Post # 1
Member
27 posts
Newbee
Traditionally, the bride is usually in a secluded room or hotel while she gets ready with her bridesmaids. This sounds like fun except we are having a destination wedding and most of our guests will be at the hotel where I’m getting ready. I’m kinda jealous that my fiancee can walk around the hotel and hang out with everyone while I’m trapped in a room in fear of someone seeing me before they’re “supposed” to.
Also did anyone see their groom before the ceremony? I don’t mean a first look type of thing; something like a walk in the morning or breakfast just the two of you. I like the idea of having a private moment before the madness begins. I’m sure we’ll both be nervous and feeling all sorts of emotions so I think it would be nice just to be around each other and see what he’s feeling. However, I also really like the tradition of the groom not seeing the bride until right before they are husband and wife.
So what do you think? Did you see your groom or any other guests (besides bridal party) before the ceremony?
Post # 2
Member
294 posts
Helper bee
i didnt see the groom that morning…but i saw the groomsmen (they came to deliver my gift from the groom), and a few family members came back to see me before the ceremony…and a few very special friends came back to see me before. But really, between the 7 bridesmaids, my mom, the wedding coordinator, the hair stylist, the makeup artist, the photographers….it was full of excitement. I didnt even have time to think about what anyone else was up to, or wishing i could see somebody else.
Post # 3
Member
7272 posts
Busy Beekeeper
I saw close family and friends before the ceremony and I loved it. It gave me a chance to see them and chat before the madness started.
I saw my husband during the first look but not before that. If we had time we probably would have grabbed breakfast or something but we were rushing around most of the morning.
Post # 4
Member
758 posts
Busy bee
- Wedding: October 2014 - Our Backyard/Steakhouse
Raine90: It’s only tradition to keep everyone separate based on the days of ol’ and arranged marriages. It’s hard to run away from the bride/groom when you haven’t seen them :).
We are doing first look photos because I know that we won’t have any time to ourselves that day…so it’s a nice way for us to connect by ourselves. Our bridal party will join us for pics too and then we will all head to the ceremony 100% relaxed and excited.
Post # 5
Member
2104 posts
Buzzing bee
I am not concerned about everyone else, but I don’t want to see the groom… I just want to see the look on his face when he sees me walk down the aisle. But you can do whatever you want!
Post # 6
Member
1032 posts
Bumble bee
My husband and I had to set up everything the morning-of, because it was raining all week and we had no other chance to do it.
So we saw eachother all morning, it was wonderful. Every 10 mins or so, we’d stop what we were doing, and kiss, and get all giggly and say “today is the day!!” or something like that.
Then once we started getting dressed, we went into separate rooms (my aunts B&B is where the wedding was taking place) and we didnt see each other again until we did first-looks.
My husband cried! Oh man, this is gonna sound bad but, I was so happy he cried. He *NEVER* cries. It was wonderful!! He was so happy, and I was so happy. It was just wonderful.
Sorry for the long-winded answer 🙂
TLDR: I just hid from guests arriving, but not from my husband
Post # 7
Member
758 posts
Busy bee
- Wedding: October 2014 - Our Backyard/Steakhouse
we were unsure about doing a first look…until I found this article, and then I was sold 🙂
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Post # 8
Member
1725 posts
Bumble bee
- Wedding: December 2014 - 13th ~ TN
Raine90: We are doing pictures before hand, so yeah we will see each other.
Post # 9
Member
621 posts
Busy bee
FH and I are spending the night before the weding together so I will see him when I wake, and we will be going to have breakfast together also. We are doing a first look so he will see me before the ceremony in my dress, as will the whole wedding party and our families who will be at the ceremony before it begins.
I’m hoping guests don’t see me before the ceremony, I guess it depends if we have some really early birds since we will be done taking pictures an hour+ before the ceremony starts.
A family friend is getting married the week before me and she is having her wedding backwards. Started with the reception at around 6pm and the ceremony at 10pm
Post # 10
Member
1772 posts
Buzzing bee
The groom and groomsmen will be off watching a game so I get full run of our venue/hotel for a while That day. I have no problem w everybody (but him) seeing me while I hang out swimming before I start getting ready and I’ve invited a bunch of gfs to hang out if they want. I’ll start getting ready before the guys get back and I’ll have bridesmaids, some other gfs, and some family and family friends around but most ppl won’t see me done up until I walk down the aisle. I won’t take any formal pics before the wedding because all guests and my Fiance would see me (pics would be Outside visible to all wedding guests and take away a bit of the moment of seeing me in my dress done up).
Post # 11
Member
9549 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
I don’t believe any of that bad luck stuff. And I cared more about visiting with my friends and family than making some grand entrance to gasps. So I saw all kinds of people. I woke up and had breakfast with my husband, where we ran into his aunt and uncle. Then we ran by the site and I pow-wowed with the DOC and saw some family and my bridesguy. Then I went back to the hotel and got ready with my bridesmaids. My cousins and step-mom and mother-in-law and some friends stopped by throughout the morning. Then first look and family photos. And then the bridal party went to a park for pictures and a little champagne (one of my favorite parts of the day). Then some late guests saw me going out to the ceremony space. So yeah. Lots of people. Wouldn’t have had it any other way!!!
Post # 12
Member
275 posts
Helper bee
I’ll be getting ready at my parents house and will go into hiding at the venue before people arrive. Not that I believe it’s bad luck per say… but I want the big reveil when I come into the ceremony. Maybe based in tradition but it’s all about the drama for me. 🙂
Post # 13
Member
2569 posts
Sugar bee
Raine90: None of our guests saw me, except a few who arrived late and were waiting with me before I walked down the aisle. I wouldn’t have minded if they had though, they all know what I look like and one white dress is the same as any other to most guests so I didn’t feel any motivation to maintain an element of surprise for them. But everyone in the wedding party saw me, all the parents, and the groom. We planned to have a first look just to calm nerves and separate after that but we just kept running into each other 🙂 Ultimately we gave up trying and all hung out together, I think some of my favorite parts of the day were those moments before the ceremony. Also to your point my girls and I would’ve been locked up in a tiny room for too long had we been adament about not seeing each other.
Post # 14
Member
27 posts
Newbee
LadyMoriarty: haha I’m actually hoping my fiance cries! He might think it’s embarassing but I think it would be adorable!
Pele: Yeah I think I want the big reveal too 😉
Thank you for all the responses! I love hearing about what other brides did/are going to do. I’m going to talk to my fiance about it and let him say the final word. As far as guests, I think it would be fun/nice to see people while having breakfast, but I don’t think I want anyone to see me in my dress. So I’ll probably just stay in my room to get ready and have close friends and family come to me if they want. As some of you mentioned, I may not even have anyone else on my mind because I’ll be busy getting ready. 🙂
Post # 15
Member
7679 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
Raine90: I’d never heard of this “get ready in a secluded room” until I joined weddingbee. Where I live, traditionally the bride gets ready at her home, with her family as well as her bridesmaids. That’s what’s happened at every wedding I’ve been in, including my own. And by “my family” that included a few of extended family who were staying with us. So pretty similar to what you are planning.
I saw Darling Husband in the morning (he had to get something for setting up), but not in my wedding dress.
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