7 Reasons to See the Bride Before The Ceremony

I can't!

The article made good points that makes me want to have a first look but FH still doesn't want to do it. So only time will tell what happens.

We are completely on the fence. I really want to see FHs face when I walk down the aisle for the first time. That said, I would love to have a moment with just him and I and experience our emotions together, not in front of our guests. We are 50/50 and we will probably decide like a week before haha

We did a 'first touch' instead. We had a door separating us so we couldn't see each other but we held hands and got to speak to each other for the first time that day, 30 minutes prior to the ceremony. It was the best decision ever! It helped calm both our nerves by speaking with each other but we also had that 'aha' moment when I walked down the aisle. The pictures of it were amazing! I'm really glad we went that route.

@Nicola our photographer will be there to capture our first look. However she won't be there too long and she will be doing a mini photo shoot with our wedding party while we have our time together

@Nicola after talking to my photographer they literally catch the first few minutes and then they leave us alone. The photographer is not there the entire time so couples do get a moment alone to themselves.

I'm 100% with Nicola...I feel like it's just too staged. Sure the photographer might go off and do something else so you get to be alone, but still...I'd feel like I'd be forcing emotions (whether they're tears or laughter, etc). I would be thinking about making the pictures look good. I always feel like when I look at the pictures of first looks (actually more videos than pictures) that it just feels kind of awkward. Whereas I've been picturing walking down the aisle and seeing my FH for the first time as being a lot more normal and so it won't feel forced.

I do understand that it gives time for photos and such, but hey we just added extra appetizers, extended our open bar, and our cocktail "hour" will be more like an hour and a half instead of an hour so we can get more pictures. If we don't use the full 1.5 hours great, if we do, that's fine too!

ETA: I am doing a "first touch" so we can read notes to each other that we wrote to one another. And I do expect there to be real emotions but it is definitely for the camera too. It'll be nice to hold hands but still have that element of surprise when he sees me all put together as a bride walking down the aisle.

It's all staged, face it......

I don't understand how it's anymore staged that you walking down the aisle where there is a rehearsed procession? both events capture the groom seeing you for the first time, both capture the emotions of that moment when you first see each other, both involve photographers except the 1st its just you and your hubby and the other its in front of others. There is no difference

I really doubt you will have to force emotions when seeing your groom for the first time on your wedding day regardless of the circumstances

We're not doing a first look but I've been considering doing one with my two sons (22 & 19) just a confirmation to them that they will always be first. And I've always dreamt about the double doors opening and setting my FH face

Agreed allysia.

@andrea i love that idea!

FH doesn't want to see me before the wedding, which makes no sense to me as he came with me and helped picked out my dress, so it's not like he's never seen the dress. We will have to do a majority of our pictures before the wedding simply due to time restraint.

Eh yeah...I guess it is all just staged. The aisle thing is just so traditional, I can definitely see why people like breaking tradition and why some like keeping tradition. I threw out tradition in some cases and am dead set in following tradition in other cases. It's really personal preference. So in this case I'm dead set on following tradition. Yet my FH came with me to pick out the gown. So I know I'm a living oxymoron!

You are right HIH it really is just a personal preference and there is not right or wrong way.

I don't think I am having anything traditional except the memory candles and the cake cutting and I'm not even sure you would call that tradition lol