First look or at the altar?

My FH is traditional and does not want to do a first look.

We're not doing a first look, but I've seen some beautiful photos from other couples who have. It's up to you.

I never liked the idea of the first look until I realized that I can't have it at the altar anyways. I am Jewish, and the more recent Jewish tradition is to sign the ketubah (wedding contract) shortly before the wedding ceremony starts- it used to be a contractual agreement signed months before the wedding, almost like the official engagement. So the event of signing the ketubah is like an official first look anyways.

@Jessica G. I almost Jewish as well, my fiancé is not. So there will be no ketubah, my younger brother isn't coming to my wedding because of the fact he's not Jewish but I've decided that I'm just doing what I want at this point. I am however having a chuppah and breaking the glass. The more I think about it the more I think we will be doing the first look.

I'm not doing a first look because to me that's the point of walking down an aisle for the first time and having your groom look at you and see how beautiful you look!

We're doing one. So much of your wedding day is about your family, and the people you celebrate with. And that's awesome and I'm excited for it! But I wanted to steal this one moment just for us.

DH and I saw each other for the first time at the altar and it was such a wonderful moment!

I want to do a first look and FH doesn't. He feels very strongly about not doing one, so we aren't. We're going to try to get most of the bridal party photos beforehand, though.

Definitely doing a first look for a few reasons! We want a little special alone time together before all the craziness starts. I will need this to collect myself before the ceremony too, I get a little anxious and FH is as cool as a cucumber which helps. We can get pictures before I sob through the vows and possibly ruin makeup. We can enjoy some of cocktail hour with our guests.

We did a first look. We are both private people and we also had spent the night before apart so we were going on almost a day without seeing each other. It was so nice to see him and hug him and kiss him and talk to him before the ceremony. We got to spend about 20 minutes together taking pictures and him hanging out with me and my bridesmaids. We wouldn't have had it any other way. It's definitely a personal preference.

I think it's really a personal decision to be made by each couple. We opted for a first look for a couple of logistical reasons and a couple of emotional reasons.

I had a bit of a complicated timeline, as we provided trolley transportation for the guests from the reception venue (where parking was) to the ceremony venue and back again, but we only had the trolley until 5:45, so the clock started ticking the minute the ceremony ended (~4:20). I was also doing my damnedest to get DH to the cocktail hour as soon as possible so he could enjoy the Irish band which was literally his only request for the wedding. First look let us knock out almost all of the BP pictures before the ceremony, so we only had to do family pics while the trolley shuttled guests to the reception. Once all of the guests and non-BP family were squared away, the trolley took us to one other location for a few snaps, and then dropped us off at the reception. Even with stopping to sign our marriage license on the way into the reception, we were there by 5:30. Achievement unlocked!! I wouldn't have been able to pull this off without a first look.

Emotionally, I thought it would be better for me to have some time with (then)FH before the ceremony to settle some of the nervous energy. As it turned out, I was super calm the entire day, and not very weepy, either. I was just so damn HAPPY there was no room for tears. I will never forget H holding me close and whispering over and over, "You're beautiful. You're so beautiful." And wow, did my heart skip a whole bunch of beats when I saw him standing there, so handsome!! I don't think the first look took anything at all away from our procession. I had literally just seen him 2 minutes earlier, when the gents stepped off, but he still took my breath away when he came to get me at the foot of the aisle. I remember I hesitated before we walked to the "altar" (we were married outside, so there was no altar, just a scenic overlook LOL), because he offered me his arm when he was supposed to take and kiss my hand (he forgot!), and I just stared at him for a second. Finally he said, "Are you ready?" and I breathed, "Yes." It was beautiful and perfect, and I wouldn't have had it any other way...except if I could have gotten that hand-kissing picture

We also had a great time goofing off with our BP after we finished pictures and were waiting for the ceremony to start. A flask went around, and there was a lot of good-natured teasing going on--our officiant almost got slugged when he started joking with me about the bagpiper not being able to make it because he had been hospitalized (he was not). Everyone was so relaxed going into the ceremony, and those moments will be some of the best memories of the day.

TL;DR: Team First Look!

We're not doing first look,but first touch yes!

Team first look!

I want a private moment for FH and I. It also happens to be an evening beach wedding and I want as many photos as we can before the sunsets.

FH didnt care until I told him what it was. Then he was loving the idea. My daughter is my MOH so she will be there to fluff my dress when needed (which she LOVES doing).

He cried at the 1st look. He cried when I walked down the aisle. He cried after the ceremony.

I'm not a fan of traditions; I embrace change. Do we always have to do what someone else has done?

I vote for first look - 150%.

We and our bridal party got to enjoy every minute of our cocktail hour and all it's fabulous food.