Photos BEFORE the ceremony?

megmel15 · November 2010

our ceremony starts at 6pm at the end of september - its dark by then. . .both ceremony and reception are at the same place - and we want to participate in our cocktail hour. . .definitely doing pics beforehand. . .i didn't want to at first but it just makes so much more sense. We will take separate pics with our groups respectively, then some together (including a first look), head back to the ceremony before people start arriving - and will have a good 1hour before the start of the ceremony. We're also going to take some right after in the dusk for the artsy looks.

ajpufky · November 2010

Ok so now I have some things to discuss with my FI, we are having a end of October wedding so sunlight is a huge issue for us, since our ceremony wont get done until around 5pm or later and the sun sets at 5:30 or 5:45, which leaves not a ton of time to snap a bunch of photos and no time to travel to any place to get photos. Our photographer knows of a beautiful vineyard about 10 minutes away but with so little sun we aren't sure we'll be able to make it work. So maybe a "first look" picture would be better, I like the thought of it just being the two of us and maybe close family instead of the 2 of us sharing that first moment and 200 people watching. Plus maybe that will slightly cut down on the water works that I'm sure to have walkind down the aisle...I'm teary now! Thanks all for the advice!

richandmandy2011 · November 2010

I can totally see your point. When my parents found out my fiancé and I were doing pictures before hand, they flipped! Just like your friend, my wedding doesn't have any time between the ceremony, cocktail hour, or reception. My fiancé and I are excited to do the pictures before hand. Instead of one "special moment" we have two. Our wedding is taking place at the Chart House in Weehawken,NJ. We have a direct view of the NYC skyline, as well as a great pier to use for our pictures. Our first sighting of each other is going something like this: He will be standing at the end of the pier facing the city, his back to me as I walk to him. We're going to have our immediate family standing with him all facing me. He gets to see everyone's face, creating a moment of suspense. When he turns around at the last minute the photographer starts snapping away. Our second moment of course is the official walking up the aisle and becoming man and wife

now excuse me, just thinking about all about it makes me cry (happy tears of course!!) I'm glad you were able to share your friends excitement on her special day...she's lucky to have a great friend like you!!

shelleyann31111 · November 2010

This is my second marriage and I am definately doing the pre-wedding pix. As for the "surprise look"? We are having the pix done in the park across from out house. He will leave in the morning (we live together and decided not to make him sleep out) and then wait across the street for me to appear in my wedding dress! then we get to be with the guests at the reception rather then taking pix. I'll let you know how it turns out! Michele

malinche · November 2010

I live in SoCA and our wedding will be in another state (KY) -- so not many of my friends will make it and am ok with that (we will have another party here in SoCA later). The church is in a very tiny town where his parents married and still live -- this truly is God's Country it is so beautiful there (Pic is from their backyard0

-- to not take pics in that countryside would be a sin!

So I think pre-wedding pics will be fine to take advantage of a beautiful fall day -- it is only us, no wedding party and we are getting married the day we met and frankly, that was the 'first look' that means the most ....

A

AlliNick11 · November 2010

I think it is a matter of personal preference. My sister recently got married and we took all of the pictures we could before the wedding without her husband, and he did the same. After the ceremony, they only had to take pictures of the two of them together. It went a lot faster. I went to another wedding recently where they took all of the pictures after the ceremony. We waited for an hour before we could get into the cocktail hour. The bride and groom arrived after the cocktail hour. I think a lot of the guests were bored and frustrated with the timing. However, it is your wedding and you should do what makes you and your hubby to be happy.

SweetMelissa4 · November 2010

We're doing them before. He's adament about not spending the night before together, so I at least want to see him for a little bit before the ceremony to help calm me down in case I get stressed. Also...we're spending very little money on our wedding, and this wil help us cut out a cocktail hour (saves money!) and go right to dinner. The wedding will be on the smaller side, and I'm sure it would be pretty noticable for us and our party and our family to be absent and taking photos.

jenlc527 · November 2010

"We are having a small-ish wedding, and my fiance has seen my wedding dress, so the dress isn't a surprise-- but that moment when it is all pulled together: him in his tux, me all done up, meeting at the river's edge, that's totally something I want to be between the 2 of us. "

totally just teared up!!! i was agaisnt the first look photos for a long time, but my ceremony is outside just before sunset so light will be limited AFTER. i finally decided to do the first look after seeing a variety of pictures and talking to FI and photographer. i cant wait to have that moment just the two of us, especially bc the photographer is a dear friend of mine. i think walking down the aisle will still be amazing since my dad will be giving me away and all our family and friends will witness

cant wait!! 3 months and 7 days to go! not that im counting hehe

HaleyFaye · November 2010

I partly agree. I think it's best to get the group photos (Groomsen/Bridesmaids/parents + Groom, and vice-versa) before hand. Just to get all the pictures that don't include the bride and groom together. I'm traditional, too and don't want him to see me until I walk down the isle. =]

KimYen1 · November 2010

I think whatever makes your life less stressful will give you the most comfort and time to have fun... and that's what's MOST important: Comfort, and Fun. If you two are down with it, then do opinions of other people really matter?

Yah, some say they like the feeling of seeing the bride or groom for the first time in their gown/tux... and they are entitled to their opinion. I just think that, in general, people already have a set idea of what things should be. Wedding gowns are cool because it represents purity, yadi yada... Seeing it for the first time at the wedding makes it special because it's on your wedding day.. etc etc.... But... Isn't the momment is what it counts? Does it really matter which day you're seeing your beautiful bride, ordoes it really matter when or where your groom shocked to see how beautiful your are?

Almost EVERYTHING is very materialistic. The deeper layer is the most important, and those momments and that feeling can happen anyWHERE, anyTIME, and it is still memorable and beautiful if you feel that it is. So, don't be stuck on where/how it happens.... as long as it happens!!

Remember, KEEP THINGS STRESS-FREE. That's how how you will be comfortable and have the most fun.

This is a rule to almost EVERYTHING in life. Don't you think?

Good luck, mate!

LukeandLana · November 2010

I feel strongly about not seeing each other until I am walking down the aisle as well. However, I am taking all of the pictures of the bride and BM and groom and GM, as well as pictures of each bridesmaid with the bride, and then with the bride's parents, before. That will only live a handful of shots for after the ceremony.

One thing that I have seen done is to take a picture of the two of you together without you seeing each other--such as opening a door and having the groom stand on one side, and the bride stand on the other. it was very cute when I saw it.

anaigc · November 2010

We both agreed to not see eachother until the walk down the aisle. Its not only because its tradition but for us its part of the experience.

I hear a lot of brides saying that they don't want to make their guests wait however isn't this kind of what the cocktail hour is for?

[Deleted User] · November 2010

We are thinking of doing the group pictures before the wedding. This way the picutres of me with my bridesmaids and him with his groomsman are done before the wedding and that leaves for less pictures before the reception. I'm a little old fashion when it comes to seeing him before the BIG moment! I want to see the look on his face as I make my way down the (very long at our church!) aisle and him seeing me for the first time in my dress. That has always been my favorite part of weddings!!

bcolvin10 · November 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_photos-before-ceremony-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:36Discussion:4707187c-7cfe-451c-9177-12b6b2ff8bc9Post:895aa9f6-b350-473b-a804-f75d68e793ae">Re: Photos BEFORE the ceremony?</a>:
[QUOTE]We are doing the group photos.. like me with bridesmaids and him with groomsmen before. I am too traditional and I dont want him to see me before the wedding.
Posted by jessienjeremy[/QUOTE]

Same here. We're going to get as much family and wedding party pictures done as possible, before the ceremony.

reason00 · November 2010

I think I prefer the traditional "don't see the bride before the ceremony" thing.

butterflyroy78 · November 2010

Well, I never heard of it until my brother's wedding, and I felt the same way, but you know what? It didn't take away from any of it! My brother still cried when he say his wife come down the aisle! It was so sweet! My fiance and I are definately going to do it, but we will do it slightly different. We will do the photos of his first view of me, like his reaction and all, in private. It sounds so much more intimate! I love it!

caki2011 · November 2010

Our Church requires us to have all photos taken before the ceremony. Not sure why, but I am certainly not complaining! I can't wait till that day arrives.

RodsWifeToBe · November 2010

We are having a "first look" session with our photographers. I hate the feeling of waiting and waiting for the bride and groom to arrive and I've always promised myself that on our big day, our guests wouldn't have to experience that. Our wedding is at 2, with the reception to follow at 3:30. We will meet at noon to begin taking pictures, bridesmaids, groomsmen, our parents and then we'll have our moment. That still allows for plenty of time for us to take any pictures after the ceremony and still arrive at the reception site by 3:30. I want our guests to enjoy themselves. Waiting is not what I call enjoyment.

[Deleted User] · November 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_photos-before-ceremony-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:36Discussion:4707187c-7cfe-451c-9177-12b6b2ff8bc9Post:895aa9f6-b350-473b-a804-f75d68e793ae">Re: Photos BEFORE the ceremony?</a>:
[QUOTE]We are doing the group photos.. like me with bridesmaids and him with groomsmen before. I am too traditional and I dont want him to see me before the wedding.
Posted by jessienjeremy[/QUOTE]

<div>This is what we're doing too. I think it's such a great idea and that way we still get the "moment" when I walk down the aisle and we see each other for the first time.</div>

Shorty4eva84 · November 2010

We're going to have our separate getting ready photos not of us together before the wedding, because like some of the other brides on here I like the whole tradition aspect. A lot of our wedding is non-traditional but that is one of the few things I want to keep. Whatever you decide should be up to you and your fiance and hopefully it's what makes you happy in the end that you decided for that.

AprilBride2011 · November 2010

Well as part of tradition going to have the photos taken after the ceremony. We're going to have a videgrapher to film the whole thing and I would love to cherish the moment the look on his face as I walk down the aisle. Besides I've always grew up that it is bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her dress before the wedding. As well as putting the ring on before it's been blissed. It may just be me. Think about taking those nice pictures after the wedding. You'll still look relaxed, everything looking fresh, and not having hundreds of people looking when having them taken. Just a thought if its bothring you. Its something I plan to do and give me a chance to wear my dress one last time.

eaglenightshade · November 2010

we are having the girls and the boys shots done before the ceremony but i personally think it would make the walk down the aisle less climactic if my groom had already seen me in my dress especially when i have spent the last 9 months hiding it from him.

Whalen5 · November 2010

we are doing the pics before the wedding. my brother just got married and they did it after the ceremony and even though there was a 20 min drive from the ceremony site to the reception site the bridal party still had to make that same drive after taking pictures. and with our sites being so close together and as a couple we prefer to share intimate moments like the first look between the two of us its seems like the right thing for us. its totally up to the couple and what their style is.

tilylass · November 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_photos-before-ceremony-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:36Discussion:4707187c-7cfe-451c-9177-12b6b2ff8bc9Post:a86adff0-0ccb-49ab-9515-5ac6261139e4">Re: Photos BEFORE the ceremony?</a>:
[QUOTE]One thing that I have seen done is to take a picture of the two of you together without you seeing each other--such as opening a door and having the groom stand on one side, and the bride stand on the other. it was very cute when I saw it.
Posted by LukeandLana[/QUOTE]

i just talked this idea over with my FI, and he LOVES the idea. We both are a bit on the traditional side, so the first time that we see each other will be as i am walking down that aisle on my father's arm. but we like the idea of the suspense of being near each other for a picture, but not being able to see each other... thank you so much for this idea =)

dawnmarie1279 · November 2010

I am breaking all traditions...lol!

He is seeing me before hand and we are taking photos before our ceremony.

Kate504 · November 2010

I was in the wedding yesterday where they did this. They also did the "first look". I'm not a fan at all. We were rushed for time b/c the photos took like 2 hrs b/c the bride was a control freak, guests were showing up while the photos were going on. It was worse than the weddings I've been in where the photos were after the ceremony. I guess it didn't matter much since they practiced their vows at the rehersal....they should have jut got married the night before...the whole thing was weird to me.

pisci1kn · November 2010

We are doing photo's before to make it easier for the guest - plus our ceremony and reception are being held in the same building. It makes more sense to go right from the ceremony to cocktail hour to the reception. Another perk is that we can just have fun and party with our guests once the ceremony is over!

mrskocky · November 2010

I am more of a traditional type of gal, so I would rather wait until after the ceremony for pics. However, our ceremony and reception are in the same location (two separate ballrooms) and we are planning to have cocktails and
hors d'oeuvres for our guests while we take pics. I don't think I will feel rushed as the bride because I have been a guest at plenty of weddings, so I have the expectation that my guests will be just as understanding about picture time as I have been. I've never been bothered by the wait at weddings where the hosts make you feel comfortable while waiting. Not to say that we plan on taking 2 hours for photos, so it is about timing. At least the guests will have a few things to snack on in the interim. Pics after the ceremony are just fine!

susanlondono · November 2010

II think either/or will be special, it just depends on what will make the b&g happy. Our wedding ceremony does not begin until 7:30 pm and will last 1/2 hour,reception (cocktail hour) will begin at 8:30 pm and is about 15 minutes away from the church, therfore, I am still deciding what to do, but, leaning towards taking as many pics with bride and bridesmaids, groom and groomsman and families prior. Then taking the b&g pics and group pics immediatly after the ceremony. Plan to be out of the church and on the way to reception by 8:30 pm, we will see if that happens...wishful thinking!

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