To see the groom before the ceremony or not...that is the question!

Re: To see the groom before the ceremony or not...that is the question!

• whitney37354 member

  

  March 2012

  We did all of our pictures before the ceremony.  I had been to a wedding where the bride & groom were still taking pictures in the sanctuary & people were already finished eating & leaving the reception hall.  DH was with me at the wedding & we decided to go ahead with pictures beforehand. 
  
  I do wish we had done a "first look" after we were dressed & ready for photos. However, we were both running around the church getting the music & reception area ready.  We met each other in a hallway---he was in his tux & I was in sweats with no makeup; my hair looked good though!

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• tinatune1

  

  March 2012

  We are doing "First Look" pics and wedding party pics before our ceremony. Our ceremony, cocktail hour and reception are all at the same location, so it made sense logistically. I've heard from many brides that they wished they had seen their FH before walking down the aisle because the moment that you do see each other is so emotional. I'd rather not have that moment in front of 150 people. We'll get to enjoy our cocktail hour too.

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• Avion22 member

  

  March 2012

  If your wedding is over at 3:30 and you're not getting announced until 5:30, that should be plenty of time.    I would recommend limmiting the number of different places you go for pictures though.  I would think that maybe a few at your ceremony location, then MAYBE one other place.    

  
  

  I don't understand why you'd want wedding pictures on the beach if you aren't getting married on the beach.  Same with random downtown shots.   If you really want pictures in these places, then maybe do your engagement pics there?   I think bridal shots anywhere other than your ceremony and/or reception location would be a little bit weird, like you're staging some kind of magazine shoot....

  
  

  
  

  

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• dogsandfrogs member

  

  March 2012

  I've been struggling with this as well.  I'm not a very traditional person, but not seeing each other before the ceremony was the one thing I have been insistant on from the start.  Recently though I've been weighing the idea of doing a "First Look".  On the one hand, I love the tradition of it and that we could share that moment with the people we've chosen to share our day with.  On the other hand, I also love the idea of being able to really see each other's faces when we get to see each other that day.  I still don't know what I'm going to do...
  
  If your concern is solely time, and if time weren't an issue you'd wait til you're walking down the aisle, I'd say you should look for ways to eliminate some of the time you'll need for pictures in your other locations like choosing just one place to go.  If you think you may regret not going the traditional route, I think you'll be happier in the long run if you limit the extra locations or pictures in favor of getting to take pictures with your new husband after the ceremony.

  My Blog: Wedding Planning Isn't For Sissies
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• Nindakay

  

  March 2012

  My sister and her DH did pictures before.  BUT they did have a private moment (is this what you are referring to as "first look").  They had the pianist play, and my sister walked down the isle just like she did in the ceremony.  No one else was in the room, so they were able to have a special moment to themselves before all the bustle of the wedding began.  I thought it was very sweet.  It was my idea so I'm a little prejudiced.

  

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• pattib5 member

  

  March 2012

  I definitely vote for a first look. It will save you so much time later in the evening when you'd rather be enjoying your cocktail hour, your guests, and the party you've so painstakingly planned.
  
  Doing a first look will allow you both to have this wonderful moment in private, tell each other how amazing you look, love on each other, and just breathe for a few moments before all the craziness resumes.
  
  And I honestly don't think that you'll lose anything from your walk down the aisle. Your walk down the aisle toward your future will be emotional regardless. But maybe with your first look done, you'll be able to reduce your nerves and really really take in the moment and savor it.
  
  I really believe in first looks. It'll give you not just one special moment, but two.

  

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• Nindakay

  

  March 2012

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_to-see-the-groom-before-the-ceremony-or-notthat-is-the-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:10Discussion:f70eee6e-5883-425e-a9b2-8920745df66ePost:7ffa5ae3-3ebe-4d90-858a-05e4b884352b">Re: To see the groom before the ceremony or not...that is the question!</a>:
  [QUOTE]I definitely vote for a first look. It will save you so much time later in the evening when you'd rather be enjoying your cocktail hour, your guests, and the party you've so painstakingly planned. Doing a first look will allow you both to have this wonderful moment in private, tell each other how amazing you look, love on each other, and just breathe for a few moments before all the craziness resumes. And I honestly don't think that you'll lose anything from your walk down the aisle. Your walk down the aisle toward your future will be emotional regardless. But maybe with your first look done, you'll be able to reduce your nerves and really really take in the moment and savor it<strong>. I really believe in first looks. It'll give you not just one special moment, but two.
  </strong>Posted by pattib5[/QUOTE]
  
  Well put!

  

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• DeannaCW member

  

  March 2012

  We're not seeing each other until the ceremony, that was important to both of us.  What we're doing to save time is taking all our photos with family and WP at the church, then FI and I will go to one other location for some personal shots.  This way we don't have to waste time getting everyone to second location, as they'll be there already. Plus, the place we're going charges a small fee for professional photography, so the fewer people the better as well.  Then that place is only a (small) block and a half from reception, so we'll walk from there.  I think not seeing each other is always doable if you plan it well

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• br110492

  

  March 2012

  My FI and I are having our pictures done before the wedding.  We are getting married in the Catholic Church and we were originally supposed to be married at 1PM with the reception at 6:30PM.  Well, I am not a big fan of the big gap in time between the ceremony and the reception so the ceremony will be at 5:15PM and the reception will remain at 6:30PM.  This is not a problem because the venue where we will be having our reception is only five-ten minutes away from the church.  We will be doing our pictures around 3:00PM since the pictures areas are about 20-25 minutes away. 

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• prlove member

  

  March 2012

  My FH and I are planning to not see each other until the ceremony.  It is really old school tradition in my culture (Puerto Rican) to not see each other for a week up until the wedding.  It's a bit much, but I would like to incorporate some of my grandmas old school tradition in it.   Any last minute things needed that week will be divided up for each of us to handle seperately or delegate to someone responsible.  I will take pics before the ceremony while I am getting ready, with the moms, grandmas, and bridesmaids and he will do the same.  Pics together will be during cocktail hour and during the reception (our venue is indoor/outdoor and when we walk out the fountain and lake are literally right there). 

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