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I refused to do a first look out of convenience, and he conceded. He even suggested we not have our photographer there if I wanted it to be more personal and just us.
I’m still just torn. It would be nice to have that special moment together beforehand, but I wonder if it will take away some of the anticipation and excitement of me walking down the aisle. With our timeline, we’d have to do the first look right before the ceremony start time, and it would have to be at the church which wouldn’t leave us a lot of options for great first look settings. I don’t want to risk guests seeing me beforehand, so we’d have to be sneaky and find a private place that would look nice (should we choose to photograph it… which, knowing us, we probably would do).
I wish I could have my cake and eat it too… experience the first look, but also experience Mr. S and I seeing each other for the first time that day as I walk down the aisle.
Wasn’t Mr. & Mrs. Cupcake’s first look just lovely?
Source: Weddingbee
All you married ladies out there, how did you make your decision about the first look? For those of you still planning, what factors are helping you make your decision?
We’ve had to schedule our photos before the ceremony, so I’m working on a way to make this a magical moment. Maybe come down from the hotel room a few minutes behind Mr. Karma (who will be staying elsewhere)?
I never considered a first look until I started seeing all the adorable pictures on wedding bee, accompanied by brides saying that it eased tension, increased excitement, etc. I kind of like the idea now! Especially since I’m a total crier ~ maybe it’s help with that? Maybe not though! 
My fiance was a little hesitant at first, but it was highly suggested by our photographer and FILs. My FSIL did it for her wedding and they felt like it was a nice moment between the both of them, to just be alone for a few minutes to take it all in. They also said the ceremony was much more smoother, nerves were out of the way, and they were able to spend much more time with family by getting pictures done first. By the end of it all, he agreed and we are doing the first look…I’m very excited and truly looking forward to that moment.
maybe you could do your first look walking down the aisle with just the two of you…??? I had a friend who had her family sitting in the pews of the church and the photographer had the groom stand facing backwards while the bride walked down the aisle, he turned around… the photographer caught their “first look” still in the church… then we all did tons of pictures before all the guests started showing up. All of the formal pictures were done and they were able to go almost straight to their reception… don’t know if that helped
I wish we’d done a first look of me coming down the aisle to meet him.
we really missed out on a lot of good photo ops, were rushed, and in general had too much going on to focus after the ceremony. And, i was kind of too much of a mess and didnt hold it together very well. I had a tough time looking up as I was walking down the aisle and my dad had to keep patting my hand to calm me down. It was a lot of stimulation all at once…
we have a gap in between our ceremony and reception (you know us crazy catholics!), so there will be time after for pictures and thus, in my opinion, no need for a first look.
if you do decide to see each other before the walk down the aisle, do something fun for your big reveal a friend of mine had a gorgeous staircase at her venue that she ‘descended’, for example
We did a first look for a few reasons - mainly, we hung out for the better part of the morning & afternoon, so it’s not like I was trying to “hide” from him or anything. Also, to allow more time for pictures. We had such a creative photographer & we wanted to capitalize on that & get some really fun pictures!
Miss Stiletto I totally agree with you on the part about how we will look at each other when I walk down the aisle. I want that memory and I want everyone to share in with the look on Mr. Dmarie’s face! But you just gave me a great idea! Instead of going into pictures of us with the bridal party right after the ceremony ends…I think we will have a private moment together just the two of us before we start any pictures with the wedding party. I will have them go inside or around the other side of the venue…we have two photographers…husband and wife duo…so maybe they can get group shots on one side of the venue while we are having a private moment with the other photographer on the other side!
In my heart I always knew I didnt want us seeing each other before I walked down the aisle and even when I saw pictures of how wonderful the first look was before the ceremonies…I still know that in my heart I want to see him first as I walk down the aisle. Stick with your heart. And good luck!
I wish I had the choice! My church makes us see each other before hand for pictures. They don’t allow anyone to take pictures after the ceremony because there are other masses.
So we must have our first look that morning, around 11am, so that we can do photos after that, and then get married after that!
I don’t think it will really be that big of a deal if you see each other. You’ll still feel nervous and anxious walking down the aisle. And you’ll still be emotional.
We are choosing to do a first look out of convenience. Our church is a 5 minute walk to our reception site and I have this grand idea of parading to our “party” with our guests! I’ve always hated when couples spend 30-45 minutes taking pictures after just getting married… It’s such a downer 
Do what’s right for you… I know that for me, even if we see each other beforehand, it will still be so incredibly special when I walk down the aisle… he’ll still be watching me walk toward him, ready to take our vows and become husband + wife! I’m not very traditional so this is easy for me to say… so do what you feel is right!
We are doing it! We want some great pictures, and that’s our main motivation. I have gone back and forth - wondering if it will take away from the ceremony… but I don’t think it will. No matter what, I’ll be walking down that aisle towards my man and it will be exhilirating - even if I’ve already seen him and he’s already seen me.
I can’t wait!!!
We did a First Look for a few reasons. We wanted to make sure to have enough time to take our photos–we didn’t have a cocktail hour and both the ceremony and reception took place at the same venue. More importantly, I wanted to see him alone, without all of our family and friends, so that we could talk a little. We did a special little “reveal” that our photographer was able to capture and it was totally worth it. I liked having some quiet time together, before the whole day started off. I’m so glad we did it–it was a great moment. I’d say it definitely didn’t take away from how special I felt walking down the aisle toward him.
The cutest part about our photos is that my FIL says that the face my husband is making in the photos reminds him of his expression from when he was a little boy on Christmas morning.
We are not doing a first look. I just could not and would not want me and my FI to see eachother before the cermony. I guess we are being super traditional in this aspect as I refuse to stay the night with him before the wedding even though we live together. I want the moments before the ceremony to be special with my dad and I as its our last moments before he “gives me away”. You do get some AWESOME pictures with the first look. Lucky for us our ceremony ends about 3:15 and the reception starts at 6 so we will have plently of time to get wonderful pics in.
We’re doing a first look so that we can have that personal moment together, but also so we can get the portraits out of the way and have more time to party with our guests!
We’re definitely doing the first look. At first, we were totally against it and wanted that moment of first seeing each other as I walked down the aisle. But then, we really thought about it, and decided to do pictures beforehand, and then spend the entire cocktail hour with our guests. We asked our photographer to come an hour earlier than she normally does (three hours early, instead of two) and she said she can get all the pictures done before the cocktail hour, so that’s really what pushed us to do the first look. Now we’re actually excited about it. No pressure during the walk down the aisle and the first look will be more intimate.
We had originally decided not to do a first look, but then realized we’d be reaaalllllyyyy pressed for time to take pictures between the ceremony and the reception if we didn’t. So it was really nice! We took pictures a couple of hours before the ceremony, got to see each other and relax and have some fun. Then after the ceremony we took family portraits, and even got to attend our cocktail hour!
I really recommend a first look! It didn’t take away from that moment of walking down the aisle, but it was nice to have some private time with the hubby, because honestly, it’ll be the only time you’re alone together for the rest of the wedding.
Don’t do it! I think that moment where you appear at the end of the aisle and he’s waiting for you to walk to him…priceless. That’s the fairy tale moment in your ceremony. You appear, say the vows, kiss and then you’re announced husband and wife.
Personally, I can’t wait to see his face right as I walk through the church doors and he sees me for the first time in all white.
Although I do love the idea of that first moment being personal and the idea of having all of your bridal pictures etc. being done before the ceremony. I just don’t think the convenience is worth missing that moment. With that said, to each their own.
The first look was one of the best parts of my wedding day. It was one of the only times that we were truly alone…the photographer took some pictures of us from a distance, then he left, leaving us alone for a good 10-15 minutes.
The ceremony was still amazing, and seeing my guy at the end of the aisle was still very, very special, but my nerves were much calmer and I got to focus on other things, like how amazing the moment was for my dad to walk me down the aisle.
All in all, I think you should do whatever is best for you and not what will make the best photos…although the first look photos are SUPER cute!
We are planning on doing a first look, just the two of us and the photographer for both practicality, and because I think we can still have a great special moment before walking down the aisle. We plan on having the photographer there at first, to get our first reactions, and then having her leave so we can really be alone for a few minutes before we rejoin the rest of the wedding party to get on with taking pictures!
Practically though, it is out of necessity. Our whole wedding will take place outside, with the festivities starting at 6:00. Since we need light for pictures, we really have to get as many of the pictures out of the way beforehand. Otherwise they may not happen at all!
I was highly opposed to the first look, but logistics-wise, it was just the best option (we only have one hour between the ceremony and reception, and we’d like to spend the cocktail hour with our guests!). Now that I’ve gotten used to the idea, I think it will still be special to get to see each other for the first time without everyone around!
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Mrs. Stiletto, Chicago Age and Occupation: 26, Non-Profit/Fundraising Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Engineer and Photographer Engagement Date: March 2, 2008 Wedding Date: September 2009 Venue: The 19th Century Club About Me: My fiance and I love living in the city of Chicago with our cats Basil and Linus, and vow to never move to the suburbs if we can possibly avoid it! We’ve poured ourselves into planning a wedding that reflects our personal style - modern and high contrast with a vintage twist. Blogging keeps me creative, baking keeps me happy, and grande nonfat no foam sugar free vanilla lattes keep me sane.
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