Opinions on first look photos???

We are doing a first look. It will be just FH, photographer, and myself. Trying to decide between the chapel or courtyard for this. Then we will do all bridal party pictures and bride groom pictures before the ceremony. Afterwards we will do all family photos. I am compiling a list to make it easier (and so the moms don't try to run everything). Love them to pieces but they both like to control everything. My side is small should only take 5-10 min for pictures with them. FH's family is large like immediate family is 50 people. But on the plus side family pics with them should only take 10-15 min. We have had 4 weddings in the family in the last 1 1/2 years so we have family pics down to a tee on that side. So when our guests leave we should only be 30 min behind them max ceremony is at 2 we have the chapel till 330 that day.

FH is finally on board with this. We are having a first look to just make sure we get a good amount of pics of just us and we are not rushing to take pictures after ceremony. Our ceremony is in the evening so there is a small window of sunlight there.

I'm very pro first look! We are having one because I want to do majority of photos before the ceremony so I can be at my cocktail hour and I love the personal touch it gives.

We're doing first looks and wedding party photos before the ceremony. It saved time allowing you both to enjoy the most of your guests and the reception. It's also exciting the emotional aspect of seeing each other without all the guests. I like the personal aspect on a day you share with everyone.

We are not doing a 1st look. FH is very adamant on traditional, and while I'm not entirely opposed to doing one, I'd also prefer traditional. I booked two photographers (one for 8 hours and one for 3 hours) so that way I have one photographer that stays with me and one with him for the getting ready pictures. We are also doing family/bridesmaid/groomsmen pictures before the ceremony with our separate photographers. After the ceremony we go down to one photographer for the rest of the night and for our pictures together

Totally trying to decide on this too.. I just don't think I'll haven enough time in that one hour period to get all the pictures I want without being rushed... thinking I might do first look...

Gagh this is the one thing I keep going back and forth about as well. Both FH and I really value the traditional way, but damn, the benefits of doing the first look prior to the ceremony is tempting...

Highly recommend a first look!!!!

FH was against it a few months ago said there was no way! I casually brought it up yesterday and he said well that sounds fun let's do it!!!!! Yay I'm so excited I can't contain myself.

We did not do a first look and part of me regrets it because I was so nervous being in front of other people that when I walked to my husband during the ceremony my eyes were ON THE GROUND awkwardly and I was really worried up until that point (like, didn't enjoy getting ready because I was really worried I would trip or look silly.) I feel like I would have been more relaxed before the ceremony if I had just seen my husband before, but he was adamant about not doing a first look (that was one thing he was adamant about.....) Ehhh, just rambling and offering my experience though I say do whatever makes YOU happy.

We did a first look & I am so glad we did. It was very special & didn't take away from the moment our eyes locked walking down the aisle. We also got double the photos be sure of it.

My husband was addiment he not see me until I walked down the isle, so we decided to do "secret" first look pics before the ceremony.

We are going semi-traditional... we'll see each other that morning (we're dropping off our suitcases at the hotel together and going to the venue early to see if all's going well but he'll see me with my dress when I'm walking down the aisle. After the ceremony we'll do some pics just the two of us before the reception

Love the first look! We are also doing first look to enjoy cocktail hour with guests and to capture all the photos we want without rushing.

Team first look. We got some amazing pictures because we went out if our way to do so. .

Some call it a tradition, I call it a superstition.

So, my FH is super against first looks - as in the only thing besides having a black dress he told me no about. Luckily, our reception is at the same place as our ceremony (two separate buildings, but within two minutes walking distance) so we will do all of the family and BP before the ceremony and the ones of us and families together after.

I am having the hardest time with this decision.... But I think that we will do something like Private User above did..... see each other without actually SEEING each other!

My FH dosent want to see me until Im walking down the aisle. We want to go to the cemetary with our BP and have pics taken out there at my moms grave, But found a place an hr away where we r doscussing having the wedding. So unsure if we are going to do those photos, or if we are going to change the location. We still have awhile to decide. But if we do first look we could always do those photos early before we go to the location of our wedding. Never had heard of a first look, so this is an idea. Thank you

I am in this exact boat right now (9 months as of two days ago)! What did you guys end up doing?!