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i'm having a hard time deciding whether or not to do the first look picture session with fi before the wedding! i can see the pros and cons... but honestly, i think it would calm me down SO much if we do it... what did you do? if you did a first look, do you regret it? if yes, why?
I think it's like you said that there are pros and cons but remember that whether you walk out of the room you got dressed in or walk down the aisle just have the photographer there to capture the moment he sees you. It will be special regardless of who else is there.
We are planning a first look, and I think if anything it will make us (particularly me) feel less stressed when I'm walking down the aisle! Plus you get sweet, private pictures of the two of you instead of having everyone witness your first look at the bride/groom. I feel like every Bee that blogs about it talks about what a great idea it is, both for nerves and for picture purposes.
We absolutely did not regret our first look. We actually had 2 hours with each other to take pictures, just the two of us, and it was soooo nice to be away from everyone revelling in our wedding day together.
I haven't done one yet but we made the decision to go ahead and do a 1st look. We are really excited about it and it are going to make sure it is just between us (with the videographer and photographer of course).
We did photos before our ceremony, so first look was the way we were going. And I have to tell you, it was amazing.
I'm so glad we did it because the excitement and anticipation I felt all morning until that very moment of walking down the path to him was beyond intense! I'll never forget it...and he cried.
I have some photos here but the video (abuot 1-2 min. into it) you'll see our first look.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKbE5HW0QAY
I also want to add that I was equally as excited to see him waiting for me at the end of the aisle for our ceremony as well even though we had just seen each other 30 minutes prior.
I was debating it because I want things to be traditional in that he won't see me until I walk down the aisle. I am a super nervous person when it comes to being center of attention. Plus my Father is my heart and I know it's going to be super emotional when he gives me away. I think the first look will really help me through these things. I spoke to my girlfriend that was married last summer and she said it really helped her relax before the ceremony and she reccommends it. That's all she had to say and I was SOLD!
@stephinPA: Oh my goodness that video was so sweet I almost cried =)
We did a first look and don't regret it one bit. Everything about it was so perfect, and we felt so much more relaxed during the ceremony. And let me tell you, the reaction on DH's face at the first look made it all worth while. He wouldn't have reacted that way if it had been during the ceremony. He would have held back his reaction during the ceremony, because he took the ceremony VERY seriously.
His expression for the first look:
His expression for the ceremony:
Both of them convey utter love for me, but in different contexts... I love both looks, and I'm so glad I got both of them in pictures.
I didn't do a first look but I have not heard of a bride who regretted doing one! That alone says something!
This is a personal choice. Some people want to have the first look pictures where they sneak up on their guy and he doesnt see them coming. But personally After all the work I'm going through now to choose the perfect wedding outfit I want the first time he sees me to be absolutely perfect. Also part of the magic of the walking down the aisle is the anticipation build up. Personally if he has already seen you for a first look you might as well just walk down the aisle together.
All the couples who choose to do a first look say that it was marvelous and that it didnt affect them walking down the aisle, but theres no way that the excitement and buildup is the same as brides who didnt see their groom till they walked down the aisle
I did not do one, but kind of wish I did (mostly b/c I see Bees on here with amazing pics & it would of been nice to have that special moment just the two of us.)
But I can't help that think that walking down the aisle and seeing him see me for the first time just wouldn't of been the same. Plus this is what he wanted too :)
We're going to wake up together, get ready together, drive to the venue together, and greet guests before the ceremony together. I wouldn't have it any other way. I want my best friend with me every step of the way :)
@bells: I totally agree. I LOVED seeing him for the first time as I walked down the aisle. The facial expressions he made were priceless. And he felt the same way. We had absolutely no desire to do a first look, even though it would get the pictures taken care of and allow more time after the ceremony. I loved how pumped and excited I was before the doors opened and I looked down and saw him for the first time. I still remember it like it was a second ago!
A first look is a very personal decision. It has pros and cons and is right for some and not for others. For me it wasn't right, but for others it is great. It helps alleviate nerves, saves time, etc. That is beneficial for many!
thanks ladies! you've been so helpful so far! lots to think about... i'm definitely a nervous-by-nature person and i think seeing him before will capture some butterflies that are sure to be flying around in my gut... but at the same time, i'd like for him to see me for the first time walking down the aisle! gahhh! maybe i'll just decide the day of - depending on how i'm feeling 
I was hesitant on a first look in the beginning but I'm so happy that we did it. It was such a special moment for us.
I think the excitement and anticipation is definitely still there. We can't wait to see eachother all fancied up. We'll probably stay up the night before talking about it and trying to get our nerves settled.
Plus, FH IS walking me down the aisle! Who cares if he sees me beforehand?
My Fi and I decide not to because he said hes always dreamed of seeing his bride at the end of the aisle and just locking eyes til we met up in front of the JP Its something really special to him and hes not a feeling expresser type of guy (thats my term for it) so I agreed whole heartly :)
we are also going the route of the first look so that we can have photos taken before the ceremony to make it easier on all of our guests we are going to have a early evening wedding and head straight to dinner. our wedding is on a friday.
I want the first look to be uber special. so we are still trying to figure out where we are going to meet and how each of us will get there ect.
I've kind of left it up to FI. I love both ideas, but he's given me most of the decisions in the wedding, and this is something that I want him to decide. I think the first time he asked me he said, whatever you want dear, haha so that doesn't help, but I'll ask him in a few months again.
@stephinPA: I loved your video, I'm crying!! So beautiful!
My FI feels the same way and I respect it.
I did a first look and loved it! I would do it again a million times over. I had to see him before anyway to sign the ketubah, so it made sense for us to do a first look, and I'm so glad we did. Like you said, it calmed me down so much to be able to see him and spend time with him, and I hate being center of attention so it was great to have that moment just the two of us (and the photographer of course). I think that if I waited to see him as I went down the aisle, I would be upset that I had to wait so long to hug and kiss him, we'd have to wait the whole ceremony! And some of my favorite photos came from our first look.
we did a first look and i'm so glad we did. we had more time with each other on the day of, as well as our family and friends. we got to see each other for the first time in a private moment between us (and our photogs) instead of our in front of everyone. i was getting really antsy before we did our first look and the only way i calmed down was to see DH! it definitely didn't ruin the "walking down the aisle" moment as i was able to present and in the moment more because the anxiety i was feeling before was gone and i got to look DH in the eye without completely sobbing in front of everyone (even though i still cried during vows).
we signed our ketubah before the ceremony anyway and did all our formal pics, so we did one, and it was great! i still loved the walk down the aisle
I loved our first look before our ceremony. I never got the tradition of waiting till you walk down the aisle...then again I don't get most traditions. Because a ton of people before you did it that way, so you must too? Whatever. Our ceremony was still special/romantic and everything we wanted.
@crayfish: We walked down the aisle together too! But we eloped, so everything was a little more relaxed than it would have been otherwise.
my preferance is to do the 1st look. I suspect he'd prefer it to, he is very private and I think he'd appeciate having that our time before the ceremony rather than infront of everyone. But to be honest, I haven't brought up the topic to him yet. I'll bring up once book a photographer.
I loved our first look! It was such a special and private moment! Plus, we got to ride on a golf cart to take pictures so it was awesome! Walking down the aisle was still very special but I was a LOT less nervous and could relax and enjoy more :)
@Jenn23: Everything you just said in that one paragraph sums up why I want to wait to see each other! It makes me want to tear up just thinking about it!
I feel like that is one moment that I (and FI) have always said will be so special. The pictures will take longer after the ceremony, but we're planning on letting our guests start their dinner while waiting. That way everyone will be seated for our entrance as well!
I've been thinking and Im not sure how the first look is that different than walking down the aisle, aside from tradition. Is it that having other people watch makes it more special? Does the walking down the aidle specifically make your FI react differently? I would imagine the he's gonna react is the way he's gonna react, period, no matter where he is?
I really like and always preferred the down the aisle look but Im doing a first look b/c for the amount of money im paying for pictures I want as many pictures taken as humanly possible without having it be squeezed into a 45 minute window after the ceremony, most of which im sure will be spent herding up people.
I did not regret it at all. We got alone time before the wedding (which you don't get later) and the walk down the aisle was so special. All I saw was him.
Meeting beforehand for pictures made my day go so much smoother than it would have otherwise! I was able to enjoy my cocktail hour and have additional time to spend with all my guests that traveled to be with us. In my head I had a vision of church doors swinging open, the coridor filling with light and my fiance seeing me for the first time, but the reality was that I wasn't married in a church and that vision simply wouldn't exist for me. My practical brain took over. The walk down the aisle was still special and meaningful. For me, it was what was best and I didn't really follow many "traditional" things to begin with (ie: was already living together, saw him that morning accidentally when we were getting ready etc)
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