Poll: First Look Pics???

lundar

My FI and I are trying to get the timing of our day down and figure out when we need transportation where. I've been going back and forth on this issue, and now I am having to decide whether or not to do pics before the ceremony or squeeze it all in before the reception/during cocktail hour. I'm really torn about this and I was just wondering:

Did you do first look pics or are you going to do them?

Any thoughts on the experience?

october010bride

We are having "first look" pictures taken mainly because we are having a Jewish wedding and must sign the ketubah (Jewish marriage license) before the actual ceremony. We are also planning on taking pictures after the ceremony and into the cocktail hour... mostly these will be with some family and the bp.

We are both really excited about it actually. We are planning on having a moment with just us and the photog and hopefully we'll get some amazing shots!

LoveAdopted

We are planning on doing a first look- I'm actually hopeing to do it at the top of Mt. Wachusett! Mostly it's a chance for us to get some really nice pictures in a different setting than our venue. A way for me to comprimise on what I really wanted for my ceremony site, but I also think it will be nice to have a few minutes together, too.

AlexaGrant

It would probably work better with the timing of my wedding to do a first look and BP pictures ahead of the ceremony, but there's something about the tradition of not seeing each other until you walk down the aisle that I love.  Obviously my wedding's not for a long time so my opinion could change in favor of being practical rather than romantic...

jquirke9881

We did not do first look.  We squeezed them in.  It was tight, time-wise but for us it was the right decision.  Good luck!

Karen's MOH

I have the dreaded Catholic gap, so timing is not an issue for me. But I also do think there is something about seeing him, and him seeing you, for the first time as you walk down the aisle. Honestly I might feel differently if I didn't have a gap, but since i have to have 2 hours, our first look will be me on my dad's arm and him at the front of the church.

MeaghanandMichael

I didn't do them because I wanted my first eperience with my husband to be that day as walking down the aisle towards him. It was really important to me. Think about whether or not that is important to you. Also, we are both pretty photogenic, so pics of us alone took 30 min tops. You may not even need that much time.

That being said, I have seen some really beautiful and meaningful first look pictures, and I know for many people they can be just as moving.

Galaxy8227

We also have the gap due to a Catholic ceremony so we are not doing first look pictures.  But I would be open to doing them cause I would love to see FI first beforehand, just to calm my nerves, and have a little moment together before sharing the big day with everyone. 

kaustin2010

I struggled with that as well, but for practical reasons we decided to do a first look.  We were tight on time and didn't want to miss the mingling at cocktail hour with everyone.

Looking back, I am so glad we did this.  The whole day was so crazy (in a good way!) and I was such a jangle of nerves and stress beforehand, and it went by so fast, that I'm glad we got to have a moment that was just us (and the photographer!).  It ended up being very special to me and a very tender memory.

I agree with others though, think about how important the reveal is to you, and where you want to have the moment.  I think there are powerful arguments in either way- go with what feels right to you and enjoy it!!!

(But I couldn't resist posting a pic of the first look- love the look on his face!)

MeaghanandMichael

Kaustin that is too friggen cute!!

JBs_Bride

We're doing first look pics. FI and I aren't particularly tied to tradition, so it was a good choice for us. 

Definitely talk to your FI about it. He might be a romantic and not want to see you until you walk down the aisle or he might super practical like mine. lol Either way, your pictures will be beautiful!

kaustin2010

awwwww, thanks Meg!!!  

(And because I've had some wine, here was the other side!  Sorry, don't mean to be an AW and hijack the post, just strolling down memory lane....)

MeaghanandMichael

AW + wine are best friends I should know. No, those are seriously adorable. AW away!!!

kaustin2010

hahaha- you are the best!!!  Thanks!

noodle_oo

We're doing the first look and then the formal pics before the ceremony.  I like this for 2 reasons:  1) we're spending SO much money on they day, I don't want it to be a stressful rush, so this will make it much easier!  and 2)  the appetizers are the best part of the reception, I don't want to miss it!  Plus it lets our WP enjoy the hour too.

Our plan is first look, about 1 hr for formals, then ceremony, then after the ceremony we'll go off alone with the photographer for some pics of us.  During this time our bridal party can join their dates and enjoy the cocktail hour, we get like 20-30 mins alone for happy "just married" photos.  Then we can join the cocktail hour, enjoy the food and relax before the entrance to dinner.  I think this will be great and make the day a LOT less stressful!

mcononico

I have been struggling with this decision myself lately.
I have found I really like that tradition of not seeing eachother before the ceremony so our photographer is going to take the formals of the boys... then do some of the girls before the ceremony and then after the ceremony we will take hopefully no more then 30 minutes to get total group shots and some pics of just the new hubby and I
Hopefully this works out because I want to enjoy some of cocktail hour with our guests

jwatts23

We decided to do the first look and bridal party pictures before the ceremony.  I really wanted pictures outside and our ceramony and reception were in the same room at the State Room in Boston.  By the time the ceramony ended it would be dark out.  It kind of forced our hand (I was really leaning towards that moment walking down the isle). 

That being said, I'm really glad we did our first looks.  We had very big bridal parties and the day was just so busy and I was so anxious it helped seeing him beforehand.  I just felt totally at ease and comfortable the moment I saw him which helped with my nerves (And i had to walk down a HUGE hard wood floor stair case which I was bound to topple to my death so glad I was a little relaxed and didn't fall!). 

CCBelle

We did our first look photos at the beach, then had our families meet us for formals about 20 minutes later.  I'm so glad we did this!  I became really nervous while getting ready in the morning - I have no idea why! - and the first look gave J. and I some really special time to be alone and enjoy the moment.  After that, I just had SO much fun. 

Plus getting the family formal pics out of the way allowed our families and WP to enjoy all of the cocktail hour. 

noodle_oo

Oh, I remembered the other reason we wanted to do photos before hand is because for my sisters wedding, they did pics during cocktail hour and it took the WHOLE hour.  No wedding party, just big families.  My sister looked very stressed about time during the photos and I am really hoping to avoid that. 

PS.  Lundar:  Leah has some great first look photos!  You should ask her to see them or search them on her blog.  That also helped sway our decision, I think she does a great job at it.