First Look Debate-Anyone Regret Doing It or Regret Not Doing it?

Not doing first look, FH was completely against it. He had first told me he was even going to have his back turned until I got up to him... till I went off. There's no way I could make it down the aisle looking at the back of his head and spend the whole walk worrying what his reaction is going to be.

So glad to see I'm not the only that suffers from ugly crying! Ugh it's the worst.

Our photographer helped with our wedding timeline this week. We are having a 4:30 ceremony. There would be no way to fit in family, bridal party, and our solo pictures if we didn't do the first look. We are not doing it purely for a photo op, we are doing it because we want to be able to enjoy more of the day together. I'll let you know in 2 weeks it ruins the sentiment of first seeing each other walking down the aisle. I doubt it because the emotion of walking down the aisle to marry the love of my life will also be very real.

We're doing one. I want some alone time with him that day and I also want to eat at my cocktail hour.

We did and I have absolutely no regrets!

We did it for logistically reasons because it allowed us to get pictures with our dogs before the ceremony and those pictures turned out so great. I'm really happy we went with it.

We are doing all photos before except of us. Fh only demand was not to see me before.

I'm debating first look, too. FH doesn't want to, but we're planning a Friday night wedding between 6 and 7, so I'd rather get the romantic pictures done before the ceremony, while its still light out. I think it would be more intimate, too. But honestly, I can't decide, because I also want the ceremony to be everyone's first look.

@Jacky! I know I am right there with you..its so hard!!!! I cannot decide but I am also tired of thinking about it HAHAHA

@Jacky! I know I am right there with you..its so hard!!!! I cannot decide but I am also tired of thinking about it HAHAHA

Oh, lol I know. I still have a year to plan, though, so I'm not going to worry about it. We'll decide something

I convinced my FH to do it because we paid for massive amounts of food for cocktail hour and I'll be damned if we miss it lol. Plus countless brides (and photographers) have said it doesn't take away from when we see each other walking down the aisle.

Also, I want that special private moment alone so we can be all up in our feelings without an audience. Lol

We are doing one. The ceremony is at 5:30 and i want to get all the bridal party and most of our pics out of the way so we can do some of cocktail hour. I think its all personal opinion. Some people would rather see the other the first time walking down the aisle. I dont think i could make it til 530 without seeing him all day!

We are getting married at 6pm and we are doing it. Makes a lot more sense time wise and you don't miss any of your cocktail hour! Everyone I know who did it didn't regret it and says it was one of their favorite parts of the day.

We are not doing it. I personally think they're kind of cheesey. Our wedding is at 5:00 too and it doesn't even start getting dark anymore until around 8, so we will still have plenty of time for pretty pictures. Me and FH have had 5 years of "alone" time together, and will also get plenty of alone time on our wedding night, so it's not like we are not going to see each other during the whole wedding. After all, it's a whole day dedicated to us!

We are doing the first look too.

Loved doing it and one of the best wedding related decisions we made. (Along with an unplugged ceremony and limiting kids). And we got all the photos done, before the ceremony. Our ceremony and reception were held in the same building. There was no way we would have made our guests wait for our photos, like so many couples do.

I just went to a wedding, where they had a first look, but didn't do all the photos. The bridal party and immediate family missed most of the cocktail hour, taking photos.

We are doing the first look for logistic reasons. I always hated the whole waiting after the ceremony for the bride and groom to get back from photos. My sister did it for her wedding 12 years ago and it was perfect. Our ceremony starts at 530 so we will start photos around 2.

I've photographed a few grooms tearing up when their bride walks down the aisle. If he's the kind of guy who is going to do it, it will usually happen whether they do a first look or not (seen it on both occasions). Unfortunately while its a very sweet moment, it often doesn't photograph well.

If photography is important to you, then you need to either do a first look or schedule a Rock/Trash the dress shoot with your photog. Even though its not my wedding and not my family, family formal photos are very important to me as an artist and my brand. You may not appreciate it today, but you WILL once someone falls ill and/or passes away. You can do your supplemental shoot to get photos like I advertise on my home page, but you're unlikely to get all friends and family in one place again. You're not going to get all the family formals done and have time for some beautiful legacy type photos (such as my avatar) all in 30 minutes or less.

We got married at 6:30 and we did not do first looks and we have plenty of pics and I don't wish things any differently. Seeing him for the first time at the alter was a very emotional, moving experience I will never regret.

We are doing a first look. We both want that private time before the ceremony. Neither of us are concerned about it "not being as special" when I walk down the aisle, because for us, it's not about that moment. It's about our marriage. But, it's definitely something that people have strong opinions about.