Wedding Blog
I’ve always dreamed about seeing my future husband for the first time on our wedding day as I walked down the aisle. That dream is turning out to be somewhat problematic because I want to be able to take pictures at a local park where I grew up, and some neat shots at Pike Place Market.
(Picture courtesy of Chris Sollart Photography)
I can’t do both in the time allotted without inconveniencing our guests–which I really don’t want to do. I know a lot of couples have a “first look” before the wedding, where the moment of the groom first seeing the bride is captured on film. I realize that this can be a great alternative in many ways. It gives you and the groom a few minutes alone, you get the exact moment captured on film and it helps work out the jitters. But it’s not how I have always envisioned it! I guess I’ll just have to weigh which is more important to me in the long run. Any advice?
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Perhaps you can consider a “day after” or “trash your dress” shoot. If you and your photog are available the day after your wedding, you can take pics anywhere you like without inconveniencing your guests! 
No advice really, I understand the dilema you are in. I just wanted to comment that though I’ve only been to Seattle once, I’ve always thought pictures there would be gorgeous! Good luck!
If you don’t want to do that, maybe you could do a before shoot with just you and your bridesmaids at one location and he and his groomsmen at the same location (just seperately so you don’t see one another). Sure, you won’t get to have the pictures together, but at least for the other photos you’ll get the backdrop you want!
Or you could add a cocktail hour to the reception giving your guests time to stand and mingle and talk. That’ll give you a good extra 30 minutes to an hour!
I was just there at Pikes Place on Sunday!!!! We flew to Seattle for the Monday Night Football game!
There was a couple there taking their E-Pics in Pikes. It was REALLY cute.
well, i opted to do the “first look” - our photographers and videographers captured the moment that we first saw each other…
… my husband was waiting for me along a pier, and i walked up to him from behind. i just got the clips of the video from the videographer as well as the photo proofs from the photographer, and the moment was priceless.
as much as i would’ve loved the “first sighting” to be as i was walking down the aisle, these pictures came out amazing. truly amazing. and we were actually able to interact with each other “in private” (well, not really, since all our wedding party and family was there looking on), and i feel like that was better than having to wait the agonizingly long time of walking down the aisle, and then not even being able to talk to each other freely because, well, there’s a wedding ceremony going on!
we were able to do all our family pictures and wedding party pictures before the ceremony, and they turned out so great… and there was no long wait in between the ceremony and reception - which i know all our guests appreciated. they wanted to get to that open bar as soon as possible!
oiii, i’m def in the same shoes as you! i really really super duper want THAT moment, but the more i think about it, the harder it will be… i’m still thinking about it tho. glad you posted about it! i’ll def let you know if i think of a work-around later.
ooo and i went to pike place market when i was visiting seattle. i fell in love with turkish delights that they were selling at this one store.
I think you have to determine whether the hard copy pictures or the experiene of walking down the aisle that way is more important to you…it’s so personal that I don’t have advice for you.
The way I make decisions (and was recently told that this was helpful to someone else so I will share) is that I ask myself which i could regret
Would you regret seeing him before, or would you regret not having the pictures?
We’re doing a first look and I haven’t thought twice–I wan tto be able to party after the ceremony!
Do the cocktail hour thing…but that would really be about an hour, wouldn’t it (LUC to PP, and back…)? But, you can’t beat a great pic in the market!
I was there on a busy Saturday in September and there was a bride and groom being dropped off, taking pics. I like the pp’s question: which would you regret more?
i love brooklynbride2007’s input…i was trying to figure this out as well..to see him before or as i walk down the aisle..
definitely do a “day after” shoot!! (which doesn’t have to actually be the day after)
we’re getting married just outside of manhattan but we want to make sure we get all our city shots as well since this is where we met, fell in love, and live… so about a week after the wedding we’re getting all dolled up again in full dress and suit gear and heading about town with our photographer for 2 to 3 hours of portraits.
we had it included in our photography package and the pictures will be incorporated into our album.
i’m happy we decided to do this… we can really let loose and not worry about getting dirty. i think the pictures will show a far more relaxed fun side b/c the wedding will be long gone by this point.
(ps: i love seattle… even more than i love ny!)
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Mrs. Strawberry, Seattle
Age and Occupation: 25, Radio DJ, Advertising Sales, Day of Wedding Coordinator
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Engineer
Engagement Date: 07/04/2006
Wedding Date: September 1, 2007
Venue: Lake Union Cafe, Seattle
About Me: I'm a Navy brat that has lived all over the world. I love reality shows that are in poor taste, going to new restaurants, and trying to be crafty. Emphasis on trying!
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