Before OR after ceremony pictures?

My FH and I are doing pictures before that way we can get to our guest's right after the ceremony. But what we are doing is meeting each other at a certain spot about an hour before the wedding; he will have his back turned away from me and we'll have some pictures done of me walking up to him. Then he will turn around and see me; making sure the photographer catches his expression when he turns. Then our wedding party will join us for pictures.

If your fiance doesn't want to see you before the ceremony just do Bride & BM photos, and then Groom & GM photos. You won't see each other but you'll get a lot of shots out of the way.

Then after the C, do family, then bridal party, then B&G. Shouldn't take longer than an hour if your photog is organized.

Hey, I just pm'ed you about a chick looking to sell linens, white ones. Not sure what she wants for them, but just giving you a heads up

We are doing a first look before and then doing a bunch of pictures before but we are still taking an hour after the ceremony (where we will be serving our guests cocktails and food) to take pictures. We are paying so much for our photographer that we wanted to get as many pictures as possible and we want sunset ones (which will be after the ceremony).

Most photogs reccomend doing most pictures with out the B&G before the ceromony if the couple decides not to see each other it saves time and then therse a chance you might actually make it to your cocktail hour. so like all the grooms with his men and his family and whatever whatever then all the brides with her girls and family etc etc... then it won't take as long to do some portraits and a few big group shots

We are doing them after. FH was really against seeing me before the wedding so I agreed to do them after. He is involved with all the planning but this was one of his big concerns. We are doing all of the family pictures we can before the wedding but "our" pictures we will do after. Marriage is all about compromise....

We are doing any and all pictures that we do not need to be in together before the ceremony. Then after the ceremony doing the rest. We have 1 hour and 15 min to get them done during the cocktail hour. We will be on strict time line and shot checklist

All in all it boils down to you! Do you really want him to see you before you walk down the aisle? If it doesn't matter that much to you when he sees you then I'd say do them before.

What EDubbs said.

@ Brittney - Our linens have changed since we last spoken - sent you a pm about it. Since we have the same colors, sent you the link to my other post to check out what we are now doing - maybe you will like it or find an idea for yours from it. =)

We are doing a first look for pics. We will have backs turned. Our photog is FH's assistant, and his DIL, so it will be a private moment. We are both highly emotional, so we really wanted the opportunity to get a good cry over, and then fix our faces before the ceremony. The photog will also do a few pics with my MOH and his BM and our children, while we are getting ready. This is all so that we don't ahve to be away from our guests. Also, we plan on having a giant group shot with bikes, during cocktail hour.

The only problem with the groom and his pictures before the ceremony is I have no idea where he is will be at!! LOL. I know I want a hotel room by our location because I am setting up everything ahead of time with my mom and bridesmaids so I wanted to be close to our location that way I can head over to the hotel to relax and get ready with my girls before hand... but I don't know if my FH will want a hotel room or if he is just going to stay home and get ready there.

We are doing pictures before but we whated to do them afthere but i what pictures in an area that will close before the ceremony. When i find out that we could not do them there when it close FH said will then we will do pictures before.

Oh and I also tried to get my FH to change his mind on seeing me before so we could do the pictures, but he would not change his mind. He said I could try to meet him anywhere and I will be standing there waiting the whole time because he will NOT show and if I try to track him down - he wont answer the door. LOL.

So I am respecting his wishes for that. No peaks at the dress or me before I walk down is what he wants and it's what he is getting.

Awwwwww that's sweet of him not wanting to see you!

I actually thought I wanted to wait until after, but my mom wrote a blog about it with one of her couples. When I understood WHY it's a tradition, I just didn't see the point!

http://blog.lovely-uniqueweddings.com/2011/02/04/to-see-or-not-to-see.aspx

We are doing a Chinese tradition where the groom/groomsmen come to "collect" the bride and her bridesmaids. They have to "pay a toll" and pass certain tests first. So he is Going to see me before the ceremony anyways!

Taking all the pics of us/bridal party before the ceremony and all others (family) after the reception during the cocktail hr.

I would suggest that if you're not loving the location he will be at before the wedding, to have him select another place, close by that would work. Maybe a park or open field. You could get a few unique shots in before and of course get the necessary wedding shots together afterwards at the venue. I would definitely suggest getting all your wedding party shots with you and the girls done ahead of time. That way you've got a 1/3 less photos to take, letting you get to the party sooner!

I never knew that was why!! But I did read something different about the veils, what I read had something to do with to confuse the evil spirits. lol.

I could show him this article, but I think it still wouldn't change his mind. He thinks a couple seeing each other ahead of time ruins the moment when the bride walks. He wants total surprise - he wants his breath completely taken away as I am walking down and our eyes are meeting and etc. He went into this whole romantic spill of reasons why. And he said he doesn't care if he cries in front of everyone.

I am not saying couples who see each other a head of time don't or wont experience this when they do their "reveal" or "first look", but I do think waiting until ceremony heightens the emotions to it, especially with the anticipation and such.

But I am for sure going to have pictures taken with my family and girls and children before hand if there is enough time.

Me and my FH are going to take pictures at the park after the ceremony. It meant that there is a few hours in between the ceremony and the reception, but we want the nice scenery of the park. Also we are going to stop at Ted Drewes and get some ice cream as well