3 Reasons First Looks Wedding Photos Aren't For Everyone....

We dd a first look and I am SO HAPPY we did. For one, DH almost passed out during the ceremony as it was lol. He said he was so glad we did one because it was so emotional and it got some nervousness out of the way. He started crying when he saw me during the first look but during the ceremony just kept bouncing and looking at the ceiling to "keep the blood flowing" as he whispered to me when I tried to calm him down at the altar.

Also, when I was walking up the aisle with my father, for some reason I kept looking at the guests on my side and smiling and saying hi as we walked by them. If I could do it over, I would have been looking at DH but this was just something I did for some reason so I have no idea what his expression was when we were walking up the aisle lol.

Plus we got to take a bunch of pics together so we were able to attend half of our cocktail hour! Also made those pics much more comfortable and exciting

I don't like this article. Simply because the author's perspective is simply more of a "I'm a videographer and I know what it takes to get the right shots" aspect. Oh and the fact calling anything about a wedding STUPID is stupid. Haha

I will be the first to tell you that I did not want a FIRST LOOK. Simply because I too wanted the first moment to be seen when he sees me down the aisle. My photographer and a dear friend of ours gave us a different perspective-- he said he loves FIRST LOOKS because it captures a moment that you really can't get when you walk down the aisle.

I thought about it, hard. I mean I'm non traditional, but when it comes to my wedding --- many customs I've been very traditional about. BUT what I didn't want to miss is seeing my FH face when he first looks at me. Our church aisle is long-- I doubt I'll clearly see his face that far. His eyesight isn't that great either-- so I doubt once I appear he'll really get to soak in my look and the details of my dress and everything else. I too will be soaking in the emotions of 1) i don't want to trip 2) I need to smile 3) i'm prob going to be crying because my dad is walking me down the aisle and I'm his only daughter so I want to soak it in because this is a very important walk -- not just for me but for my dad too.

I even asked friends who didn't do a FIRST LOOK about how they felt when their bride walked down the aisle-- the result: they said everything seemed to fly by. They didn't even get the chance to have a moment to themselves.

I've watched many videos of weddings when we were searching for a videographer and there were some with FIRST LOOKS and there is no way that was manipulative or not candid in how a groom cried at the sight of his bride or his overwhelming smile and their intimate conversation before they say I DO together.

I can't wait for my FH to see my look and to just be able to have this moment with him. And I know, even if he's seen me-- when we see each other at the church -- it's still going to be special. I even decided when he sees me -- I'll have a short bird cage veil and at the church I will have my long cathedral veil.

For whatever reason you decide or not decide to do a FIRST LOOK-- remember it's your wedding

I see the reasons behind wanting to do them for some people, and I kinda wanted to do a first look "just to get more pics and out of the way" but I am so glad I didn't. For me, that anticipation of him seeing me for the first time was priceless. I'm traditional and for me I feel like a first look would have just felt kind of staged. We didn't have nerves to calm, we were both excited and happy and I couldn't wait to get down the aisle! I just don't know how his reaction could have been any more genuine without seeing me coming down the aisle for the first time. Here's his face He's not a crier so I didn't expect tears, but this is one of my favorite pics of the day.

We are not planning to do one for those reasons exactly but I am going to leave it up for change since FH is so shy and doesnt show emotion, perhaps it will help his nerves. So it is totally up to change at the last minute, but we are planning on a first touch to exchange our personal vows to each other while we exchange traditional during the ceremony

Agree with Celia that the article was BS, but I think this is like anything else in a wedding. Some want to do it some don't. 3 of my 4 DDs did first looks and with all of them, we made sure the photographer gave them 10-15 minutes of private time they otherwise would have never had on their wedding day. They were all very glad they chose first looks - it was right for them. I am a huge fan of them and was surprised when the DD who got married in June decided to do a first look. She had told me in no uncertain terms that she wasn't going to so when we met with the photographer she chose he started to talk about it and she changed her mind on the spot. She has no regrets. It is for some, not for all and that is ok.

We will be doing a first look for practical reasons... doing pictures before the ceremony! However, I hold to the fact that a first look does not take away from the magic of seeing each other at the ceremony for the first time. We went to a wedding that did a first look, and the first look was sweet... but the first look at the alter was spectacular. The groom's face at the first look was almost a smirk, but at the alter... he started to cry and had a look of "WOW" on his face! That was truly a magical moment, and it was not tarnished by the first look.

We are planning to do one. Thought about the alternatives and it's what we want. I've seen some extremely touching first look photos and I'm hoping that's what we capture - an intimate moment between me and FH. To us, walking down the aisle will still be an anticipatory moment because we're about to be married. I would certainly not call any way a bride/groom want to work this moment "stupid".

Before I was engaged I had never heard of a 'first look.' One day, after hearing about it from my photographer, mom and I were talking. I told her about it. She said that she wished that had been an option when she got married. Seeing my dad at the end of the aisle was special but it was hard to see the real emotion on his face from the back of the church. Joe and I are fairly private people anyway so the first look is perfect for us. He hates being emotional in front of a crowd. I think that that moment will be one of the most cherished moments of our wedding day!

FH and I wont be doing a first look. I just can't wait to walk down the aisle to see FH for the first time.

It is for some people, it is not for some people. Who cares.

We wont be doing one either. i feel its like opening a present on christmas eve. i love the idea that the first time i will see FH on our wedding day is when we are getting married.

Hey guys. Love the debate. Also, I love being called on the carpet for my writing style. Having been an engineer for years, I can definitely be pretty opinionated. But I'm good with being told that I shoved my foot in my mouth. A bride took me to task on twitter Wednesday about it. Eyetwitchy made a good argument regarding point 3. "That's such a stressful part of wedding planning - obligations and people feeling entitled to your wedding, your choices".

I totally get that. My mom made demands about my wedding party.

@SoontobeMrsG "First touch" that sounds fantastic! Can you post your photos when you get them?

@Soon 2 be Mrs.G What parts of the first two points do you disagree with? I think there is the potential for them to be candid if it truly is a moment between the couple. It depends how much is orchestrated by the planner/photographer. Of course, it may have been a wise choice for me to say that in the article as well.

@Rachey I LOVE that photo!

I hate hate hate hate this article. I don't know what type of bitter person wrote this, but she sucks. My FH and I both have severe social anxiety disorder (Diagnosed, and medicated it's serious), we are both so shy, and having such a short ceremony because the thought of us on stage at the venue is overwhelming. My HS BFF is a pro photographer, and since Shon and I have been together since HS, we will both be comfortable showing our real reactions in front of her. This will be a sweet moment that I am looking forward to. Not to mention, this would make the flow of everything better IMO. We are having a small guest list wedding (50), plus our reception is going to be cake, and champaign, dancing, and pretty short as well. We don't want to miss a moment of that! As soon as the ceremony is over we will snap a few family pics, and go straight into our party!

Lol! I'm famous! I did not realize this issue was so hot for discussion!

My brother and his wife did one. It wasn't anything like how this article said. They had an outdoor ceremony and before we went out to do photos with all the bridal party, the photographer took just my SIL to the ceremony space to meet my brother. Everyone was told to stay inside and watch through the window if we wanted, but that this was a moment for just them. Nothing was staged or set up, I hardly even noticed the photographer (in fact, I don't even know if they captured the moment). And it was SUCH a sweet moment. The look on my brothers face! And then we got most of the pictures out of the way and could enjoy the rest of the day.

That being said, I probably won't be able to convince my FH to do it because he's very superstitious and it's "bad luck" to see me in my wedding dress.

I initially didn't want to do a first look because I'd always imagined we'd have the first look at the alter and i wanted the nerves and excitement. BUT my fiancé and photographers convinced me that a first look will allow us to enjoy our cocktail hour rather than disappearing for some time. I may disappear anyway for a shorter amount of time to help put our 14-month-old daughter to bed. We are also spending the night before the wedding together (as we do every day).

I totally disagree with this article. A First Look is a personal moment. I wavered back and forth about a First Look but not for the reasons in this article. Ultimately we decided that the first moment we see each on the wedding day is a very personal moment that we don't wish to share with everyone. Our photographer is taking the photos from a distance using a zoom lens to capture the moment. I will also be requesting the videographer to film from afar. Believe me my walk down the aisle will also have its moment. Both are very special to us.

P.S. I will have my makeup artist on hand should my crying mess up my makeup. LOL!

We are not doing a first look. For us, the first look IS walking down the aisle. A good photographer should be able to capture those moments.

We will be doing a first touch though. I have some ideas for funny shots. And I'm doing a first look with my dad.

Depends on the couple. My FH wants to first see me when I walk down the aisle. That's one thing he put his foot down for. He let me have everything else I wanted lol. As mentioned before by others, to each their own :-)

I don't think its a fake reaction, I think its just as real as when you walk down the aisle. Personally I will not be doing it FH is very traditional and want's to see me for the first time when I walk down the aisle.

We are not doing one bc I believe that although I know I will be emotional and so will FH it will capture our true emotional feelings for each other, in front of the most important people to us. I love the idea that I will be super nervous to see him standing up there even if we have been living together for 4 1/2 years, this is where we choose to become 1 in marriage. To each their own though. FH and I will do a "meeting" where he will be on one side of the corner and I on the other where we can talk to each other and have our BM and MOH give each other our gifts to one another. We can also hold hands. Our photographer will be there to capture this