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Devoted April 2020

Past Brides that did a First Look

Courtney, on November 2, 2019 at 4:49 PM Posted in Wedding Ceremony 0 19

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Are you glad you did it? Do you regret doing it? If you could go back, would you still do it? Did it make it any less special when you walked down the aisle having already seen each other?

In our "circle of friends", it is still very uncommon to do this. Two of our friends have been married the past two years and neither did it.
I'm not opposed to the idea and I think it would be a great opportunity to get our pictures together before the ceremony so afterwards we could just do bridal party and family, but I'm not sure my fiance would be on board with it.

I don't know how to convince him otherwise and if it is truly something he is against doing, I don't want to push it. I just love all the first look photos I see and I think it is an intimate moment between the bride and groom.

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19 Comments

Latest activity by Lady, on November 4, 2019 at 3:38 PM

Devoted December 2019
Jocelyn · on November 2, 2019 at 4:54 PM
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Following! I'm debating as well on if we should do it to save us some time for after the ceremony pictures! Our wedding is next month at 5pm and it will be dark down here in Florida. So I figured we could get some pictures at 4 when our photographer gets to the venue during sunset. I feel like my parents will say I shouldn't do it and let him see me first down the isle but I'm torn! I'd love to see what others have to say as well!
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Dedicated November 2019
Hannah · on November 2, 2019 at 5:05 PM
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We are, because the ceremony is only 15 minutes long, the only guests are family, and I’d rather spend time with my family after the wedding instead of leaving to do photos. It’s also close to sunset, so I don’t want to take photos in the dark.
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Champion October 2018
Kelly · on November 2, 2019 at 5:24 PM
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Zero regrets and didn’t make walking down the aisle any less special! I had butterflies in my stomach before I walked and we both sobbed as I walked down. It calmed some nerves and got pictures out of the way so we could greet all of our guests in our cocktail hour.
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Savvy October 2021
Julie · on November 2, 2019 at 5:27 PM
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We won't do being doing a first look. I have a froend that super regretted it. Her FH CRIED and got all sentimental when he saw her. During the ceremony he was calm- not a tear or a smile for the crowd.
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Expert October 2019
Jess · on November 2, 2019 at 5:45 PM
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We didn’t do a first look and ended up actually arriving early to our reception from the photos. Our photographer understood that we wanted to eat and see our guests and didn’t take a super long time! i’m happy we didn’t do a first look and we still ended up getting the pics we wanted!
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Devoted October 2019
Gmm · on November 2, 2019 at 6:22 PM
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We did it as we wanted to enjoy cocktail hour instead of taking pictures...didn’t wear my veil so that was a surprise for him.

Glad we did it with no regrets!
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Master May 2019
Cyndy · on November 2, 2019 at 6:34 PM
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We did a first look and I would do it again. At the time my husband didn’t want to do it but he is also glad we did it. One of my favorite photos of the day was from our first look. I am so glad we got that private time before the ceremony. It helped with my nerves a bit but didn’t take away from the ceremony walk at all.
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Dedicated October 2019
Erin · on November 2, 2019 at 7:10 PM
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We did a first look and don’t regret it. It was nice to have the intimate moment for ourselves and we were able to get a lot of photos done before the wedding. I can’t wait to get our photos and see his face. I was a lot less nervous walking down the aisle as well
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Master October 2019
Meghan · on November 2, 2019 at 7:34 PM
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We did a first look and do not regret it what so ever. It was actually one of our favorite parts of the day! It was such a special moment shared between just the 2 of us. And the sneak peek photos we’ve received have been so amazing! Every time I look at them, I cry again lol. Walking down the aisle was still very special and we still both teared up.
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Devoted April 2020
Courtney · on November 2, 2019 at 8:03 PM
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That's such a sweet picture!
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Devoted April 2020
Courtney · on November 2, 2019 at 8:05 PM
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Thank you everyone for your responses! I know it is ultimately something we will have to decide on and I know we still have time.

Our ceremony is at 430 in April so I don't think we will be worrying about it getting dark or anything like that. It will purely be a time saver if we did it.

I also like the idea of a first touch and writing letters to each other before the ceremony.
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Master October 2021
Sexypoodle · on November 2, 2019 at 9:31 PM
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So what did your FH say when you asked him about doing a first look?
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Devoted April 2020
Courtney · on November 2, 2019 at 9:34 PM
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Well right now he is opposed to the idea because it isn't something that is common around here or at least not with our friends. He says he wants the first time to be when I'm walking down the aisle. If he stands firm on that, we will not do one.
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Super August 2019
Btbride · on November 2, 2019 at 10:11 PM
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NO REGRETS about doing a first look!! It was such an intimate and emotional moment and it is one of my most cherished memories. My husband cried at the first look and still cried when I walked down the aisle, it didn't take away from it at all.
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January 2019
MOB So Cal · on November 2, 2019 at 10:34 PM
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Daughter and SIL had absolutely NO regrets about first look. Their first look photos are amazing, and they got to see and calm each other down. They were able to do a ton of their photos and those with the wedding party before the ceremony. SIL was still wiping away tears as daughter & FOB appeared at the doors of the ceremony site and she came down the aisle, and he was clearly very moved by the moment. There was no mistaking his was a genuine emotional response.
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Legend June 2019
Melle · on November 3, 2019 at 12:30 AM
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I'm glad I did it because logistically it left me more time to set up and do other things because I just didn't have the time to do photos during or after
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VIP November 2019
Laura · on November 3, 2019 at 5:24 PM
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My mother has decided to walk herself. Her & Dad split a lifetime ago, we have no male relatives on her side, my brother is unavailable. She doesn’t really know FH very well so we thought that’d be awkward.
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VIP October 2019
Ivy ORP · on November 4, 2019 at 11:03 AM
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We did it and it was perfect!!!! Honestly, once I saw her, all my nerves went away. We were there together, that was all we needed. We got pictures done before the ceremony and it gave us a chance to calm each other down and celebrate before showing up in front of all our guests. Some of my favorite pictures came from our first look.
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Legend July 2019
MrsD · on November 4, 2019 at 12:32 PM
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We didn't do one. I did a first look with my dad (such a nice moment for both of us) but that's it. I wouldn't change it for the world, not doing one with my husband. The moment I walked down the aisle was SO emotional for both of us. Yes, we missed cocktail hour but that was okay with us. The only thing I'd change is hiring a second photographer to take some cocktail hour pictures.
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Lady · on November 4, 2019 at 3:38 PM
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We didn't, and I wish we would have!!
Once the ceremony was over, we did family and bridal party pictures and i just felt like we were anxious to get to guests and didn't really take time to enjoy. I would have loved to have just 30 minutes alone together, before all the craziness and nerves and fun.
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