First Look.... with bridal party and parents? What?

Tania, that's what I was thinking. Well if you're doing a first look with that many people, why not save it until the ceremony? What's the point?

I have heard of that, but if I were doing one (we aren't), I would want it to just be with my FH.

It depends. Is your personal purpose to have an intimate moment with your FH, or is it a photo op?

I can't help but wonder if FH has just heard of the first look, and doesn't realize it's just the two of you. Men don't tend to pay attention to details like that. lol

The whole point is so you can get pictures done with before hand, mine isn't for a "private" moment- it's just for logistics

It doesn't defeat the purpose if they are doing a first look with bystanders. When you save it for the ceremony, you are not alone and there are many more bystanders. I think the first look is basically done to eliminate the time for photos with the bridal party. At least, that is my impression. I am doing a first look so I can get my bridal party pictures done before the ceremony. I will probably invite my bridal party but not my parents.

DH and I did a first look and it was the two of us, his daughter and my sister (who acted as my DOC). We then went to the ceremony/reception location for family photos. Since both ceremony and reception were in the same room I wanted to do family photos before the ceremony so our guests didn't have to sit through an hour plus of photos.

@PurpleKitten: It's to make sure I fugly cry in front of him and not all our guests-theoretically if I see him first before the ceremony it won't be as intense when I'm walking down. At least that's what I'm telling myself lol.

Ladies talking logistically: I can see what you're saying, and BringOnMay, agreed ha! Both FH and my mom were saying it was a planned moment, ie, bridal party stands facing each other in two lines but bride and groom face out, then they turn around at once and see each other. I mean, sure, a sweet photo op but wouldn't you want that orchestrated moment alone? Or maybe not, if it's just for logistics sake lol.

In my family its the tradition for only the MOB to be with the Bride when we get our dresses and no one gets to see it until the day of. So we do have a "First look" so to speak with our BMs that morning. Im not doing a first look with my dad, but thats kind of how we do it in my family, if that helps any

I have heard of separate first looks for your FH, parents, and bridal party...but never all at once.

Never heard of that. It's going to just be me and FH (and our photographer of course)

Jade, that's a cute idea! I love it! My MOH was there when I bought it so you know, there's that haha but I do like that idea.

Future_Flaherty, that was my thought too. I mean I've thrown around the idea of a first look with my dad and step-dad... which would be separate from FH and I's first look.

I kind of like the idea of it. Only because once the wedding starts, you have virtually no intimate time with ANYBODY. You're thrown in front of possibly hundreds of people and you don't get to have much of a "moment" with parents, FH, etc.

FH doesn't want us to have one, but I do kind of want one with my father who I never get to see (he's a long haul trucker), my brother (who we almost lost last year), and possibly my grandmother. It's more to have an intimate moment than a photo.

Funny you bring this up, FMIL just asked the other night if they were all going to be with us when we had our first look. she just honestly had no idea how it worked though. We will definitely be alone. We're doing our first look about two and a half hours before the ceremony and then doing all our pictures too though.

I'm with purple kitten. There are two reasons people do a first look. The first is to get pictures out of the way before the ceremony and to have a timesaver so you can get to the reception quicker. The second reason is to have a private moment with your future husband to see each other and also to get some of the raw emotions off the table before you walk down the aisle. If you want it to just be you and your future husband that seems to be the most common one :-)

I was part of the bridal party of one of these First Looks, but we were a bit out of the way. I understand that it's about the groom and bride to have their own personal time together, so having us at higher ground gave them their time, but we were still there watching. Sure it's "personal time," but you still have a photographer there so it's only so "personal".

I don't know how I will do mine, but I do understand both sides of this. I suppose it's personal preference, possibly preference of photographer too.

Melissa, that was our plan too. First look at 12:30, ceremony is at 3:30, so we get two to two and a half hours of pictures after that but I want the first look to be just FH and I (And our photographers).

Jenja, I like the idea of them watching from afar. It's just honestly, I had never heard of this before my mom brought it up!

We're doing it both ways I guess? We're doing a first look with just the two of us and the photographer, but then after we'll start taking pictures with the bridal party so to get them done before the ceremony. So we're getting a private moment and then bridal party pictures. I assumed that's what most people meant when they said first look? Are y'all still doing bridal party pics after the ceremony?

We are planning on having a private-ish first look but we are also taking wedding party and family pictures before the ceremony. We'll just do the first look and couple photos first. Then everyone else will join us for pictures. Now looking at comments, we're doing the same as Sara. If you have the time to do it both ways I would. I want to get the party started and not keep everyone waiting for us to wrap up photos.

I didn't even know they were doing that now. I've always know the first look with the FH to be when you walk down the isle.