Will it take away from "the moment" - kinda long

thebacks08

Hello ladies!I am a newbie but read the posts all the time!  I truly believe I am going to have a nervous breakdown (lol).  My FI and I wanted to have that special moment when I walk down the aisle and he sees me for the first time.  Well, with our timeline I am just not sure how we can do pictures without seeing each other.  Wedding in 68 days!We are having our ceremony at 7:00....at the same place as the reception...same room actually...so, we could do the "ceremony after pics" right there with the archway and such...but everyone will be in the room with us...at the bar getting drinks.  Not a big big deal...but is it weird?So, if we don't see each other beforehand...we won't have any pictures of us and the bridal party outside (it will be dark by then)...we are planning on doing the girls and guys separate at a place to have them taken...but not together obviously before the ceremony.Have a I lost you yet!!!!So, do we suck it up and see each other and do pictures before...or do we just not worry about it and pray that we get great pictures at the reception?Thanks!!!!!

mindiosu

We have the same timeline, and will see each other before for the same reasons.  If it's truly important to you to have that "moment" walking down the aisle, find an indoor place that you can still get some cool shots after the ceremony with the BP. If not and outdoor shots are more heavily weighed, consider creating a very special moment to see each other before.  You'll have to decide which is more important, pics outdoors or having your moment walking down the aisle...IMO, see each other before and have the super cool photographs that will last forever!  

mcdaisy9

I have the same issue...so what we are going to do is see each other alone before we take pictures.  This way we can still have that moment...a bit different...but still a moment between the two of us.  I am even thinking about having my photographer there to snap a few shots so we can remember what it felt like when we saw each other for the first time.

jerobe4

We saw each other beforehand and made it a special moment. It was only myself, my husband, and the 2 photographers. We did not have anyone else with us while we took pictures which was really nice. It was just for us. At that time we didn't cry or get emotionally or anything, but when I walked down the aisle that is when it all hit for my husband. he was working hard to hold back the tears and he said it really didn't take away anything. My priest even included it in his sermon how the tradition of not seeing each other beforehand came about due to arranged marriages and he said he thought it was great that we took pictures beforehand. Just a thought

DeLovely2009

I was so against taking pictures beforehand, and so was FI. We are a very traditional couple, and wanted to have a very traditional wedding.However, with our timeline, we came to a pass kinda like you did--Do we take pictures beforehand, or do we try and buy more time at the reception location and extend that? We ended up deciding to do pictures beforehand. It gives us more time to spend with our guests, which was the big bonus to us. Plus, nothing takes away the specialness of the moment you walk down the aisle--that's when everything REALLY comes together.

Genny1978

We are also doing pictures beforehand.  You can still have a special moment with just the two of you which is what we are planning to do.  And I agree...even though you've seen each other before the ceremony...nothing takes away from the moment when you walk down the aisle and lock eyes for the first time.  As long as my fiancee remembers his glasses...otherwise I'm just gonna look like an ivory blob!!!

mrs.dilligaf

I had my pictures done before, and wouldn't change a thing.  I love that we got tons of pics, had more time with our guests, and got to spend the day together.  We hardly spent any time at all together at the reception, so thank goodness that we had the before time! And I still had complete tunnel vision walking down the aisle.  I don't think it took away from that at all.

Jack'sPrincesss

I dated a guy who did photography and he always recommended doing like one of the pp said and having just you and the FI and the photographer and making it a special moment.... he said he would always be there for a few for some of the first look pics and then step back and let the bride and groom have a few mins together while he took some photos from the shadows... he showed me some and I loved those the most... half the time the couple didn't even know he was there... I'm sure we'll do all our photos before just so we can spend more time with the guests

callmedra

I loved doing pictures before hand. we had our "moment" which was not quite alone because all of our family was watchng through a window. it was still special...and walking down the aisle was still very special to me. I loved spending the whole day with him instead of having to wait until 6:30 to see him. we got to hang out with our entire bridal party and drive around the city. I also loved being able to go to cocktail hour and mingle before dinner. i think it would be really hard to get good pictures at the reception with everyone watching you.

SusanK76

No its not wierd. We had the same issue. DH was dead set against seeing me before the wedding. So we did as many as we could before the ceremony. Right after we took all the rest. It was Jan and we did do some night pics outside - they turned out to be really neat. I would ask my photog if they could do night time photography outside or if they have any ideas about where you could all do pictures together at your venue. HTH

a.smith.6

We did pictures before so we would have more time, I wasn't sure we made the right choice until the day of. It was so great to see him that first time and it was so special, the pictures are some of my fav. Also when walking down the aisle later I still cried and it all hit me, I am positive it didn't take anything away from that moment. I would say do what you are most comfortable with, but I rec. seeing each other before.

gianfavl

Do your pictures beforehand - see each other! It was one of the best decisions we made! We had a private "reveal" where it was just us and the photog, which gave us some time to really look at each other and get out our nerves before the ceremony. I felt like we were able to get the photos we wanted and truly enjoy the ceremony because of this

thebacks08

Thank you all SO MUCH!!!!  Great advice...I knew I could count on you guys!!!!