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DrDecker
Just Said Yes May 2018

First Look yay or nay?

DrDecker, on July 6, 2017 at 11:59 AM Posted in Planning 0 26

I've been going back and forth about doing a first look. I think it will make things run much smoother and allow more time with our guests, however I really want that element of surprise and emotion from my fiancé as I walk down the isle. Our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception are all at the same place so I am worried about being rushed for photos and missing the entire cocktail hour. Appreciative of any input!

26 Comments

Latest activity by TheeOne2Love, on July 6, 2017 at 10:31 PM
  • Kirstie819
    Super August 2017
    Kirstie819 ·
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    Could you do a first look at your ceremony location, get the feel of walking down the aisle?

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  • Mrs. Sponge
    Master April 2018
    Mrs. Sponge ·
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    I am totally ok with missing cocktail hour so we aren't doing a first look. FH want to see me for the first time walking down the aisle and I would be pretty disappointed if we didn't have that moment. The first look pictures I've seen just don't have a fraction of the emotion I've seen of walking down the aisle. So I hate first looks personally.

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  • KDoubleU
    VIP October 2017
    KDoubleU ·
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    We said HELL YES to a first look. I think it will calm my nerves and I can't wait to see his face up close instead of down the aisle. A lot of those who post BAMs highly recommend them. We are also going to use cocktail hour to mingle with guests Smiley smile

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  • Ariel
    Devoted August 2017
    Ariel ·
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    I'm not doing it. It's all about preference.

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  • Justine
    Dedicated July 2017
    Justine ·
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    We are doing a first look. We are having all of our stuff at the same place too. We want to be able to spend the day with our guests and get our photos done while everything is fresh looking lol.

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  • FutureMrsD
    Super July 2019
    FutureMrsD ·
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    Definitely doing a first look! I'm pretty emotional and don't think I could handle that moment in front of all of our guests. FH understands this about me and was fine with this. Plus he DIDN'T have a first look at his first wedding, so he's happy to do things differently this time!

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  • Spaghetti
    VIP November 2018
    Spaghetti ·
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    I would search this topic on here. It's been asked many times with many responses, so you'll get a good idea Smiley smile My fiance and I will be doing a first look.

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  • Ebony502
    Super November 2015
    Ebony502 ·
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    Yes to first look!!! It is amazing, you get to have two special moments with your hubby! For our first look I didn't wear a veil so that there would be a different feeling when I walked down the aisle. Logistically it worked because I didn't feel rushed taking pictures, I was able to take a few family pictures after the ceremony and still had time to relax, eat and connect with DH before the reception. Also the photos captured during a first look are so intimate and really capture the moment. It gives you a minute to shake off some of the anxiety and really be in the moment. For me, walking down the aisle was overwhelming. Walking with my parents, trying to keep the same pace, my mom was stepping on my dress, lol. I was glad I had "just us" time before. Lastly walking down with a veil still felt different and emotional. He didn't cry during the first look but when I was walking down that aisle there were waterworks like he didn't just see me an hour ago. From my experience the first look did not take away the impact of me walking down the aisle.

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  • Samantha
    VIP June 2017
    Samantha ·
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    We did not do a first look and I wouldn't have changed it for anything. I have always known that I wanted the first time H saw me to be as I was walking down the aisle, and I am so glad that I stuck with it. We took all of our "posed" shots with family in 15 minutes right after the ceremony and then walked over to the carousel where the cocktail hour was and took pictures on the carousel and got to mingle with people. Then when people left to head up to the reception H and I hung back and took a few more pictures while everyone was getting settled, and then he went and had our grand entrance.

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  • LibraryBelle
    Super January 2018
    LibraryBelle ·
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    Not doing a first look. It's important that my FH see me for the first time as I am about to become his wife. I plan on doing photos with my bridal party before hand, but have dedicated a full 1.5 hours for cocktail hour while we do photos. To each their own.

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  • Tara
    Super September 2017
    Tara ·
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    Totally team first look, but as others have said, its really what you prefer. My sister who recently got married, for example, chose to wait to walk down the aisle. Afterwards pictures felt rushed, people were trying to congratulate them. People were trying to talk to the parents of bride/groom. People were trying to talk to bridal party. Everyone of us, including Bride and Groom wanted to nix the pics and go enjoy the fellowship with all our friends and family, some of whom we hadnt seen in years. So I dont think she got nearly as many pics as she wanted.. along with the fact that the bridal party was all famished.

    As for me, FH and I dont want to share this special intimate moment with anyone else. We want to have it alone. Im a very emotional person and I think it will be too much to have that moment in front of 150 people. Also, I am so excited about getting all pictures out of the way - of just he and I. We may have 5 or 10 big family pics afterwards, but nothing extravagant.. and we can go on to the party immediately.

    ETA: Punctuation.

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  • Deondra
    Dedicated October 2023
    Deondra ·
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    I thought about doing a first look but decided against it bc of the element of surprise ! Do what feels right for you two!

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  • Amanda
    Expert September 2017
    Amanda ·
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    My FH and I are doing first look because we will be so nervous and self conscious at the ceremony that we would prefer to have a more genuine moment in private. That's just us though. We are private people to start, and uncomfortable in front of crowds, even if they are all family.

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  • JonesPartyof2
    Devoted July 2017
    JonesPartyof2 ·
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    We're doing a first look... it will calm my nerves and it'll be a nice personal moment between us where the photographer can still capture FH emotions as he sees me for the first time!

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  • Hbanana1111
    Super September 2017
    Hbanana1111 ·
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    We aren't. I actually like the idea but FH wants to wait, which is ok with me.

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  • Lakeya
    VIP September 2017
    Lakeya ·
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    FH turned down first look, instead we are doing a first touch!

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  • Dreamer
    Master May 2013
    Dreamer ·
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    Absolutely YES! Waiting for the aisle is rooted in superstition and archaic thinking. I.e. arranged marriages where the couple didn't meet each other until the aisle, etc.

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  • Sarah
    Devoted August 2017
    Sarah ·
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    We are doing our first look. My fiancé is super stage fight so I am hoping this will help. I like it because it gets a little alone time before all the guest want all of our attention

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  • Oct2018Bride
    Super October 2018
    Oct2018Bride ·
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    Initially I was against the first look, but we've decided to do it. It works better with our timeline, and I'm afraid that if we don't, we won't get all of the pictures taken that we want after the ceremony.

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  • Becky-Jo
    Devoted May 2017
    Becky-Jo ·
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    We did a first look. I actually was very happy with it because we got to spend time with our guests during cocktail hour and we didn't feel rushed at all! I also did a first look with my dad. That was awesome as well!!

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