First look vs no first look?

We will definitely be having a first look. We want to attend our cocktail hour!

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They said that they felt that if were a couple that didnt wear their emotions on their sleeves, that they felt like the pictures were forced and a little awkward for them. They also said that when hey walked down the aisle, they dont think the butterflies were the same so the reactions were not the same since they had already seen each other and if the timeline fails in anyway, it can make the couple feel very rushed

I did not wait for the event, because I did love marriage and I know him for four years before marriage

I will not be doing a first look. The logistics aren't important enough for me to jeopardize a moment I've been looking forward to. I understand people's reasoning. But it's not something I can be swayed on. I also look forward to taking pictures during cocktail hour. It will give me a second to pause before the reception. FH and I are both introverts. Taking pictures during cocktail hour gives us a minute before being surrounded by people. It's literally whatever you want it to be. But I'm not going to do something I don't want for logistics. Like what feels right or good for you two?

We won't be doing a first look. We'll get our "individual group" pictures out of the way before the ceremony (me and bridesmaids/my family, him and groomsmen/his family), and do the rest of them with both of us included at the beginning of the cocktail hour. They shouldn't take more than half an hour since we won't need a huge amount of pictures at that point and we can still join in for the second half. As a wedding guest, my absolute favorite thing to do is watch the groom's face when he first sees his bride walking down the aisle. Even if he doesn't tear up and have a huge reaction, there's just something so special about it. If a first look happens, guests won't be able to see that original unscripted reaction. Pictures really don't do it justice here either. Since that's my favorite thing, I don't want to rob guests of that. There are also certain traditions that I've always loved and us not seeing each other before the ceremony is one of them.

The main things to consider are your timeline and exactly what pictures you want. If you only have your photographer for 6 hours but want pictures of the ladies getting ready as well as pictures of guests dancing, doing a first look would add extra time while just doing those pictures during the cocktail hour would keep those things more on track. If that isn't a concern for you but you'd love to be able to fully enjoy the cocktail hour, then a first look is probably a good idea. Same goes for if you think seeing him earlier might help calm those day-of jitters.

A friend and her husband did a first look and they recommend it to everyone. She was originally anti first look but the photographer explained the process and she said after it calmed both of them so they weren't nervous wrecks. But it didn't take away any magic from walking down the aisle. Others I know who didn't have a first look said they were stressed the whole time and pressed for time to get to their reception to mingle with guests and did not enjoy themselves.

I rescpectfully disagree with those who think that the groom and the bride/both grooms/both brides are overeacting at the 1st look because a camera is there:
#1: It's at the ceremony too , so it means that the brides/grooms are overreacting too when they don't see each other beforr the ceremony.
#2: I have NO DOUBT that most of them are eithe naturalr when they do a 1st look because they forget the cameras , no matter how close or how far from the couple they are. I even believe that some of them are "underreacting", especially men. We are not married yet but both want a 1st look because 1) The photos will be shot before the ceremony so we will enjoy the cocktail hour as a way to greet our guests .2) Having the photos done before the ceremony is a better option in my opinion coz we are "fresher" . The bride's hairs and make up change throught the day and night and the groom is also "fresher". 3) We can skip both the receiving line and visiting tables . We hate both but I know we have to greet and talk to everyon for at least for 10 sec with each, so the CH is a good option.4) We are neither supersticious nor traditional, to the point that (I know it's off-topic,sorry ahead of time) :I saw her dress in a hanger but didn't see her wearing it (I'm a groom, she was dying to show me and I didn't mind to see it . Both moms were upset by this but we didn't cared about what they thought LOL) .
Do you think that seeing him before hand will ease your nerves and will make the walking down the aisle thing easier ? Are you supersticious, traditional ? Do you want to keep the surprise for when you'll walk down the aisle?Answering these will help you and your man (or woman) to make a decision.

I am “anti” first-look. Only for myself, I think everyone should do what makes them happiest and most comfortable. My personal reasons are:
(1) I think having that moment in front of our guests inherently creates a more vulnerable & intimate moment for us. Although I am an introvert, neither of us is shy.
(2) We have a fairly small guest list (48 not including us) and those people are very important us. We invited them to share in this intimate day & I don’t want to cheat them out of one of the most anticipated moments of a wedding! (At least it is for me).(3) The build up of anticipation after not seeing each other for 2 days will, for us at least, make for a more emotional ceremony. The ceremony is actually where I am concentrating most of my planning efforts since that’s most important part to us (we are have a dinner only reception, so no big entertainment or anything afterwards).
Again, not criticizing anyone else’s choices, just chiming in with my own :-)