First look before the Ceremony?

I'm doing mine the day before, since my wedding will be at 11 am and I'm NOT a morning person! It's a major time saver and gives you time for photos with guests or just partying! You'll feel much more relaxed, too

We were going to, but we reworked our ceremony space to have the aisle long and straight with no view disruption so we are going to wait.

First look all the way. We are writing and saying our own personal vows to each other prior to the ceremony. Then during the ceremony, we will be do the ones provided by our officiant.

Team no first look, I think it will be more special if we wait

We decided to do the first look for multiple reasons (I was against it at first). I originally wanted two photographers so that they could capture each of our faces as we saw each other as I walked down the aisle. Then I thought about FH. He is not a very emotional person and would not feel comfortable showing emotion in front of everyone. I am an (overly) emotional person and once I get started it takes me a bit to get myself back in check. The first look gives us a private chance to show our emotions and have our true reactions without worrying about others or having to calm back down enough to get our vows out (I am an ugly crier...there is no way I would get words out). So that was the main reason. The second reason was because in our area cocktail hours aren't a thing and our guests would consider it rude for us to keep them waiting to eat while we took pictures. So we would have had to serve dinner while FH and I and our wedding party missed out. It just didn't work for our situation to not do a first look. It is completely up to the bride and groom though!

We aren't doing one - FH prefers the more traditional route - we will have breakfast and then not see each other until the ceremony. We have a small BP (MOH, BM and us) and a small family so we should have enough time for the photos during the cocktail hour.

I'd like to, but DF doesn't, and he's compromised quite a bit so I don't mind giving him this. We're eloping, so it doesn't impact guests at all though, either.

We did one and I'm so glad we did! I knew I would probably cry, so it was nice to get that out of the way My husband arrived at the venue before me, and according to the photographer he was nervously pacing up and down the sidewalk outside. Seeing me ahead of time was comforting for him.

We are NOT doing a first look. And we both felt equally as strong about it.

We are doing most of the pictures before the ceremony with the bridal parties separately and the rest after the ceremony.

I think it takes away the genuine emotion during that moment. I am a bit nervous about it, but more excited.

FH and I are doing a first look. I am super excited for this. I want a private moment with us alone and no one else (except photog who is a personal friend but with a contract). I feel like we do so much together that I want this to be a thing for us. The more I picture it, the more I am really excited to do it. If we have that kind of emotion, I want it in private with each other. I also think since he is the calm to my crazy, it will balance me a bit more.

@mrsmack - how long was your cocktail hour? My FH doesn't want a first look either, but I want to make sure we get enough photos. I also have a long walk before the aisle and he'll get a good look at me before I see him. I worried that it might take the emotional moment away!

We're opting out of the first look before the ceremony. We like the anticipation of waiting. I'm SUPER EXCITED!

No first look for us. FH thinks they are weird. Besides it doesn't help us from a logistics standpoint either. We are only allowed at the Chapel a certain period of time, not enough time beforehand to get the pictures I want so we have to do some pictures there afterwards.

No first look for us! First, we want that walking down the aisle moment. I know many have said it didn't take away from it but we feel it would. Second, it's our wedding day. If it takes us an hour to do pictures and someone is upset about that then so be it. It's our one special day. Any wedding I've been to where they spent a while taking pictures I didn't mind as long as I had a drink and a snack (which we will). Last, it would really bother me that we wouldn't be really married in all of our wedding photos. I know that's odd but I would think about it and feel I would wish we had waited. Everyone is different. Make out a pros/cons list and go from there

Totes doing a first look. They weren't a thing back in the day (when I had my first wedding), and I'm sorry they weren't. I love the idea of getting photos out of the way so we can just go ahead and enjoy our guests and our venue and our food.

Of course, we're also planning on coming down the aisle together, so the whole surprise him at the altar thing wouldn't happen anyway!

We are on the fence about the first look because part of me wants him surprise by the dress I chose and then I know how nervous I will be on the big day and just getting to see him before hand would calm my nerves

We're doing it! It's what I'm most looking forward to

We are not doing a first look.... we don't want to see each other until we get rid the alter.

We aren't doing a first look. We're both against it!

I would like to do one, mostly because that would mean we can get pictures out of the way, then enjoy our guests. But FH likes the idea of not seeing each other until I'm walking down the aisle, so who knows where we'll land on this one!