Pictures before or after ceremony

Tough decision, I want to do first look pic but my FH doesn't understand. I'm trying to explain it to him but doesn't want to see me till I come down the aisle. So I guess I'm stuck with after the ceremony. But it's up to you.

We knocked out a lot of our pictures before the ceremony. We chose not to see one another before the ceremony, so we both took most of the pictures with the bridal party and our family separately. After the ceremony, we took care of the rest. It saved us about an 1 to 1.5 hours and we actually got to enjoy the last hour of our cocktail party. We chose not to have a cocktail hour because it was going to be about 2 - 2.5 hours long.

I have couples do both ways....but with me it's not much of an issue because I only do maybe 20 minutes of portraits anyway.

We're in the same boat with a 2:30 ceremony. We decided to start pictures before and then finish the odds and ends before the reception.

So starting with individual sides into first look. Full bridal party and any family pictures after the ceremony that couldn't be fit in before.

Ive been to a couple weddings where the photos have been after the wedding. This is great for the bride and groom because they tend to have a glow afterwards that shows in the photos

As a guest,

At one of the weddings we waited for 2 hours after to do ANYTHING because they were taking photos. So as a guest it got kind of boring.

For this reason,

For my wedding I have chosen to do a first look with all photos with family, friends, and wedding party before and then a few couple photos after the ceremony to capture the glow. I just dont want my guests sitting around with nothing to do while we take 2 hours of photos.

That's when our wedding started and honestly there was NOT any time to take photos beforehand, even though we wanted to. It's not impossible but for us and our timeline it never would have worked out.

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We are doing some pictures before of the bridemaids and groomsman together. mom and dad pictures and all that, then cocktail hour will be the time with my FH, larger pictures of everyone together and the solo pictures w me and the hubby.

Our wedding is at 5pm though so we have alot of the day to do that

We planned on doing a first look, but ended up not having enough time and I believe it worked out better that way. Nothing can replace your hubby seeing you for the first time with dress walk down the aisle! I don't think my hubby will ever forget that moment.

We are planning on before and after the ceremony.

Same here, before and after. But no 1st look.

There are lots of reasons to take them before and every photographer will say they love a first look. It saves time after the ceremony and lets you be part of the party, it is the time the day that you look the freshest the flowers look the freshest, your makeup looks the freshest (especially in the summer...). It cuts down on the anxiety of not seeing each other all day and the nerves walking down the aisle. It gives your photographer an easier,longer way to capture the first look. It doesn't take away from the 'end of aisle' (In my experience).

You'll still have some photos to take afterwards,but they should be minimal...,.just remember to discuss your timeline with your photographer and STICK TO IT YOURSELF> You have control over your time and you make it very clear to the people that are necessary before the ceremony that lateness is not an option; not by photographers, MUA's, hair or music. Being late is one of the biggest stressors of the whole day (as you can tell, I"m not a fan of, "Every wedding starts late".

With what gets served at cocktail hours here? There is no way I"d miss it. Most of our couples do a first look, then a few family photos and private time, and they are in the cocktail hour for at least half of it.