First look vs no first look

View Quoted Comment Yes the pictures are adorable!!! When is your wedding?!

I didn’t do a first look and I don’t wish I did but I can see the benefits of it. I wished I was part of the cocktail hour, at least part of it mostly to see the details we worked on, to hear the saxophonist playing. See, I had a destination wedding and I had time with all of our guest prior to the wedding so it wasn’t the lack of time I had to spend with them. It was that I wanted to be part of it all. However I really enjoyed the nerves and excitement of walking down the aisle and seeing him for the first time. I liked taking our pictures after as truly allowing us to relax and enjoy each other as husband and wife. That little time we got alone while shooting was precious once all guest and bridal party were doing their thing. I wouldn’t change it!

View Quoted Comment We’re getting married April 11. What about you?

View Quoted Comment March 27! Only 2 weeks apart so exciting! As of tomorrow we are 121 days out!

View Quoted Comment Congrats!!! That’s so exciting!

Did it. Loved it! Favorite photos, calmed jitters before ceremony, did not take away from ceremony, more time with guests during cocktail hour.

View Quoted Comment Great! Thanks

I was vehemently opposed to a first look. I wanted the first time she saw me to be during that walk. I was heartbroken when I realized I hadn’t accounted for daylight savings in my timeline. Our wedding was outdoors and we wanted to do pictures before the sunset. I was annoyed but I accepted it. I am SOOOOOOO happy things worked out the way they did. That intimate moment away from our friends and family was irreplaceable; As long as I live I will never forget it. It was so emotional and really removed a lot of the pre ceremony anxiety. BONUS: we got all our party and family pics done before the wedding so we were able to greet and thank guests during cocktail hour leaving the ceremony clear for us to just enjoy!

We didn't have a first look, and we're quite happy with that decision.

Now, we also had a small park right next to the venue, so we didn't need to budget time to get to it, so it helps if you you can take pictures close by.

Like you, we wanted the first time we saw each other to be as I walked down the aisle.

I was mixed up about it for a while, I definitely didn’t want a first look. But I wanted to see him, just us before everyone else saw us.. for anxiety reasons and just to have some alone time, so I was in between. I thought it was take away from the big moment. But I decided to do it. And I don’t regret it at all. He tested up so much when he saw me, we got some photos too, it relieved a lot of stress for the both of us and he told me how perfect the dress was on me. And when I walked through the doors, I saw him tear up again and smile just as big. He cried more the second time, the music, our family, the preacher, and my dad walking me down the aisle, it was it’s on kind of special, nothing was taken away. I say talk it over with him, then decide.

We did one and we’re glad. We got to see each other, calm some nerves and have some time alone and get a lot of the pictures we wanted together done so we could go to cocktail hour. And we didn’t have avoid each other in the venue before the ceremony which was nice. I don’t think it ruined the “walking down the aisle” moment.

I got married 3 days ago and he didn’t see me til I walked down the aisle. It was honestly fun sneaking around, we had plenty of picture time after the ceremony, and he said he cried at first from just the anticipation and when I finally came out he couldn’t believe how beautiful I looked. It was perfect.

My FH and I are planning on having one because we want one. We want to have a special moment between the two of us (with only our photographer there) when he sees me in my dress for the first time.

We also are going to use that time to take a majority of our photos before the ceremony with our bridal party and parents b/c we opted not to have a cocktail hour.

We are doing one for much of the same reasons as everyone else. We want to get the reception started ASAP. We are even considering a cocktail half-hour so that we get more time on the dance floor :-).

We did a first look, and I'd highly recommend it. It was nice getting to spend a little more time with my husband before the wedding, and we got some great first look shots of the two of us in the barrel room of the distillery where we had our wedding. Also, our photographer had us budget 2 hours for photos (which included a little time to get everyone there and ready, the first look, posed photos with the wedding party and families, outdoor pictures of the two of us, and pictures with our dog), and I can't imagine fitting in all the photos I wanted in the time span of a reasonable cocktail hour. Which brings me to my last point - by doing the first look, we actually got to enjoy our cocktail hour. Sure, my first 10 or 15 minutes consisted of my mom and MOH bustling my dress, but FH was mingling and hanging out the whole time. If a first look is on the table, I'd highly recommend it.

My parents did a first look before it was cool and loved it!! They wouldn't change it and don't regret doing it. I've always wanted to do a first look and I had to bring my fiance around to it, but now he is excited for it. The way I explained it to him is picture this; we don't do a first look, so the first time you see me will be when I walk down the aisle. After I walk down the aisle, the ceremony starts and you don't get to tell me how beautiful I look or how you felt when you first saw me. Then the ceremony is over and we go straight into receiving line and pictures. Then we go to the reception for 4 hours. Then we head back to the hotel. That is when we get our first time alone since you first saw me in my dress 7 hours earlier. Now, is when you get to tell me those feelings of when you first saw me 7 hours ago instead of doing a first look and getting to tell me right then. My fiance was like, "ok I definitely want to do it!!!"

I think the first look can be a very special moment that the two of you get alone because you won't be alone much after the ceremony until you get back to the room. You get to tell each other how you feel about how the other looks right then! And yes, it saves time because then you can take a lot of pictures beforehand.

I have a couple of videos from my videographer that shows the couple's reactions at the first look if you would like to see them. Just let me know and I can send the links.

I am going to have to disagree with PPs here. I think the first look moment is so raw, intimate and beautiful. It is not about saving time for us, it is about having that amazing beautiful moment just for us without everyone staring at us. We are both so excited for our first look and will treasure that moment forever

View Quoted Comment I would love to see that actually!!! If you wouldn’t mind

View Quoted Comment That’s a great point. What does PPs mean?

View Quoted Comment Just means previous posters