"first look" ideas, please?

lilacdust · May 2011

We are bouncing back and forth the idea of having the ceremony outdoors at the reception location. The reception site we've chosen will start cocktail hour directly after the ceremony, so we'd have to do pictures beforehand so our guests aren't sitting around with nothing to do. I am more traditional and want us both to arrive to the ceremony seperately so that the first time he sees me in my dress is when I walk down the aisle in the church, however, I do love the way I'm envisioning the outdoor wedding to look.

I'm wondering if anyone has encountered the same "predicament" and how it was handled. I'm sure if we do agree to have the ceremony on site, we'd have to have the photographer capture that first look. I'm just curious to hear what others have done, i.e. was it at the house, at a park, etc.

Magdala9 · May 2011

We talked it over with the photographer before the day of the wedding and staged the first look outside our venue (We had the same venue for ceremony and reception).

Tanq&Tonic · May 2011

We did our first look at the hotel where everyone was staying. One of the restaurants opened a private dining room with a view of the ocean and he waited for me there. I really wouldn't have done it any other way...we got to ride to the venue together and experience every minute of the rest of the day with each other.

Can you ask your site to start cocktail hour even 15 minutes after the ceremony? You could get a group shot and a few guest photos done in that time. We took portraits with all of our guests, 25 couples, about 15 minutes total.

brianabrad · May 2011

We are doing our first look at the college I work at because it has great restored buildings. See pics in bio under must take photos.

My photog suggested doing it on the stair case. Having FI at the bottom and me coming down to meet him but I think I prefer the idea of having FI in one of the parlors and then having him turn around so they can get a good picture of his face. I want a picture of the reaction.

I have heard of some people doing first looks inside the church.

teachermegs · May 2011

We did our first look where we were staying on the beach. He went to the venue to take his pictures and my dad drove me to the venue. We had a nice "private" first look without the guests.

Kris092988 · May 2011

We're doing our pictures during cocktail hour. And I've been to plenty of weddings like that. The drinks and hours douvers usually keep everyone occupied long enough until pictures are done.