Groom's First Look

KSlow · December 2014

I can't decide when to do the groom's first look...I know the tradition is for the groom to see you for the first time at the ceremony, but it's become a lot more common to do the first look before the ceremony. When weighing the pros and cons of both, I keep going back and forth. As for my fiancé, he doesn't have a preference and wants me to do it however I want. I would so appreciate to hear other brides' decisions on the first look and their opinions on why they chose to do it that way. Thanks in advance!!

thelastdreamer · December 2014

We did a first look and I'm so glad. It was wonderful to have that moment be between just the two of us and to get to actually say "you look great" etc. etc. We had so much more time for photos. Walking down the aisle was still incredibly moving and special.

jenijoyk · December 2014

We really wanted to not do a first look.... and then changed our mind a few weeks before the wedding and I am so glad that we did. Our DOC strongly suggested it when we were working on our photography timeline. Our ceremony and reception was all outdoors, but the sun went down really soon after our ceremony. Doing the first look let us take lots of pretty outdoor pictures while there was still light.

So that's why we decided to do it... but there were so many other good reasons that we realized afterwards! It was so much less stressful to see each other before the ceremony. It freed us up to do lots of group and couple photos before guests arrived. It allowed us to have the moment with just us (our DOC ran interference and kept everyone else away). It kept me from ugly-crying down the aisle, overcome with emotion (although the ceremony was still beautiful and emotional, but I got to spend it smiling intstead of crying, which I did during the first look). It allowed us to join our cocktail hour, which gave us more time to greet every single guest and it reduced the pressure of table visits later on. I could go on and on about how great of a decision this was for us.

We still separated before the ceremony. So we did something like

2:00 - bride/bridesmaids arrive at venue

2:30 - groom/groomsmen arrive at venue

2:45 - first look

3:00 - start wedding party photos

3:30 - start family photos, continue wedding party photos

4:15 - bride/bridesmaids go into the restaurant/bar to relax and drink a beer out of sight

4:30 - guests start arriving at venue, groom and groomsmen act as ushers and greeters

5:00 - bride/bridesmaids/parents of bride line up outside, out of sight

5:05 - procession starts

jenijoyk · December 2014

Also, the reason we did not want to do a first look earlier on was that we really wanted to have the special moment when I walked out. But after doing a first look, I realize now that we STILL had that moment. In fact, we kind of got to have that moment twice. Which is double as good.

Oh, but if you do a first look, make sure your photographer and videographer aren't total idiots standing BEHIND the groom. I've ranted about how completely awful my photographer and videographer were on a bunch of different threads, but one of their most amazing moves were setting up for the first look so that ALL our first look pictures are of my groom's back and nothing else. You don't see his face. You don't see me. Just a bunch of pictures of my husband's back. And few of my husband's back where you can see my arms because we're hugging/kissing and my arms are around him. SO RIDICULOUS.

kat1114 · December 2014

I didn't want to do one, and H really didn't want to do one. I have no regrets about our choice to not do a first look. I love that the first time he saw me was walking down the aisle. I don't feel like it rushed our schedule, and we had plenty of time to mingle with guests.

jenna8984 · December 2014

I absolutely loved doing the first look. And I totally agree with @jenijoyk that we still got that feeling at the aisle so it's like we got that special moment twice!

emmaaa · December 2014

FI and I are also doing a first look. We really want an intimate moment together before the ceremony. It will be nice to have that moment alone without all eyes on you.

Logistically speaking, it will also allow us to get all of our pictures done before the ceremony. That way after, you can go on to the reception!

climbingsingle · December 2014

We did a first look and I'm so happy we did. It was such a great, special moment for just the two of us. We then were able to take a bunch of posed shots by ourselves before our guests arrived.

littlemushroom · December 2014

We did a first look and I wouldn't change it for the world. It was amazing having that time with just us before the ceremony, some of my favorite photos are from our first look. My DH was really nervous about standing up in front if people at the ceremony, and being together the entire time before we started really helped him feel better. It was still just as special seeing him at the end of the aisle as my dad walked me down too.

Logistically, it was great getting most of the photos done before the ceremony too. We were able to enjoy some time during cocktail hour which was great, and all the family/bridal party was able to relax and enjoy it as well.

mrscomposer · December 2014

We loved our first look, because we figured that the first time we saw each other on our wedding day was a private moment, and just between the two of us.

That being said, we had access to the church before our guests started arriving, so we staged it like the ceremony - he was waiting at the front and I walked down the aisle to him. The only difference was that we were the only two people (three, with the photographer), in the sanctuary for the first part. As we were together at the front, our families and WP came in really quietly and were there when we turned around. It was actually a really amazing moment for me, because the first people I saw were his brother and two best friends, who were standing in the opposite aisle - it just felt like they were there guarding us in that special moment, and I felt so protected. It's just a little thing, but it's one of the memories I cherish most from the whole day.

KSlow · December 2014

Thanks so much for the help!!

photokitty · December 2014

I love first looks bc...

-I prefer seeing the reaction of the B&G in one photo. The groom will still be moved by the moment of you walking down the aisle, a first look won't change how he feels about you. He's not looking at the dress, he's excited to see you coming down the aisle to marry him - having seen you an hour before isn't going to change that emotion.

-It will save a LOT of time. You can go to cocktail hour and enjoy the yummy appetizers! You can spend more time talking to your guests, freeing yourself up to party on the dance floor more after dinner.

-You can have a comprehensive photo shoot with FI at multiple locations if you want.

-If calms your nerves and gives you some special time alone on an otherwise busy day.

-You can have the bridal party and family photos done just before the ceremony. Everyone can be there a little early and then your parents are free to greet the guests at cocktail hour and be good hosts.

DH & I went and took photos together for about 2.5 hours, just relaxing and having fun.

Then we reserved an hour for family photos. We did not have a wedding party, but have large families, so it was about the same as having a wedding party.

GL!

MissKittyDanger · February 2015

I'm doing the "first look" because we're both walking down the aisle. My dress is great and I look amazing, so I want him to be able to really take a look. Since he's walking just ahead of me, he won't really be able to look until the whole ceremony is over.

i'm all for the idea

BlueBirdMB · February 2015

I can't imagine squeezing photos in after the ceremony, so I think it's most practical to see each other before hand. We however, didn't do a "first look". We got ready together- he zipped my dress up and put on my bracelet. I helped with his tie. And it was good for us. It didn't take away from anything. Do what's right for you.

Groom's First Look

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