First Look Photography vs. Waiting until you come down the isle

jessiflower · July 2012

FI doesn't like the idea of the "first look".......ugh....I love it!!! He thinks since I'm making him wait until the wedding to see the dress then when I walk down the isle should be the first time he sees the dress.....I want the "first look" private photography and moment to ourselves before we go down the isle.....what are all of you doing....and why? We only have 4 hours with the photographer....I think this is an excellent use of her time......and ours...you know...Thought?

LDubHawksFan · July 2012

I think first looks are more practical. I don't know what we are doing yet since FI was like yours and didn't want to do one.....until our ring designer talked about it and now he wants to. Granted, maybe I didn't spell out all of the pros and cons of the first look, I think he was just sick of making wedding decisions. I think it's great because then you look fresh, you get an intimate moment with your FI, and best of all you get more time with guests after the ceremony. Since you only have your photographer for 4 hours, this could come in really handy, but you might have to make your cake cutting early in the reception before she leaves. Maybe have one of your vendors (photog) rave about first looks and your FI will change his mind too!

brainybrunette · July 2012

Definitely doing the first look for a number of reasons:

1) Our ceremony is at 6pm...it will be dark out after the ceremony which means pictures would be very limited

2) Our ceremony and reception are at the same venue and we'd like to be able to enjoy at least some of our cocktail hour

3) To ease nerves and to spend some alone time together

4) Because everyone that I've talked to that has done a first look has said that it does not take away from your walk down the aisle.

For us, it really is the best option. I really think that both the first look and the walk down the aisle will be special and memorable!

ericaandtom2012 · July 2012

I think that you should do a first look, given you only have your photographer for 4 hours. You can be more efficient before the ceremony to make sure you get all the pictures that you want of just you two. After the ceremony you can prioritize your WP and family photos. BUT, you should make sure that your FI truly wants to do a first look.

Your walk down the aisle will still be special; you'll be getting married!

AEPerpete · July 2012

My FI and I will not be doing one. He said he'd prefer to just see me as I'm walking down the aisle. The wedding is at 4, so this makes sense as we will have plenty of light afterwards for pics.

[Deleted User] · July 2012

Our photographer actually suggested we do it. I wasn't sure until he told us all the good reasons why. I also think FI will be more calm if he can see me before. The main thing the photographer said was that how you look in the pictures changes because of the emotions before vs the emotions of after. Also your makeup will look better

I also think that it gives us two chances to get photos, so if we don't get them all completed before the ceremony we still have some time after. If you have to squeeze them all in after when you just want to party and hang with your friends that might show in your pictures too!

aro1589 · July 2012

I'm pretty old fashioned I guess. my FI will first see me that day as I'm walking down the isle

Kristen627 · July 2012

We aren't doing a first look. Originally I wanted to for practical reasons, but a good friend swayed me when she reminded me that getting to walk down the aisle and be seen for the first time is one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments you can never replicate. (I also fall squarely in the category of not wanting to know the sex of our future children before they're born, so maybe I am just super traditional.) I'm nervous about being nervous, but the decision seems to work for us!

music11 · July 2012

No first look for us. We are waiting until I walk down the aisle; FI and I both want that moment to be special. Also, the wedding is at 3, and we have the photographer all day, so we have a little less pressure with the timeline.

BrittneyRN · July 2012

I wanted one so we could have more time for pictures. My FI is extremely traditional, so we won't be doing one.

huskerfan246 · July 2012

We will be doing a first look. Our Ceremony is at 4pm, but going to do the first look and then family/formal pics starting at 1pm because we plan to leave during the cocktail period to get pics taken at a different location (ceremony and reception are all at the same place)

xxjen015 · July 2012

We're doing a first look. Photography is extremely important to me and I want plenty of light for pictures. Our ceremony is at 5:30 and sunset is around 6:15, so it will be good for getting pictures before.

My most important reason for doing this is that I want that special moment caught on camera of him seeing me for the first time. Our wedding ceremony is outside at my parents house and the house (where I will walk out of) is a good distance from the clearing where the ceremony will actually be, so he wouldn't have that "a-ha!" moment, at least not where I could see because he would see me for two minutes walking up to the clearing.

ivedonethisb4 · July 2012

We are doing it! Fi didn't want to at first but I convinced him it was really the practical thing to do since we only have our photog for 4 hours and ceremony and reception are in separate locations. We are doing all family pictures before hand as well and then at our reception location we'll do a few FUN WP shots that aren't so staged and posed but more casual. Also we aren't having cocktail hour so there's no way I'm going to take pictures for an hour afterwards and make the guests wait. I love the idea of being able to be up close and share a moment with him before. He was really all for it after his cousin who was married this year did it and he saw how special it is.

tracey525 · July 2012

Our wedding is at 1 pm, and we have to arrive at the church no earlier than 12:30. I'm not sure that there will be time before or when we get to the church. I'd love to do it, but if we can't, it's not a big deal.

I also LOVE the compromise of having a shot of the couple standing with their backs on either side of a door, holding hands or each reading a note from the other.

schnugglebug · July 2012

we are doing it and our photographer loves us for it!! ceremony is at 4, over by 4:30 and sun ssets at 6:33 that day... so this gives him optimal time to get everythign in IF we do our First look...

dancingthrulife · July 2012

Am I the only person doing a first look because I think it's romantic, not just because it's practical? I know we're both going to cry when we see each other for the first time, and I'd like to be close enough and in a casual/intimate enough setting that I can have a hug right away

First Look Photography vs. Waiting until you come down the isle

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