First look poll

zeitsev

We're doing first look pictures and I am excited to see how they come out!  We're going to take them in my family's back yard before we sign the ketubah.  We're also not particularly superstituous and figured that since we would see each other before the ceremony anyway it would be great to have special photos to document the "first look".

keh0005

FI and I are doing a first look. He didn't really want to, but we just went to a wedding were the couple waited to take all pictures after the ceremony, and he didn't like how long we had to wait to see the happy couple! I don't think it will ruin anything for us. I think that even after the first look pictures I will still be awestruck when i first see him at the alter. I'm sure I'll be crying (happy tears of course!) like a baby no matter what

Jelenny

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_first-look-poll?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:31d7349a-d589-4fa3-b10d-8f7c36bdd73dPost:a32ea602-47b1-4ad2-884e-f1d01e3462a2">Re: First look poll</a>:
[QUOTE]Well, I found some pics, but FH is not budging. Oh well, I guess no first look pics for us. *Lip poked out*
Posted by MISSCOURTNEY20[/QUOTE]

my fi is the same way so we are looking for photographers that work with an assistant so they can have one in position to capture my fi when he first sees me and me when i first step into the church...still kinda that first "peek" but at that exact moment so the FI get's his way and I get mine  :0)

amysmomma

I'm doing a first look for a few reasons.

One - it will help calm us both down, especially my FI, who is very shy getting up in front of people I think it will help him to have that emotional moment privately at first to help him work up the courage to do it in front of everyone else.

Second - Our wedding is at 3 p.m. and I want to have dinner served by 5:30, so I don't want our guests waiting around with nothing to do while we rush through our photos with our photog.  I want to get all the formal photos out of the way in the morning so that after the wedding my FI and I can just relax and enjoy each other and family - and we can spend that time taking additional photos with other family members.

And Sucrets, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your first look pics, and that's exactly what I'm hoping mine turn out to be.

iarguello

Neither of us is very religious- but we are a very old fashioned couple- abstinence til marriage, formally asking my parents for their blessing,  and the whole bit- but this one of the traditions we will be breaking along with no garter toss ( I can't imagine him going up my skirt to retrieve the garter-in front of our friends and family!)

FH and I will be doing a first look I think that it's special to spend some time together---alone---before we become husband and wife. As long as the photog captures it from a distance, it'll be perfect.

csupalla

We plan to do first look pictures and wedding party/family ones before the ceremony.  I'm very excited to see my FH for a few quiet minutes before the whirlwind of the ceremony and reception begins.  A couple of friends of mine did this too, and it seems so nice for the couple to be able to "take it all in" with no one (except the photographers) around and share a hug and probably some tears together before the rest of the day flies by (and then to have those pictures of your first look at each other to keep for the rest of your lives).  I also thnk this will help us to feel more calm and united during the ceremony.  But that's just us!

derekandlaura

I'm getting married next weekend, and I'm not doing one. Even though it would be nice to get more photos of a moment like that, I think the value of the tradition (not seeing each other until you're walking down the aisle) is the greatest thing!!

SamanthaH619

I keep going back and forth, for the fact that we're not having my traditional church wedding, we're actually a pretty traditional couple, so we want to do the "not see eachother before the wedding" thing, but at the same time, there have been some fabulous first look pictures that we've seen....

Thanks for doing this poll! It was useful for me too!!

nflanaga

We're planning to do them.  We both wanted a first look and our photographer suggested it to get the "jitters" out of the way.  I'm a crier and it would be nice to not be so flustered while walking down the isle and t'll be a chance for me to take it all in, not be focused on him and his reaction.  We'll get to have a private moment just the two of us and that's what it's all about anyway.

Good Luck!

kathomas24

We probably will do a first look. The way the venue is set up, there really isnt any place for me to hide from him before the ceremony, unless I rent a horse and carriage to arrive in (which I could never afford). I would like to see him before hand so that we can eat breakfast together and make it truly an entire day for us. And, frankly, it all comes down to logistics that day. Do I spend extra money on a hotel or extra money for the hair/makeup stylist to come to my own home where I would be most relaxed. However, once I start to get dressed he can see me until I am competly dressed.

alliefeck

We were really trying to avoid doing them, but after being in a wedding a few weekends ago, I've decided to do the first look photos.  I was SO nervous to walk down the aisle as a bridesmaid, I can't imagine what it'll be like as a bride!  We decided for personal reasons, mainly because I will LITERALLY faint if I get too emotional, so I thought if we did the first look it would take away the jitters.
Plus, my fiance is a very personal kind of guy, so having his reaction to me be in front of only a few people is more appealing to him than having it in front of the whole church.
It's a completely personal decision and you just have to decide what's right for you as a couple.
Good luck.
Allie

AngieAyrton

I was considering it. So I asked my fiance what he thought and he didn't really like the idea. He said he wanted to wait till I was coming down the aisle. So we're not doing them.

estherjacob

i'm most definitely doing a first look because i really care about the photography and getting tons of photos of me and my fi while still being able to have that intimate moment of first seeing each other.    here's a wedding i shot that did a first look and then they scheduled four whole hours before the ceremony to shoot.  and through that we got tons of amazing photos... but i guess it's coming from a standpoint where i care a lot about my photos.

http://www.estherjulee.com/wedding/dorothyrichardwedding/

Jangelis

No first look for us I think. The most Ill do is have is take pics with my side of the wedding party, and he with his.

I think that I will treasure the moment that we first see each other before I walk down the aisle more than seeing each other before the ceremony.

lizzydragon

We're planning not to have pics taken, but we may see each other before the ceremony, just the two of us... Or perhaps we'll just peek at each other.    it's just that we thought that it's nice to do the "walk down the aisle" thing in front of all your guests, but it's very impersonal... Our solution, see each other dressed up in private. 

Good luck on your big day!  

defstar82

we're doing a first look! i'm really excited to be honest. we don't really care about the "not seeing each other before" thing, we plan to stay together the night before (we've lived together for 2 years and own a house together) and then seperate in the morning and then get ready and do a "first look". i think it will really help with nerves and be a way to get pictures before the ceremony!

brandichad4ever

My fiance' and I are getting married in October.  I absolutely DO NOT want to take pix before the ceremony.  That is my time to be with my girls, and my parents.  I want the first time that we see eachother on our wedding day to be when I am walking down the isle towards him, about to become his wife.     Traditional and sappy, maybe, but every bride has to follow heart.

defstar82

also, I agree with Estherjacob. both my FI and myself are photographers, and the photos are probably one of THE most important aspects of the ceremony to us.

dbutler016

Me and my FH will be taking picturs before our wedding and im really excited about it. At first it will just be me, him and the photographer and we just to get to share a moment alone on our big day, whats more romantic than that? And also, I thinks its rude to keep your guests waiting for so long after the ceremony just for wedding party pictures. I want to be able to enjoy the day with him and my guests.

licibee

We're not married yet (next April!!), but we will be doing a first look for several reasons:

- We want the first time we see each other that day to be a private moment where we are completely free to express how we're feeling without feeling like we're in a fishbowl

- We're both a little nervous about being in front of such a large number of people, so it will help us relax

- We want more time to socialize with our guests and enjoy our cocktail hour after the ceremony.

That being said, I totally respect people who don't want to see each other until the ceremony.  I think it really depends on the couple.

smarsh22

My FI cousin and his wife did First Look pictures. I really liked them. Their photographer really captured how special the moment was for them. But I don't want to do them. I want my FI to be completely taken away when he sees me walk down that aisle. When I think about how he will look at me on that day, I get emotional and teary-eyed. I don't want to ruin that one special moment. The moment he first sees me is even more important to me, than the first kiss.

gambitsgirl

I really want to do one, because if we don't, my FH and I won't get any wedding pictures of just the two of us . But he's adamant on it. I really want the pics but I want to prefer him on this one. 

AggieAmber0307

My fiance and I have discussed doing the "First Look". I've had friends who did it, and loved it. But I've also had friends choose to the traditional route. Both loved their decision. I think its just whatever fits you as a couple.

http://alexmphotography.com/20090929/wedding-photography-tips-first-look-part-1/

This is a link to a photographer in Texas who discusses the benefits of the "First Look". The main thing is that he says you can get LOTS more pictures if you do the "First Look". He also discusses the tradition of waiting to see each other until the ceremony starts. Just something to think about.

blegen007

We are taking first look pictures (basically ALL of our pictures) before the ceremony because our church's rules say all photography must be completed before or during the ceremony. So all the family, bride & groom, wedding party pictures will all be done before the ceremony even starts.

lele7575

i want to do a first look but he's not going at all.  he wants to see me for the first time when my dad's walking me down the aisle.

barrelbabe004

I just got married last Saturday and we did one.  It was probably the best decision I made the entire planning process.  I was really calm up until they put my dress on and I started freaking.. Stomach doing flip flops, etc.  But right after that I got to walk out and go see H and it immediately calmed me down (it may have helped that I stepped on the front of my dress while walking up the stairs of the gazebo to him and he said something about "his swan" but really it was nice to have that moment just the 2 of us.) 
And I don't think anything was taken away when I walked down the aisle, I was just as smitten with him knowing that we were about to take our vows.

But as others have said, neither of us are particularly religious.

intlulu

No first looks or sneaky-peekys here. I want that WHAM first moment when he sees me coming down the aisle. :-)

BluValkyrie

considering the church's policies about photographers during the ceremony....no, because there is no way to get the shot.

paceyjoe

I'm getting married in 4 weeks and I would definitely not do them. I feel like it totally takes away from the big moment of walking down the aisle. All the jitters and the build-up...that's what it's all about!

LILMOM79

He is sleeping at his parents house with our 2 sons the night before after rehearsal dinner and I'm sleeping at my house with our 2 daughters and bridesmaids.  He probably would've loved to do the photos 1st, but I didn't want him to see me till I walk down the isle.  We have an hour in between the wedding and reception start time for our guests and then a 1/2 hour to an hour at reception till we show up.  Is that too much?  I am so nervous about walking down the isle and standing in front of everyone more then I am about saying I DO.  I hope I don't faint !