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Im not doing it. There is soo much to do on the day already that I really dont see the point. The photographer is going to capture the first look when im walking down the aisle.... and then... hes going to have photos of us together afterwards so I really dont see the point. It sounds romantic, but Id honestly think I would have interferance from bridal party them wanting to come look!
But each to their own!
We're doing a first look! I want to EAT and get right into having fun after the ceremony I don't want to be stuck taking pictures forever while our guests are all having fun, but that's just me :)
So, we're going to do the majority of the photos (us and bp) before the ceremony and then just do a few more with family and such. I've seen tons of romantic "first look" photos that helped me make my decision. I think it will be a nice picture to have forever :)
We are doing just the bridal party pictures first. Then after the wedding we will get 1 big group photo of all of us. Then us, our parents, and me with the men, him with the ladies, grandparents and then we will be done. Hopefully they can get the special guests (aunts, uncles, and grandparents) before the wedding too.
We are looking forward to seeing each other for the first time that year when I walk down the aisle.
We're not doing it. Sounds cheesy but I'm really looking forward to that moment when the music's playing and I see my fella all cute in his suit and he sees me as I'm walking down the aisle. Can't WAIT for that moment! Just seems that it'd be a bit underwhelming to do it any other way! :)
I would do it! It makes you less nervous as you walk down the aisle, and plus you get to see each other without the whole wedding guest list there! It also makes for great pics, especially if you don't want to miss the party and won't have a cocktail hour
We did the first look, and it was the best part of the day. There were many pros to it:
* The first "look" is more intimate and less overwhelming when done alone before the ceremony, instead of in front of everyone during the ceremony.
* Helped calm our nerves & butterflies
* Much more time (and better) photo ops
* It was our moment alone together - which you won't get, once the ceremony and reception are under way
We're doing it for many of the same reasons PG said, plus it'll give me some pictures of me without my makeup being a big hysterical mess cause of the ceremony!
We're doing a first look!
A first look makes the most sense for our wedding because our ceremony and reception will be in the same location in the late afternoon so taking a ton of pictures after the ceremony makes no sense. I have also always hated when the dinner is delayed an hour or something because the bridal couple is taking a million pictures, so we won't be doing that to our guests.
I also like that the first look will provide us with a few moments by ourselves before the ceremony. I know that it will be really special and we can have a few moments to ourselves.
I am honestly looking forward to walking down the aisle as well. I don't think the first look will take away from the moment when I walk down the aisle because I know that we will both be emotional and looking at eachother then too!
I wish we had done one. We didn't want to see each other before the ceremony. I think it would have helped us in our pictures since their would have been less people around to watch and make us nervous. Also we would have been able to get outside pictures which we couldn't do after the ceremony since it had started to pour.
Absolutely!!
For several reasons.. In order of importance to me..
1. I really want that special, intimate moment that you just can't have while everyone is staring at you walking down the aisle.
2. I am super-emotional and this will get some jitters out beforehand. Hopefully I'll cry a little less :)
3. Photography reasons.
we're doing it. we're jewish, so we have a ketubah signing ceremony before the actual ceremony so we will be seeing each other anyway, so i figured why not get pictures before anyway if we'll be seeing each other? and after thinking about it, i'm so glad we are! not only for extra picture time (i was just in my friend's wedding and we were sooo rushed for pictures, she barely got any of us girls and was very upset about that), but i don't want to see him for the first time in front of everybody. i want to be able to actually talk to him and spend time with him, and i know it will help calm the nerves. the plan is to not see him until then... but we'll see if i can even deal with that.
I did a First Look and am very glad we did!
From a logistics stand point, it just makes sense. Getting the portraits done earlier meant my makeup was fresher and my hair was perfect. Also, we had an evening ceremony so we knew we didn't want to rush through pictures to get to cocktail hour and dinner. And we knew our bridal party and families would also be pretty excited for cocktail hour, so having all the portraits done early meant they were able to enjoy the celebration more.
Our photogs made sure our First Look was private and very special and I don't think it at all took away from the experience of first look down the aisle. I have pictures of both and can tell you the reactions and the emotions were just as amazing! If anything, I'd say having First Look done made the aisle-moment even better because I was less stressed and was just ready to take in the moment and enjoy it.
We did it, and like Miss Pinot said, it was the best part of our day. There was no rushing for photos since we had 3 hours before the ceremony, we got to enjoy our full cocktail hour and spend more time with the guests, and it was the ONLY alone time we had together all day. Seriously, yo are NOT EVER ALONE on your wedding day.
Also - regardless of how much you see eachother prior to the ceremony, the moment when you see eachother from the ends of the aisle is overwhelmingly special. Nothing can take away the moment that you are about to be married. I dont think that moment was any less special for us, if anything it was more exciting because we had spent the whole day together waiting for that exact moment. I'd recommend it 1000 times over
We're definitely doing it. For me, the worst part of weddings is waiting for the bride and groom to finish their photos for the reception to start. One hour is not enough to get all the essential photos.
I know how nervous and excited I'm going to be that day so I'm hoping that seeing him beforehand will calm me down. I also just want that one intimate moment with him before the craziness begins.
Thanks Ladies. I think I'm definitely leaning towards having one. Mainly because I think it will be nice to have that time together, before everything gets crazy. And I'd like to be able to relax a bit at the cocktail hour.
For those of you that have done the first look, how much time before the ceremony did you allow for the pictures? Did you go to a different location than the ceremony site?
We're definitely doing it. Partly because we're not being very traditional anyways and it doesn't matter that much to me and FH (he just doesn't want to see me in my dress before the day - but before the ceremony is fine) and also because we want a moment to just relax and relish being almost-weds together! I'm really looking forward to seeing his face when I step out of the car! :)
We're not doing it...We've both always had the dream of the first time we see each other being when I walk down the aisle. I can't wait to see his face :D We are doing bridal pictures before the ceremony, and then the rest after. I don't want very many wedding party & family posed shots, I'd rather have the couple ones :)
i like the idea but my sweetheart is more traditional and would want to see me first the first time down the aisle.
We did it and I was a bit apprehensive, but I cannot emphasize ENOUGH how AMAZING our first look was. We got so many wonderful and genuine shots of the two of us together, and we got to fully experience our wedding together in totally joy and calm. Walking down the aisle was still the most emotionally vivid time of my entire life, but I'm afraid we both would have been overwhelmed if that were the first time we'd seen each other all day. I'm definitely a fan of the first look. (:
We're doing it and everyone is giving us SUCH good feedback about it! Even my flowergirl said she hates it when the bride "takes FOREVVVVERRR!" to get to the party!
I just want my pictures with him to be when we look the most fab!
We're not going to. I think we'll probably split our photos and just have the pictures we're both in left for after the ceremony. That way we get to have our first look during the ceremony, but we don't have much left to do after the ceremony.
We're doing a first look, for many reasons. First, I have heard from many brides that it does not take away from the "aisle" moment. Secondly, I want a private moment with my man before the craziness of the day begins. I also think that seeing Mr. Madtown before the ceremony will calm my nerves (and his!) We still have more than 7 months to go and I'm already imagining our first hug 
-I am so glad you brough up this talking point. I really want to have a first look based on logsitics.
1. Having our ceremony and recpt. in the same area, so no waiting time for the cocktail party!
2. Cool locations, we will be able to go to special spots from our past (college campus) for some cool pics we could not have otherwise.
3. We have been dating for 7 years and have gone to numerous formal events, etc. and I am always a wreck beforehand. But everytime I see him I feel so much better!
My female relatives think it is a terrible idea, my dad, fi, grandpa, think its great. It just makes sense. Good luck on your wedding, whatever you decide is best for you!
Funny, I was just talking about this with my mom. I used to be totally against it... but now the rational side of me is like "go take some cool pictures! have time to yourself!" Plus I'm going to be an emotional crazy mess and I'm hoping this will help!
Originally the idea seemed cheesy...but it has grown on me. We are definitely doing a "first look"! We decided it would be fun to see each other all prettied up alone rather than in front of all of our guests. We're also doing it because we want to do all of the family photos before the actual ceremony and reception so that the rest of the evening can just be FUN rather than having to pose for pictures or going to find my aunts or cousins etc to make sure that all family is included in the photos. So doing the first look allows us to spend a little bit of time with just the two of us (and I've seen lots of great photos from people who did first look!!) and then bring on all the family. Plus it makes it easier since we will be doing our ceremony and reception at the same location.
We are definitely doing a first look. We're having our ceremony and reception in the same place so it will allow us to get the pictures done before the ceremony so there's no wait to start the reception and Fi and I want that private moment together. I'm also hoping it will help us be calmer during the ceremony.
We're doing a 1st look as well. Like Miss Salsa our ceremony and reception are at the same place. Like Miss Pinot Grigio there are many pros. Its our alone time with no interruptions - a quiet time we can soak in every intimate detail with just us....
My vote for you is - - - YES do it, you won't regret it :)
@rachel - we did 3 hours of photos prior to the ceremony, but in those 3 hours we did about an hour and half of just husband and me, the rest was BP and some family.
Thanks for this post, I have been toying with the idea of what we should do. I think we are going to do it too!!
we are not but reading all these posts kinda makes me want to.
We are also doing a first look!! I'll be honest, I wasn't too psyched on the idea at first, but the more we thought about it, the more excited and on-board we were with it!
I vote yes!! But do what you're comfortable with. One of the biggest deciding factors for me was that my FH said, "It'll still be just as amazing and as special seeing you come down the aisle". SOLD!!! Done and done ;]
I am so in favor of it and so is FI but mama... not so much! I sent her this board so she could see all the good feedback from you ladies and now she's more on board... THANKS BEES! :)
We did a first look and I loved it. It gave us time to be together before the ceremony and enjoy it (since it's pretty much a whirlwind afterward and you WON'T have any time alone). Plus, it gave us time to get a lot of great pictures and we were able to keep the cocktail hour short and get to the dinner.
My FI was the same way as yours. Didn't want to see me until I was coming down the aisle but I explained to him that will give us more time with guests. And frankly we're dong the traditional bride pick up so he'll technically being seeing me early in the day already. Although not in my white dress until we do the "first look". We'll also have the tea ceremony to contend with when the guests are there.
So the combination of getting some pictures out of the way and a quiet moment alone is what sold it for us.
I want to do a first look, but my FI is more traditional and really wants to wait until I'm walking down the aisle.
I want to do a first look because I'm really emotional, and I tear up and get all snotty REAL QUICK. I just read the previous posts and seriously got a little teary at least 3 times. I'm just a sucker for love I guess. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to ruin my wedding haha :/
We didn't do it, walking down the aisle was the most exciting moment of my life! Seeing him standing there....undescribable!
We're doing a first look and all of our photos before the ceremony so that we can enjoy the party with the rest of the guests immediately afterwards.
Since we live together first look pictures will be tough. I plan to sneak away before I get the dress on and then meet him in the lobby once I'm fully decked out.
I liked this thread, good idea! I'm doing first look cuz I want to get photos out of the way (esp before I sweat off my make-up...I'm sure I will be freakin) plus I wanna see my man before the bit ceremony. I have really bad anxiety and I'll need to see him!!
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At first my FI said he didn't want to do a first look, but then we talked about how it might be nice to have that time to spend together, just the two of us (and the photog) before the craziness of the wedding starts. Ideally I'd like to do pics in a couple different settings, so maybe doing a first look could get some of those out of the way. But on the other hand, I love the idea of him seeing me for the first time as I walk down the aisle.
Have you done or are you doing a first look? What's your reasoning?