Did you have a first look?? Any regrets??

[dearmissie]

Just wonder how many people here had a first look for just the two of you (poll above). And I was hoping for some insight on why you chose to do one/not to do one. Any regrets for those who did do a first look?? Wish you waited to see each other til ceremony time just to see if it would feel any different?? I haven't heard anyone regret it (that I could remember). Anyone who didn't do one regret it?? Wishing you did it so you could have had more times for photos in the beginning so you could have enjoyed your cocktail hour?? A vendor suggested that we do it because usually it helps the nerves. He said when the bride and groom decide to wait to see each other til the walk down the aisle, usually the groom ends up looking like a cheese ball nervous as heck and that it shows in pictures. He said when the couple does the first look it calms them down so when it's time to walk down the aisle they both can really just enjoy being in the moment and the groom doesn't look so lost and confused while having a huge ol' grin on his face.. Then he mentioned the intimate photos between the bride and groom for the first look is beautiful and special, and also it allows you more time to take photos with your photographer before the wedding.

I guess no one could really ever know which is the "right" thing to do for them (well, neither ways are the "wrong" way) unless they got married twice. Any second brides here who did both care to shed some light on this??

[SkippyNXC]

we waited til the ceremony and dh def. didn't look like a cheeseball or whatever... just really happy...

but we're not nervous ppl... i never understood the nervous about seeing each other that day... its your fh... just dressed nicer :laugh2:

[amisteratwisterandme]

I would probably do it, but only because those few minutes of privacy and being alone would mean more to me than his reaction in front of other people would, but I also think it's adorable when the groom gets his first look too!

[MrsDM]

We didn't see each other until I was walking down the aisle. I don't regret it, as I really wanted to go the traditional route, but if I don't remember the look on Dan's face when we saw each other. I was so caught up in emotion that I just can't picture it. Thank God for pictures. However, knowing what I know now, I might have seen him before. I think it may have calmed my emotions a bit.

[savepaws]

I did the private first look and I'm really glad I did! We had no time for pictures after the ceremony as we had to get out of the church before the next service and we had to do pictures before the ceremony and I wanted that special moment caught on film.

So I had the photographer make DH stand up at the alter and turn around and she had me come up to him and she told him when to turn around and she snapped photos of his reaction. I just really liked it because it calmed my nerves to see him and talk to him and I got to see his reaction up close and not have to worry about being nervous or uncomfortable with a ton of people watching us in that moment.

So I definitely do not regret it. Walking down the isle and seeing him waiting for me was just as special even though we had already seen each other. I was nervous but as soon as I locked eyes with him, everyone in the church just seemed to melt away and I don't even remember them being there.

[NOTKT]

I'm glad we didn't do the first look, I loved seeing his face as I walked down the aisle. But I love first look pictures, those are the best!

[sandy03]

We didn't do a first look, but we got a lot of great private pictures afterwards. I think it would have been even harder to see each other and take those pictures and then have to be separated for another half hour or more between pictures and the ceremony! It was so nice to have the pictures afterwards because we were so happy and goofy and able to really relax!

[gwenshack]

We accidentally saw each other before, but I didn't care. My mom had a fit though. ;)

[WebLady]

We didn't even bother to try and not see each other. But we didn't have a formal ceremony either.

[mitch]

My first Marriage was a huge Church Ceremony. He never saw me until i walked down the aisle. (He sure saw me when i walked out the door 10 years later LOL)

When i Married DH i saw him suited and booted. Then kicked him out of the hotel room so i could get ready. He was stood outside the Registry Office when i turned up. Along with ALL our guests. So everyone saw me as i got out of the car. Being a second Marriage for both of us i wasn't too fussed. We didn't have an official Photographer either. So no before, during and after shots to look back on.

[featherhand]

We are going to do a first look just to save time for photos and I think it's the right away to go for us - I wouldn't stress too much about it ;)

[hsteward90]

This is one thing I'm trying to decide on. I want to do the traditional him not seeing me until I walk down the isle but, I think it would be nice to do the meet before and it would be a good time to do pictures of just us.

[Ninedays9]

We had pictures before the wedding, so we arranged it so that he couldn't see me as he came in. Then our photographer set it up so that she could get pictures of him seeing me for the first time... she had the bridesmaids kind of in a half circle around me and my back to him as he walked in. It was awesome, reminded us of a scene from a movie. It was one of our favorite parts of the day, actually. :)

[dearmissie]

We had pictures before the wedding, so we arranged it so that he couldn't see me as he came in. Then our photographer set it up so that she could get pictures of him seeing me for the first time... she had the bridesmaids kind of in a half circle around me and my back to him as he walked in. It was awesome, reminded us of a scene from a movie. It was one of our favorite parts of the day, actually. :)

Do you have any photos of that to share with us??

[dearmissie]

This is one thing I'm trying to decide on. I want to do the traditional him not seeing me until I walk down the isle but, I think it would be nice to do the meet before and it would be a good time to do pictures of just us.

I'm wanting to be traditional too. But I agree, I love special moments esp. if they could be caught in a beautiful picture.. It's a toughie!!

[Nickj]

First time I saw her in a bus. She was sitting alone. I join her and start conversation with her. I was just looking to her eyes and her hairs which were falling on her face. I was totally gone and forget myself in her brownish eyes. But that movement is for sometime,she stand-up and go out of the bus. But ya before leaving the bus she gave me her email id. I always wait for her so taht she came online and I talk to her. Now tomorrow I am going with her her for a date. Ohh my God I am gonna crazy. I is it is a reality? I love her so much....:hearts:

[dearmissie]

First time I saw her in a bus. She was sitting alone. I join her and start conversation with her. I was just looking to her eyes and her hairs which were falling on her face. I was totally gone and forget myself in her brownish eyes. But that movement is for sometime,she stand-up and go out of the bus. But ya before leaving the bus she gave me her email id. I always wait for her so taht she came online and I talk to her. Now tomorrow I am going with her her for a date. Ohh my God I am gonna crazy. I is it is a reality? I love her so much....:hearts:

That's great, but this isn't about the first time you EVER saw your partner. I suggest re-reading the first post. ;);)

[dodgercpkl]

He didn't see me until I was walking down the aisle and I have no regrets. Not to mention with the hair/makeup fun that morning we were running late anyway and there would have been NO time even if we'd somehow planned it to begin with. :laugh2: We stayed behind after everyone left though and did a bunch of shots of just the 2 of us. :)

[Spatch4Officers]

Hmm I've actually thought about this before - I think the idea of a first look is sweet and I like the idea of having that special intimate alone time with FH ...I think when/if I get married I will go this route just b/c of that. I know my family won't be happy but I don't care it's not about them anyways.

[uptowngirl]

We had a first look, and I am so glad we did. We got some of the best pictures of the day from that time, and it really did help the who;e day feel more relaxed. We walked down the aisle together, so we weren't going to have that big reveal moment at the alter anyway.

[JillyBride]

we are planning on a private first look (doing pictures before the ceremony) and while I am not sure if I will regret it, I am pretty sure I won't.

:)

[riversideweddings]

When it comes to tradition it is really important to follow orders from the older one. Theres nothing gone on use just a littel bit of excercise.

[WebLady]

When it comes to tradition it is really important to follow orders from the older one. Theres nothing gone on use just a littel bit of excercise.
I am confused ... what are you saying here?

[princessbridezilla]

i voted in advance: we're going to have a first look- our photographer calls it a reveal, so it'll be a semi private moment with just the immediate family and wedding party, and of course the photographers. we're going to be doing photos before the ceremony.

in our (jewish) tradition, there is a ceremony before the ceremony called the bedeken. the groom meets his bride and places the veil over her face. there are 2 reasons- first, to ensure that the bride is the woman he intends to marry (because in the bible, jacob was tricked into marrying a different woman) and second, to show that he's marrying not for outside appearances, but for the inside qualities. so for us it's traditional to see each other before the walk down the aisle anyway.