First look, yay or nay?

There are tons of posts on this here, so I would recommend checking those out.

I can't speak from experience since my wedding hasn't happened yet, but we plan to do a first look. Neither of us felt strongly one way or the other about them, but it's going to majorly help us with our timeline so we've decided to do one.

We did a first look and I'm so glad we did. Before the ceremony we had 45 minutes together to do bridal portraits, and then we breezed through formal family portraits during cocktail hour and were able to enjoy part of cocktail hour with friends. It also meant we spent more of the day together. The best parts of my day were the parts where I was with my wife, so more time apart just didn't appeal to me. I was just as emotional going down the aisle, but instead of taking in my wife's reaction, I took in the atmosphere. All my friends and family, some crying. The fireplace lit up and the rest of the lights dimmed. The flower girl waving me on to "come here, come here". There were so many other wonderful elements of walking down the aisle that I really didn't miss out. I sobbed the entire way down the aisle too. LOL

I highly recommend doing a first look. It doesn't take anything away from that moment when you walk down the aisle and you get to have your own private moment. It helps with your timeline so you can get most of your pictures before the ceremony. This way you can enjoy visiting with your guests during cocktail hour. It also helps if either of you have anxiety because seeing each other for the first time is intense. Imagine having a room full of people staring at you at the same time. I love how my DH reacted when he saw me and he was able to express himself freely because no one else was around to put any pressure on him. Here are some of my favorite first look pics.

I was initially against the idea, as I wanted my FH to see me for the first time walking down the aisle. Then FH started making comments periodically about how he was going to break down crying when he saw me in my dress. He seemed ok with that scenario at first, but then I sensed his anxiety over it was building. I asked him about a first look, and he had never heard of this. When I explained what it was, I could see his face flood with relief! He thought it was the greatest idea ever! Not only because he could have his cry in private (away from our families), but also he loved the idea of us having some quiet moments together before the formalities got going. His reaction convinced me that it was the right thing to do. Now, I'm so excited about it too!! It will also allow us to take most of our photos before the ceremony, thereby giving us more time with our guests at the reception. Win-Win!!

I didn’t want a first look. The first time my husband saw me was when I walked down the aisle. I didn’t expect it to be so intimate, but it was! We locked eyes immediately, and I never saw anyone else. Here we are after he ceremony. He has the sweetest smile on his face!

We’re not doing it bc my fiancé is superstitious about it and he really wants that first aisle moment. I only wanted it for photo timing and if it’s important to him I want to do what he wants.

We did not do it. We wanted our first look to be me walking down the aisle with my father. I wanted to share that moment with all of our loved ones because to me, that's the best part! A first look takes some of the magic away.

There are brides who choose to do it so that they have more time with their guests after the ceremony. We just opted to extend our reception.

My FH and I are choosing not to do a first look either And that is because we want the walk down the aisle to be special. However, I am taking the time before our ceremony to do a first look with my father in order to not waste any precious photography time. My dad and I are also best friends so I feel that it will be just as special. I say do what you think feels right! And also what you are comfortable with. Personally, I know I will cry walking down the aisle either way so I figured I might as well feel everything, for the first time, in front of all our friends and family - and share that moment with them. Good luck in deciding what you will do at your wedding and remember that there is no wrong choice!

I say nay, but hey, I'm traditional. Do whatever makes you both feel most comfortable/ happy!

I plan on doing a first look so we can knock a lot of our group pictures out of the way before the ceremony. It's going to be dark by the time our ceremony is over and don't want to run into the issue of not having enough light for pictures. Plus it helps get all those jitters under control!

I don't know what to do. Fiance can't decide either. HELP!

In a nutshell...do whatever feels right to you and your fiancee. There is no right or wrong here, but there is a different feel to each. Do whatever is going to be most meaningful for you both. Whatever you choose will be wonderful.

Years ago at my first wedding we decided to NOT do first looks. I don't regret it necessarily, but I found there was so much going on in that moment...going straight from getting ready in the bridal suite to my dad escorting me down the aisle, our family and friends, the decorations and lighting, the music, the weather, etc etc etc. There was so much to take in and so much emotion. Now, a lifetime later, as I'm lucky enough to have found love again, I'm planning another wedding. This time we're doing first looks. I want to find a quiet moment - just the two of us - to connect and really enjoy each other before our whirlwind of a day begins.

We have gone back and forth. I primarily left it up to my fiance and he has ultimately decided on no first look because he wants to share that moment with all our loved ones and he is right. It has always been one of the primary traditions let alone Superstitions. I am very Happy with his decision the only reason we would have done the first look is to save time for the the ceremony that way our photos can be taken care of with the photographer without taking up precious reception time. Also think about how much better the photo session will look taken right after "I now pronounce you man and wife" the looks, the feelings will show in the photos. So I am now convinced after much debating and weighing pros and cons that it is important for
The groom to first see the bride walking down the isle, it by far makes the moment incredibly bigger, magical and memorable.

We are not going to do a first look. Instead, I am having the photographer arrive a couple of hours before the ceremony begins to take photos of my fiancé and his groomsmen, then of me and my bridesmaids immediately following. That way we have a good chunk of our photos out of the way before the ceremony even begins. After the ceremony ends, we will do bride & groom, whole wedding party, and family pictures during cocktail hour.

I will definitely be doing a first look because I don’t plan to walk down the aisle. I would imagine that bride & groom, immediate family photos would be easier this way.

I too am very traditional and I was against it at first but I have a bomb photographer who highly recommended it. Now that I think about it, it will be a very intimate moment that I look forward to it.

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Completely agree with this; it's such a personal decision.

We. are doing one because I think the photos of first looks are so beautiful and intimate and they really seem to capture the spirit of each couple's particular wedding day.

If you're truly torn, I've also seen some first look sessions where the spouses are not in their wedding clothes. So you can see each other before the ceremony, calm your nerves, have a private moment, maybe exchange gifts if you're doing that. Then you still get the moment at the ceremony where you first see each other in your wedding clothes. This doesn't help with the photography timeline, but it's a solution where you can have it both ways!

Were planning on a first look, were doing this for a couple reasons: We are getting married in the fall at night and I want outdoor pictures so we are actually doing a majority of our pictures before the actual ceremony, that way we can get the good light and then we can enjoy our cocktail hour and the whole reception with everyone. The other reason, my fiance is my rock and the person that can calm me down. I know I will have butterflies and the nerves before walking down the aisle and having the time before with him just him and me will be really special.

We are choosing to do one simply from the advice from WW. This moment seems so special and unique, why not? I do not think it will take away from him seeing me walk down the aisle.