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

We're getting married at 6, I hadn't even considered time/light (bonus!), I just wanted to get straight to the party so we're doing photos before the ceremony.

To anyone saying it isn't a private moment - the way our photographer directs her first looks is this: you hae the moment where you see each other, away from everyone buy her. Then she gives couples about 5 minutes alone while she runs interference to keep everyone away so they do have the private moment. Food for thought.

We're not going to do it because we're getting married at a church and we want to see each other as Im coming down the aisle. To each their own

We aren't doing a first look, I was on the fence but FH was adamant he didn't want one. Although it works out well for us because there is a mandatory 2 hour time gap between the ceremony and reception (to flip the room from ceremony seating to tables). So, we will do our photos during that time and guests will have to occupy themselves at the bar or arcade.

We did one, and I'd do it over and over again.

Having a few minutes alone with him before the wedding was amazing. I got to get my ugly cry out, share a little nip of scotch with him, and take some pictures of just us. (and in response to a PP's comment about having enough "alone time" for the past few years since they've been together...DH and I have been best friends for 8 years. We've dated for 3. This was incredibly special and intimate, and cannot be compared to any other time.)

From his perspective too: He had a stressful morning that morning. Seeing me before the ceremony, being able to hold my hand, and kiss me, he told me that all of the stress and crap just melted away.

I would absolutely recommend it.

Oops double post.

Personally, I want FH to see me for the first time at the alter. He's in the same boat.

We will probably sleep in the same bed as always the night before the wedding, but he won't see me once I'm all done up. It will be a "Good morning, honey *kiss* I'll see you at the alter later" type of thing.

My main reason for wanting one was that I want to spend our wedding day together. 630 ceremony means I wouldn't get to spend much time with him... On the day I tell everyone legally and spiritually and officially and emotionally in a big grand gesture that I love him and want to spend my life with him. I want to spend that day with him, too. Maybe even most of all. After all, it's about us, not my bridesmaids (though I love them, too!).

We didn't do one and I do not regret it.

We would definitely do one, but since we have an 11:30 am ceremony we won't have time. My hair & makeup team has to start at 6 am without us needing to be ready extra early for a first look.

I don't want one because I'm really looking forward to that moment when FH sees me walking down the aisle in my dress for the first time. But even if I did want one, my ceremony is going to be around 11:00 a.m., so we're already going to have to get up crazy early without first look photos.

I just had my wedding on Saturday - we woke up together, had breakfast, and then did a first look at 3pm. It was amazing. Traditional? Nope, but it was perfect for us! Many of my family members were saying we weren't supposed to see each other before the ceremony! But it felt great to blow kisses and whisper I Love You to each other every time we looked at each other before I had to walk down the aisle. The whole ceremony was a blur for me, so at least I got to actually see the look on his face during the first look!

It felt so nice spending time together with our parents and bridal party before we said our vows. My photos were at 230, first look at 3, bridal party and portraits until 415 and then we had plenty of time to get to the country club before the ceremony at 5:30. We did a couple of large family photos after the ceremony, but we did get to spend most of the cocktail hour with our guests. Our ceremony was only 15 minutes long, and the guests had extra time at the cocktail hour while we did the rest of the photos. No regrets!

We did one and I don't regret it. Walking down the aisle was totally overwhelming for me. 100 people are staring at you, your photographer is somewhere and you have to remember to smile and not burst into tears, don't trip, walk at a certain pace, etc etc. It was all a blur. It would not have been possible to have "a moment" where I locked eyes with my husband.

Just my two cents. Also anyone who thinks otherwise is dumb

@JoRocka Preach! ♥

We had a first look and it was wonderful. I give no fucks about it being a "photo op" because well, I fucking love pictures. I wanted all the pictures. I'm going to hang all of them everywhere. Any reason to get more pictures was worth it to me.

And it was fabulous alone time. The first thing I wanted to do when I saw him was hug and kiss him and cuddle and mumble about how excited I was. And I did. It was awesome. If I had waited until down the aisle, I think not being able to do all that would've wreaked havoc on my nerves.

Instead, being with him beforehand made me less nervous for the ceremony.

I agree with Staci that the walking down the aisle moment was so overwhelming. I can't imagine having added more pressure to that situation.

@OP, the only regret we had about our first look was that DH was not totally convinced at first. For a little while before and after the wedding, he felt like maybe he missed out on that "down the aisle look" moment. I'd suggest not pressuring your FH into a first look if he isn't okay with it. DH says now (almost a year later) that he is okay with the first look. He says that the walking down the aisle part would've maybe been nice, but he was so nervous at the time that he doesn't know if he would've been able to focus for that photo op. And he loves all our pictures.

The thought of missing out on time with guests to take photos, many of whom flew so many miles to celebrate our special day just wasn't appealing to me, so we got every photo out of the way prior to everyone arriving. That way we got to spend more time celebrating with the people we love. The last place I wanted to be once the ceremony ended was taking photos. I wanted to celebrate, eat and drink with my family and friends. I would have done it again a million times over, not one single regret. It also allowed us to decompress a little and be in the moment together (and ugly cry). I've shared before, but my favorite photo from our wedding was taken during our first look.

It really depends on everyone's preference. My preference is to have my FH see me for the 1st time walking down the aisle. I feel like the 1st look can be anti-climatic. I understand people need to do it for timeline reasons.

Our FH and I will only have 2 hours between when the ceremony ends and the reception begins and will be taking pictures in the area outside the reception venue. The ceremony and reception venues are 8 minutes away from each other and are downtown so we are providing ceremony guests with places they can go to get a drink or go to in between. There is even a bar at the reception venue people can go to if they want.

It is up to you! There is lots of good advice in the string to review.

Were not doing one. There is just something special about seeing each other in the moment in the ceremony. Were also a bit traditional

Just my personal opinion. The thing that I don't like about first look photos is .. Well. You technically aren't married yet.

I don't want to do it at all. I want the genuine walk down the aisle reaction. First looks just aren't my style. I'm sure each and every persons are just wonderful no matter how they happen!

Our ceremony is at 5, and we'll be doing a first look. Our dinner is scheduled for 6pm, so obviously there's no way we'd have time to do photos after the ceremony. I'm also not worried at all about the sentiment of seeing each other for the first time being ruined simply because we did it a little earlier in the day, either. To each their own, but I'm very excited about our decision!