special moment...

soon2beMRSSOSNA · July 2009

first Kyle & I booked our wedding reception site at powell gardens today! So our ceremony & reception site is booked. =] But secondly, they kept trying to speak to us about a "special moment" location where we can see each other out in the garden BEFORE the ceremony. We decided against it, but did/have any of you considered doing this?

sstara · July 2009

I did it. I got married a few weeks ago and that is one thing I am definately glad I did. Since our wedding and reception were in different places it was really helpful. The guests didn't have to wait an hour or more for us to arrive because the majority of the pictures were done. It also made me way less nervous/stressed walking down the aisle. We got some really great pictures that we wouldn't have got otherwise. I think it is a personal decision so I would do whatever would make you the happiest! If you want to wait to see him then wait!

MLC613 · July 2009

I personally don't want to see my fiance until I walk down the aisle. But, that's just me! I had a friend that saw her now husband before, and they wrote each other letters and read them while they had their backs to eachother. Then, after reading them their photographer told them to turn around. It was really sweet, lots of tears, but she loved it because he said things in the note he had never said to her before. The photographer had a photo of each of them reading their letters, then one of their faces when they turned around. It was really sweet!! GOOD LUCK and CONGRATS on having things booked!!

JuliaGoolia719 · July 2009

We are doing a first look before we start taking pictures, we are doing 99% of pics before the ceremony including all family pics etc. I am really looking forward to getting to spend a few min w spence before the craziness begins so we can actually talk and hang out a lil bit. I'll give him his grooms gift then (new oakleys and a free state brewery tshirt lol) I'm just excited to have a moment that day that is just "us" instead of us and 200 of our closest friends and family

moose948 · July 2009

I got married a few weeks ago, and we did not see each other, which was the right thing for us. A lot of it depends on the time of your ceremony and reception and the setup. We had time in between, and we still had plenty of daylight to take great pictures. I was also shockingly calm the day of, so I don't feel like it added to my anxiety at all- just made me more excited. For us, me walking down the aisle to my husband and seeing each other for the first time was a moment that we will never forget. The bottom line is, it's a very personal decision, and one that you and your fiance need to make based on what's right for you! Good luck!!

amymoidl · July 2009

We are going to see each other before the wedding. I am super excited about it for a few reasosons: I think it will make cute pics, it will be able to be our little moment where we can react genuinley without 150 people watching, we'll get to hug/kiss after

. It is also going to allow us to take most of our pictures before the ceremony so we can be with guests throughout the cocktail hour and have fun at the reception. Our ceremony is in the evening, so we didn't want to miss the cocktail hour b/c we want to spend as much time with our guests as we can!

SoonToBeMrsAvery · July 2009

I agree that its a very personal decision. My fiance and I have decided to do most of the pictures beforehand, mainly because we a) are having a 6pm ceremony and a 6:30pm reception so not a lot of time in between and we want people to be able to get dinner as soon as possible, b) both are in the same room, and c) we want to spend as much time with our guests as possible because they are going to be 90% OOT. We will probably do some sort of first-look, special moment type thing (I really like the letter idea!!). The only pictures we are going to do after the ceremony are ones on the rooftop of the venue (its downtown and there are some great views), just so we can have some alone time in between the ceremony and reception, and those will take probably 20min max.But it is all up to you! Your day and your way!

denimdarling88 · July 2009

We're going to do the first look thing in an effort to get most of the pictures out of the way before hand, as well. I also think that it will mean more to me to see the look on his face from closer up than trying to see it from the back of the church... He was against the idea at first, but it just makes more sense for us, with as large of a wedding party as we have [12 total attendants including BM and MOH], to get pictures done before everything goes crazy.Whatever you decide, I'm sure it will be the perfect moment for you two!

LindyL · July 2009

First of all, Powell Gardens is a beautiful location. Good choice! Secondly, we did the "special moment" beforehand and they actually ended up being some of my absolute favorite pictures of the day. It also didn't change how excited he looked as he saw me coming down the aisle. But it's totally a personal preference thing like PP said.

Kat4Him · July 2009

(*Disclaimer: I am posting under my sister's name while at her house. I can normally be found on the Sept 10 board under Hammysgirl10*)Congratulations on booking your site! I always get a "rush" when I book something that is such a big part of the whole "wedding day" like ceremony & reception site!FI & I are doing a special moment. As PPs have said, it takes pressure off as you're walking down the aisle because it's an intensely personal/overwhelming moment and sometimes sharing that in front of all of your guests detracts from how you would normally act with each other. At the same time, I have to agree with PPs who say to do what YOU feel more comfortable with. It's YOUR day and about the two of you and how you handle things - not the rest of us. ;-P I think pros would be the fact that you don't "need" a cocktail hour or a "filler" time for guests since the majority of your photos are taken before the ceremony as well as the fact that you getpics of you & FI seeing each other for the first time away from the alter. It can make for great photos. The only "con" *I* cans think of are that your guests don't get to see FI's face as he sees you for the first time and it's not the "traditional" way.Happy planning!

Mrs. Guthrie · August 2009

I really struggled with this decision. My fiance really wanted for us to see each other beforehand but I wasn't so sure. After a lot of thought and consideration, I decided to go ahead with the special moment. It will make the day flow better for our wedding and reception. Plus, seeing him before means I get to spend more of OUR day together. I'm excited that we will have our first look just the two of us (and the photographer) and not 300 of our friends and family. Good luck making your decision!

soon2beMRSSOSNA · August 2009

This is a very personal decision for every couple. The reason I decided against it [although it would have calmed my nerves, and yes it would of been "our private moment" is because I've always envisioned that look on his face when the doors open and my dad is walking me down the aisle.

jfriend82 · August 2009

as a photographer, i have a variety of things to say about this. i can say, for absolute certainty, that "that look" will undoubtedly still be on your grooms face when he sees you coming down the aisle. no matter whether there was a special moment or not, that look of absolute awe remains on his face.a big reason we as photographers recommend a first sighting (photog lingo for a 'special moment') is because, in all reality, there isn't much time after the ceremony ends to have a getaway moment. i have done countless weddings where the bride and groom, because there are so many people to see and so many things to do (think cake cutting, first dancing, people greeting, toast making) that before you know it the night is over and you get back to the hotel and crash out and don't get to experience a surreal moment together. i don't say it because i'm an advocate of the first sighting, but rather because i've seen this happen countless times, first hand. i encourage each of you to consider a first sighting, especially if the format of your wedding is gogogo. i assure you, with 100% truthfulness, that your 'special moment' will be just as amazing and intimate and everything you've ever visioned and dreamt of as the walk down the aisle first sighting.soon2bemrssosna, if you feel very strongly about not having a first sighting, your photographer should absolutely respect that and not harp on you about it. what i would recommend, in lieu of that, is to plan a moment during the ceremony where your photographer can say 'okay break time!' where she/he can run away with you for 10-15 minutes somewhere privately so you two can have an intimate moment and she/he can capture that experience. you'll never forget it!!as for me, we are having a first sighting. i just want to see my guy and have that moment away from everyone before the dancing begins. because once the dancing begins, you won't see my behind leave the dance floor.

Drace · August 2009

We're booked for Powell Gardens as well. Only it will be this November not next summer. Because we picked the late-ish time frame it will be dark not long before our wedding starts, we're going to have picture before. We're using a family friend of my for a photgrapher, he did my senior photos and we both had a blast doing those. So I believe strgonly that this is going to be worth it. However, the night before the wedding I'll be at my parents house and wont see him untill its time for pictures.

atobias1 · August 2009

I pretty much second everything jenifriend said. We are doing pics first and she listed all the reasons, time, our moment to kinda be a little more relaxed and enjoy the day together, help calm nerves. And I totally agree about having the look still be there. Thats still the moment where he sees you and is like "THIS is the woman I am marrying!"

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