First Look: Yes or No?

We did one, and as someone with anxiety, it was so helpful to have that moment. Also I don't think it at all took away feom the moment he first saw me walk towards him- one of my favorite pics is from that moment- where his mom had grabbed his hand. Also, I didn't wear my veil for the first look, so there was still something to surprise him with.

Best part of the day! Really helped with anxiety and did not take away from walking down the aisle.

We are not doing a first look mainly due to FH wanting to wait to see me. This is one of the few things he is very interested in, so even if it makes it slightly harder in terms of schedules, thats ok with me. He will be happy.

I'm having the exact same issue. My FH wants to see me walking down the isle, but I want the first look, gives up some private moments together. I don't know what to do, at this point. I wish I had answers, but do what, you think is best. Good luck

We’re not doing a first look, neither of us wanted it so it was an easy decision. I didn’t even realize it was a thing until I saw pictures of it on Pinterest! I want the whole experience of walking down the aisle and seeing his face as he sees me in my dress for the first time. Besides we will have enough time in between the ceremony and reception for pictures.

View Quoted Comment It’s comforting to know someone else is in the same boat as me! I really want to do what FH wants, but our venue has a noise ordinance so all music must be off by 10pm so I really think a first look would help the timeline of the day so we can maximize our time at the venue. Such a hard decision lol and this forum is not helping... I didn’t expect everyone to be so 50/50 split about the issue haha

We haven’t officially decided, but we probably will do a first look. The main reason is that we’re getting married on new year’s eve and our photographer pointed out that if we wait until after the ceremony, we won’t have any daylight for photos outside. Something to keep in mind for any winter brides. It bums me out a bit, by I think I’ll be happy that the moment will be more intimate. I hate when people see me emotional, so the idea that everyone is waiting to see my reaction (didn’t realize people actually looked for that) makes me really uncomfortable.

View Quoted Comment I know, lol, we have months to figure it out, but the noise ordinance, do the first look. You just have to persuade him and get him to see your point. Best of luck, hope it goes your way

DO IT. I have been told time and again by many brides, coordinator, photographer, etc that a first look is for sure the way to go as you will have plenty of time to get those amazing pics, without sacrificing greeting your guests at cocktail hour.

For me, it will ease anxieties. We can come together and have our own special moments, and still be able to enjoy ourselves during the ceremony, as well as at cocktail hour. These people are making a special trip for you and your FH - you at least owe them a "hello" for a hot second, and you won't cover everyone at the reception.

I say do it. Tradition is fine, but at the end of the day, would you rather have a bunch of amazing pics to look at and the memory of greeting all of your guests, or just you walking anxiously down an aisle?

We are not doing a first look. At first we said sure they would make for beautiful pictures. Then we realized that the thing we wanted was to capture a moment of wow. So as we get close and closer to our date I find myself saying I can’t wait to see him in that moment that we have been waiting for. That moment will be the most beautiful one of the day for me at least.

We're still discussing it (as with many others, I think he wants to go the more traditional route).

My photographer suggested that for our wedding (which is around 5:30ish in June), the light for pictures would be better after the ceremony--if we do our first look, it will be in the middle of the day when the light is at its harshest. I still want to do the first look, but if we do it, maybe we can take some pictures indoors.

I battled on this too, but my venue has a gorgeous staircase that I cannot wait to walk down, and even though people have said otherwise, I think it will take away from that first look moment where I'm at the top of the stairs about to come down.

We also plan on sneaking away after the ceremony just for 5 minutes to have a moment of "Omg! We're married!" and during that time, the photographer and wedding party and such will be gathering for pictures.

I'm also planning on getting pictures of me and my bridesmaids and family before the ceremony- that way we only need to get a few during cocktail hour. We also have a few that will require lower lighting so they need to be taken later, so I'll be stepping out of the party for 5-10 minutes.

If your FH wants to keep it traditional and he's kind of set on it, keep it traditional. A wedding day can still flow perfectly well without a first look if you plan ahead.

We were really against it at first too, because we thought that the moment that I walk down the aisle would be powerful, emotional, blissful, etc.

Then I got to thinking (I struggle with social anxiety disorder), if we want that powerful, blissful, exciting moment, shouldn't it just be the two of us? We're excited to experience that intimacy and bliss before the wedding occurs, not in front of 100+ other people. It'll give us time to hug and kiss and really take it all in. I'm honestly very excited about the first look.

I've also heard that doing a first look does not take the power and emotion out of the walk down the aisle, and if anything it makes it better and stronger.

I want to do a first look. FH doesn't because of tradition, but only because it's traditional, not because he's really against a first look.

We are not doing a first look. My FH is adamant about not doing it. He said he wants the first glimpse of see me when I walk down the aisle. He can be so romantic and doesn’t ask for much so I give in to him.

We did a first touch, and it was AWESOME! Our pastor came to him first and prayed with him, then the pastor came and prayed with me, then the pastor and photographer got us in the right positions for the first touch. It only took a minute or 2, and I can't wait to see the pictures, as our pastor had us both laughing! Our posed portraits didn't take that much extra time after the ceremony, and all but 5 of our 40-some guests were in one family portrait or another!

We are doing a first look - our ideal scenario was to not do one, but because we are getting married in winter daylight is extremely short - (it gets dark early) and we REALLY want photos outside - our venue has some amazing landscaping and even in the winter it will be beautiful and we want to capture that. So based on the fact we would not be able to get those photos without a first look we decided to do one...

I think this is something I still need to talk to my FH about, but! I think that it would be cute to do a "first look" without him actually looking. LOL I saw a few other people post about it, but this way you can do some cute pictures, get YOUR nerves a little bit calmer.

I think it will be ultimately something you two have to decide together. I think it is romantic as well he wants the first look to be of you walking down the aisle.

Well, we did a first look for all the reasons you stated, and it was our favorite part of the day. I really, truly don't know where people got the idea that it's somehow less special than not seeing each other until you walk down the aisle. Walking down the aisle was still a very special moment, even after having done a first look. But I honestly think it's more special to see them one on one first, because that moment can be truly intimate, and you can hug and kiss them right away. If you wait until the ceremony to see each other, you still have to wait another 30 minutes before you can do that.

We are doing a first look- my fiance is a professional photographer and finds that it's a lot harder to stick to the schedule and get decent photos when the couple skips the first look. Plus, I don't want to skip out on cocktail hour!