First look or wait until ceremony?

My fiance and I initially weren't going to do a first look, but after talking to our photographer, we've decided to do a first look, and we're super excited about it!! It'll allow us to get all pictures done before the ceremony so we can attend cocktail hour (and therefore enjoy the appetizers that we chose to provide), but it'll also do two other things: 1. It'll help calm my nerves before the ceremony. 2. It'll give us a few moments to be together, since the rest of the day will be spent socializing with guests. It's totally a personal decision though - if you're not crazy about the first look, you could still do pictures of just you and your side of the wedding party and/or you with your family, and then separately just your partner with their side of the wedding party and/or them and their family. That would help save a little bit of time after the ceremony, since you'll just have the pictures remaining that include you both.

I'm doing a first look. It's somewhat due to pictures- not really due to time constraint or wanting more photos, but more so due to the fact that my wedding is in my parent's backyard and it's not super picturesque. I wanted pictures downtown in my city, which is where I'm getting ready. We won't be going back downtown until after the wedding, so that's why I'm doing to first look there before the ceremony. I do think it will still be very emotional and authentic, but I know that some people need a bit more umph to get to that emotional state. I don't think my first look will be anti-climactic. I'm really looking forward to it.

View Quoted Comment I didn’t mean all first looks are anti-climactic! Just that I don’t think my fiancé will be as emotional with just me and him and the photographer; he needs a bit more oomph to pull those tears out!

We did a first look cus it was just better logistically for photos

Someone just posted the same subject a few hours ago. Here is a link to that discussion. Maybe some of the answers will be helpful :-)


https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/when-did-you-see-your-spouse-on-your-wedding-day/f464086832e73697.html

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Ah I didn't think that's what you meant! Just that for me, personally, I didn't think it would be

I really think this comes down to what you prioritise more - that 'moment' or more photo time/less running around.

I always knew I wanted that special moment walking down the aisle but recently decided we will do a first look and take pictures before the ceremony. For me it came down to how much more practical it would be and I also realised it would mean we would be much less nervous walking down the aisle.

This is definitely an individual decision. For us we weren’t going to do a first look but wanted to get some pictures out of the way so we could enjoy cocktail hour with our guests. On the end it was amazing. We got to spend that time together and get rid of some of the nerves and he was still very emotional. In fact, my favorite picture from our day was when he saw me. It can still be very special but it’s something you both have to think about.

We are not going to do a first look because we wanted to keep that special moment for walking down the aisle. Instead, We wrote each other a short little note & we are going to have our videographer tape us individually while we read it out loud. I am going to do a first look with my Dad, though

First look 100%. Gets nerves out of the way and can photos before the ceremony so you can go straight to the cocktail hour. Everyone we know who has done this said the magic is still there when you walk down the aisle.

View Quoted Comment I like the idea of separate wedding party pictures before and then just worrying about group pictures after—definitely something to think about. Thanks!

I agree with you. My FH is such a hard shell. And I really want that moment when we see each other at the ceremony. I'm having a cocktail hour directly after ceremony to keep our guest occupied.

We didn't do one and I wish we would have!!! It would have been so nice to have a little time just the two of us before the craziness of the day started. I also think it would have made the walk down the aisle more exciting and fun and less nerve-wracking and tense.

I would be okay with a first look, but my fiancé has very few things that he really really wants for our wedding and not seeing me until I walk down the aisle is one of them. I think the plan is to have groomsman and bridesmaid group photos taken before the ceremony and then we'll do larger group photos after during cocktail hour.

We had the same dilemma and decided on doing a first touch where we stand back to back and hold hands while reading a letter. Still a private moment (minus photographer lol) and will help relieve some stress while preserving that walking down the aisle moment.

We’re not going to see each other until I walk down the aisle (his choice). I personally would rather us see each other and take pictures beforehand.

I'm honestly facing this same dilemma. On one hand, the first look WOULD save time for photos later, but at the same time, I know that the first look will never compare to the look on his face if he doesn't see me until I come down the aisle. His mother also thinks we should wait.

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A word of caution, because this really bugs me - don't heap expectations on what his reaction will be.

This whole social media age has completely warped this moment, to where everyone thinks a groom needs to cry or have some massive outward emotion to seeing his bride (first look or otherwise).

I will tell you right now, I filmed over a hundred weddings when I worked with my husband as a videographer - some of the most dramatic grooms were divorced from their brides a year later, and some of the most stone-faced grooms are still happily married and deeply in love over five years later. Let go of expectations of how he will react.

We're not doing a first look! I was fine either way but my fiance really wanted to have that moment of seeing me walk down the aisle for the first time in my dress

I'm doing a first look.