Thoughts on "first look" photos?

Re: Thoughts on "first look" photos?

• amymaysa

  

  September 2011 edited December 2011

  We are planning on doing it...I think the pictures I see of first looks are awesome and it is a special moment before the party starts

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• gentel.smith member

  

  September 2011 edited December 2011

  I am doing first look photos too! I wanted to be able to get pictures during the day (our ceremony is at 5:30) and not have to rush to get all the photos done before the reception starts, we want to enjoy the cocktail hour with everyone! Our photographer is going to set it up so that it's still a special, private moment for us. 

  

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• JBs_Bride

  

  September 2011 edited December 2011

  We did "first look" photos too. It didn't spoil our ceremony either since I was fine coming down the aisle until I saw him at the end and then I totally started crying. Having our formals done after the ceremony would have rushed a lot of the pictures and doing the first look and the formals before the ceremony let us relax and enjoy being with our guests and our cocktail hour.

  
  Planning Bio - Woefully out of date

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• noodle_oo member

  

  September 2011 edited December 2011

  We did it and loved it!  It was actually our favorite moment of the day.  Our photographer was nearby, but it felt like a very private moment.  It was also just about the only time we got to spend alone the whole day and it was nice to have that private time to be all excited together.  The pics came out great too! 
  
  We did our first look first, then did all the family and WP photos before the ceremony.  This was great because after that, the pressure was off!  For the cocktail hour, our WP and family got to enjoy the apps and drinks.  DH and I went off and took more pics alone and then joined the cocktail hour.  I really felt like we got to enjoy more of the day because we got the photos done up front.  I remember for my sisters wedding, we spend the entire cocktail hour doing photos and she was very stressed about time during the whole thing, so we knew we wanted to make ours less stressful by doing a first look.
  
  PS.  Here's a post from one of our photographers about doing a first look.  Lots of pics to give you an idea!
  
  http://katemcelweeblog.com/2011/01/06/the-first-look/
  
  And our first look photos are HERE

  
  

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• JBs_Bride

  

  September 2011 edited December 2011

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_massachusetts-boston_thoughts-first-look-photos?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:89Discussion:75ecebd7-2258-4d30-8ad3-59273d7e35acPost:337589ea-e899-43c3-9106-cacf8964da4b">Re: Thoughts on "first look" photos?</a>:
  [QUOTE]\ I remember for my sisters wedding, we spend the entire cocktail hour doing photos and she was very stressed about time during the whole thing, so we knew we wanted to make ours less stressful by doing a first look.
  Posted by noodle_oo[/QUOTE]
  
  DH and I went to a wedding the summer before ours. I was a BM in the wedding and all of the pics were done after the ceremony. The photographer was not organized and it took forever. The cocktail hour became cocktail hour and three quarters. DH said that the other guests were starting to get restless since the cocktail hour food and bars were packed up at the end of the hour, so there was just 45 mins of them sitting around waiting. After that experience DH said "we are definitely doing our formals before the ceremony." (Before that, of course, he could have gone either way.)
  
  OP, if you decide not to do first look pics, definitely consider at least doing the bride+BMs formal pics and the groom+GM formal pics before the ceremony and save the everyone together ones for after. It will cut down on the number of pics you have to do and, hopefully, speed up the process.

  
  Planning Bio - Woefully out of date

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• soon2bmrs.m-lo

  

  September 2011 edited December 2011

  We too are doing a "first look".  I'm pretty traditional and have always envisioned us seeing eachother for the first time when walking down the aisle but the more we thought about it and talked about it the more we thought the first look was a better idea.  We'll get to have a more private moment when we see eachother for the first time that day, we won't feel rushed to take pictures and we'll get to enjoy more the reception with our guests.  I think it's a win-win!
  
  Good luck in your decision!

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• Karen's MOH

  

  September 2011 edited December 2011

  We did not do them, but we had a Catholic gap so we had plenty of time for photos anyway. I will say it was nice to not be rushing through photos and it probably does show in the photos if you are stressed for time and whatnot. But I always wanted that moment to just see him at the end of the aisle, so I was glad I wouldn't have to make that decision. I'm glad we didn't but I completely see the reasons that people do, and with your late ceremony, it could make the most sense. 

  
  

  Also, a friend who did have a first look told me it made her so much more calm going into the wedding. She had a long walk to the altar, and she said she felt much better having already seen him and felt more like they were in it together. So that's another plus for doing the first look. 

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• jaime10285 member

  

  September 2011 edited December 2011

  I was totally against them when I first heard about them.  Then I got engaged and was possibly considering them.  Then I was a BM in my MOH's wedding and she did a first look and it was soooooo great for all of us!  We had a lot of fun doing the pictures because we knew we weren't missing cocktail hour or anything.  We didn't try to rush.  My friend also loved it because she felt more relaxed.  This made me realize I really wanted to do a first look and so we will do one.  I like the idea of seeing him in a quieter moment and not missing so much of cocktail hour.

  

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• najera36

  

  September 2011 edited December 2011

  Thanks everyone!  The more I think about it I think it's a good idea.  There won't be many other times during the day where we can have a few moments together.  And I def don't want my pics to be rushed during cocktail hour or make everyone wait.  I want to be able to enjoy my wedding!  There is still a little part of me that wants to have that "big reveal" at the altar though.  

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• [Deleted User] member

  

  September 2011 edited December 2011

  I know my fiance wants the first look to be when I'm walking down the aisle, but there are several good points in this thread! We'll have to do somne thinking.

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• MichelleP0514 member

  

  September 2011 edited December 2011

  I agree that first look photos make the day go much smoother!  It makes sense for so many reasons.  However, I am really attached to the idea of having my man see me for the first time as I am walking down the aisle.  I can't let it go!  The sunlight is an issue for us, as well.  We are having a 6:30 outdoor ceremony in September.  The other consideration is transportation.  My plan right now is to show up in the limo, get out, and get married!  If we do "first look", then I don't get my fancy entrance.  

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• FMPhotography

  

  September 2011 edited December 2011

  I think it's a fantastic idea! I have been suggesting this to my wedding clients also. I completely understand the tradition of not seeing each other but truthfully there is something so romantic and personal about the first look. It is just the bride and groom. You walk down the aisle and the groom has that amazing grin on his face and then you go right into the ceremony. The first look session though you both get to hold each other, smile and really take in that moment together with goofy high school kid grins on. Then 25 minutes later the ceremony starts and I swear both bride and groom have the most mischevious insanely happy smiles on. Like they already shared secret together that no one else knows. {well except the photographer}
  Plus it's less time and stress after the ceremony when everybody wants to just get the pics done with at least the couple shots are done. I try to get as many things before the ceremony done as possible to get everyone into the reception with their friends and family quicker. I usually do the bride and bridesmaids beforehand and the groom and groomsmen together.

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• kimberlyb122 member

  

  October 2011 edited December 2011

  We're doing this too! I was also opposed at first but warmed up to it. My SIL did this as well and the photographer had her husband stand facing away from where she was coming from and had her come over and stand back to back, then both turn around at the same time to "capture the moment." I though this was cute but am going to try to come up something a little more formal for our first look.
  
  Good luck!

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