Weddingbee Blog

We decided quite early on that we wanted to do a first look, so we wouldn’t have that odd gap between ceremony and reception. This was especially important for us because there was no travel time between the two events—everything was in one handy building. We knew we wanted to do the photos in the park near our house, as it has a great old library building, fun fountains, and neat old war memorials. We left it up to our photographers to decide where in the park would be the best place for us to be.

We think the groomsdudes look like the wedding mafia in this photo. Just imagine a violin case instead of a black shoebox! (photo by my mum)

The guys walked over to the park, and we ladies and everyone who was at the hotel hopped into a couple of taxi vans. Someone (I can’t remember who now) on the day was concerned when I said I hadn’t booked them ahead of time. I said that that’s what the taxi stand and the valets outside are for, and it worked out just fine. I phoned down to the concierge, and by the time we got down there there were two taxi vans awaiting our beck and call.

Note to brides - make sure someone has cash for the nice taxi driver! I got into one van with Lisa the photographer and my two bridesmaids (the dress took up the other seats) and various assorted parents and family members got into the other van. When we got to the park (only a $5 ride away, but still) I had to send a bridesmaid running to the parents’ cab to get someone to pay for the taxi. We didn’t think we’d need our purses!

As we were getting out of the van, a police car drove by. As I was getting my dress out of the van I heard a ‘BLOOP!’ of a siren, then a voice coming through a bullhorn said ‘GOOD JOB. CONGRATULATIONS.’ It was awesome and hilarious. Hilarious because it was said in the same tone of voice that a cop would say ‘PULL OVER. GET OUT OF THE CAR.’

Then we made sure Cinnamon Buns was turned around (thank goodness for a 2 photographer team with cell phones!) and Lisa shielded me with a huge umbrella until I could make my approach.

(photo above by my mum)

I’m the big white blob in the back.

(photo above by my mum)

I was fine until we looked at each other, then I needed my first hankie of the day.

I love that we did this first, it was great to have that moment NOT in front of 65+ guests. We weren’t alone by any means:

(photo above by my mum)

The bridal party was there, and all of our parents, because we wanted to do those formal photos in the nice park setting too. Not to mention all the people enjoying a Saturday afternoon in Central Memorial Park. And the people in the library. I loved the idea of doing a private first look with just the couple and the photographers, but it wasn’t going to work for us. And with a 5PM ceremony… I couldn’t have waited that long to see Cinnamon Buns! To give you an idea of the timeline, this was sometime between 1PM-1:30pm.

Are you planning on a first look? Who else will be there besides the couple and the photographer?

Unless otherwise noted, all photos in this post are by Fotograffika.

The Cinnamon Bun Recaps:

• Baking Pies
• Rehearsal
• Girls Getting Ready
• Guys Getting Ready