Opinions on first look photos???

We are doing a first look so we can enjoy our cocktail hour and guests. Plus I'm happy that I will get to see my FH earlier in the day and that we will have some time alone leading up to the ceremony to just enjoy.

I prefer/recommend couples do a 1st Look because of the time spent trying to gather everyone after the ceremony. This leaves very little time for images of just the Bride and Groom ... the 2 people who are getting married! If images between the ceremony and reception are dedicated to the Bride and Groom only, that would be awesome!

ETA : that too SoonToBe Mrs. Green!

I think first looks are super sweet! My FH and I are planning on doing one. Personally, I think it'll help calm my nerves if I'm able to see him before the ceremony.

I want to do a first look, but FH wants to go traditional *eyeroll*. I've got 9 months to talk him into it.

When my BM got married they did a first look and pictures are beautiful.

Having a first look was the 2nd best decision of our wedding, besides the open bar of course ;-)

So would you do bride/groom photos and bridal party photos? Then only do family photos between the ceremony and reception since those don't take long?

Team first look all the way.

@Teftow- I sold my FH on it by telling him he would be able to have drinks during cocktail hour and he was sold at drinks. You have plenty of time.

Sorry guys what is the 1st look....

I'm not sure how others have done it, but all my pics including family will be done before the ceremony. My FH and I will be sneaking away right before dinner to get a couple of sunset photos with just us but other than that I want our pictures done so we could just enjoy the night.

We are doing a first look but the real one will not be photographed. It will just be me in a room with my dress set up waiting for him with champagne, then he will come in (Just him, no photographer) and we will have a few romantic minutes just us two. We will redo a fake one for pictures. My DOC suggested this because she said you lose all the real magic with people in your face and watching, and that night you have 100+ guest to entertain, its nice to have a few moments just the 2 of you

OP, yes most often a first look allows you to take photos of the two of you and with your wedding party before the ceremony. You may be able to fit in some family photos depending on time. Plus it's saves your guests from having to endure a long gap between your ceremony and reception.

Family photos between the ceremony and reception do take long :

- everyone needs to be gathered after the receiving is done (even if no receiving line you still need to gather)

- try getting 2 families gathered in a reasonable amount of time .... doesn't happen even with the best of intentions. Someone is the bathroom, on the phone, outside by their car, gathering the couple's things out of their rooms, left already for the reception ....

- usually the church starts breaking down decor right after all the guests empty the church

- most times the church gives the photographer 20-30 minutes for pictures after the ceremony. That is plenty of time IF we didn't have to regroup and set lighting back up.

There are more reasons but I will stop here. Please know that if you decide to have "only family" pictures done after the ceremony, it will take much longer than you think and will be more stressful.

@Kathleen Then what would you suggest? To do everything before the ceremony? My family is just sooooo big so I wouldn't be able to have everyone there early.

The (time) represent how much time it typically takes me to capture the moment/event SO to give you an idea.

1st Look (10 minutes)

Bride and Groom images. Romantic/candid/together/separate (20 m)

Bride, Groom , BP (15 -30m depending on size)

Family formals (30m).

Family formals should be kept to immediate family. All other groupings can be taken during the reception. Immediate family includes Bride, Groom, parents/step parents, grandparents, siblings and SO/children. Sure this group can range from 5 people to 30+. But truly, immediate family only.

.... continue below ....

If you are getting married in a house of worship, they usually give you 30 minutes after the recessional to do a receiving line, get your stuff from the rooms, and finish pictures.

No matter where you get married, all photography of couple, BP, and family should be done 30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.

By doing the majority of the images before the ceremony you and FH can enjoy cocktail hour or have private time, guests can go immediately to the reception .... everyone gets to relax and enjoy what you planned and paid for!

I think the tradition of waiting is romantic, but I've been to enough weddings waiting around for the couple to finish pictures, I want to have everything done before the ceremony starts so we can enjoy as much of the party with everyone!

ETA dupe post cuz pics from mobile is such a b!tch

Definitely one of our best decisions (like @Sass, right up there with open bar). I knew I would be focused on so much other stuff while walking down the aisle and I never wanted to forget the moment we first saw each other. Bonus was we got to take advantage of golden hour for first look/pics with each other and the lighting was soooo worth it (we would have completely lost out on outdoor pics if we waited til after ceremony cuz it would have been too dark).

Something I loved was that our photographers were insistent it was just the 2 of us so reaction wouldn't be affected not other people---bridal party stayed on the bus drinking. They both also had vantage points that were pretty far away so it really did feel like we were in our own world for a few.

Here are a few of my faves from ours