want to take them before to capture the reveal, but to have fresh photos on the happiest day of our lives. And maybe if we do some the morning of, we can skip doing them later and have a chance to attend our own cocktail hour, which I'd love.

Did you guys get to attend your cocktail hour because you shot your photos earlier on in the day and had much less to shoot after the wedding w/ family and friends?

raangoli

Unfortunately, no, we didn't get to attend the cocktail hour because we used that time to change (and I got my makeup redone) and then take pictures with our reception attire. That was important to me since it was a completely different look - the ceremony we wore traditional outfits and for the reception my husband wore a suit and I wore a wedding dress.

MrsBM

Same here, We didn't attend the cocktail hour as we were taking picutres...

rsmehta

We are also doing a reveal before the wedding for the same reasons stated above- more alone time, not enough time to do it later, and looking fresh.  I think it adds to the day bc it may be the only time you and FI actually have alone together.  I would love to attend my cocktail hr (the decorations are my fav and I would hate to miss it) but I am having a hard time scheduling the day so I have enough time to get ready.  Our ceremony starts at 2 PM because we are not serving lunch for everyone.  The ceremony should end at 4 and then cocktail hour starts at 6.  How is it possible to get everything done?

BellsnRings- I would love to hear how you scheduled your day so that you had enough time to nap and attend cocktail hr (thats great planning!).  Does it ruin the surprise if you wear your reception outfit to cocktail hour?  But changing 3 times seems a little hard to me to do.  Any advice?

SonaliPop

I'm with you! I want to hear what your schedule was, too, Bells!