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Chantal
Expert May 2021

Time for Photos When you Don't Do a First Look

Chantal, on February 14, 2020 at 5:04 PM Posted in Planning 0 27

My fiance is super sweet and doesn't want to see me at all on the wedding day until I am walking down the aisle towards him. I absolutely love this idea, if I'm honest, and am more than happy to oblige.

Here's my concern.

We are getting married at 4pm, and our ceremony location is separate from the reception location (for a plethora of reasons). I want to make sure we have time to get photos together with me in my wedding dress, but I also don't want to keep the rest of our guests waiting for a long time while we're off getting pictures. The ceremony is at 4, the reception is at 6, and it's about a 30 minute trip from one place to the next (long story short--our venue is very in-the-middle-of-nowhere).

We have 6 hours of coverage with our photographer. For those who have gone through this (and those who have ideas), what's a good way to make sure everyone gets the pictures they need and we don't hold up the party after the ceremony? I'm trying to figure out how would could do all of his photos (him with his groomsmen/family) and if we could do mine separately BEFORE the ceremony, and then only have his and I's photos (with out family and with the bridal party and yada yada) after the fact?

Do you guys have any ideas, or thoughts on what it could look like? I was thinking we would do the "first look," since it's a lot more convenient, but he has his heart set and this is the only thing he's actually asked for so I really want to make this work for us.

27 Comments

Latest activity by Vicky, on February 15, 2020 at 2:29 AM
  • Rebelle Fleur
    Master July 2021
    Rebelle Fleur ·
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    An hour for photos is plenty of time. Just make sure you get as many as you can separate before your ceremony so you can just concentrate on the ones you need together with your bridal/grooms parties. And your guest will be busy eating/drinking/socializing during the cocktail hour to notice.
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  • M
    Legend June 2019
    Melle ·
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    I would do the party photos before the ceremony so that after you're doing photos of you and him and everyone altogether
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  • Jess
    Savvy October 2019
    Jess ·
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    We did this! We did all the photos we wanted with only one of us (so me with all of my girls together and individually, me and my parents, me and my siblings, etc) in different areas of the church before the ceremony. Then after, we did photos with parents and grandparents and siblings at the church, before we went to our reception venue which was also about 30 minutes away. At the reception venue, we did bridal party photos as a group, and then all of the photos of just my husband and I. So our families got to enjoy the entire reception. We missed cocktail hour at our reception, but honestly it was nice to have about an hour with just us.


    Our photographers arrived an hour before the ceremony to do all that. Best piece of advice, gave your photographer a complete photo list, and have someone who is not involved in the photos but who knows most of the people, helping the photographer organize people. I had someone helping so that while the photographer was taking one photo, the people who were in the next photo were lined up and ready to go. This could be a second photographer if you have two or a family friend.
    Good luck!
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  • Nakesha
    Dedicated February 2021
    Nakesha ·
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    Get all of your separate photos before the ceremony, couple photos at your favorite of the two venues.
    I made a list of all the shots we want from our photographer plus when we expect them to be taken (I'm overorganized) and who should be in them. We also plan to have somebody in charge of gathering everybody for the pics and making sure sunglasses are off, hats etc.
    We have planned for our photographer for 9 hours, though and everything about our wedding is massive. 1000 guests, 7 bridesmaids, 7 groomsmen, 2 flower girls, 2 ring bearers, our 4 parents and 10 grandparents will also be involved in our wedding. So, coordinating pictures for at least 33 people (officiant included) we certainly have a different level of planning involved.
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  • Gen
    Champion June 2019
    Gen ·
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    We also didn’t see each other until the ceremony and let me tell you... it was SO WORTH IT. These photos of his face seeing me down the aisle are way better than ANY amount of posed photos we could’ve gotten during a first look!


    That being said, we still got PLENTY of photos between our ceremony and reception! Within 45 minutes we did all our family photos, bridal party photos, and couples photos. We have more than enough. We even made it to the end of our cocktail hour.

    Our photographer also pulled us outside during the reception for about 5-10 minutes every hour, which got us some more couples photos in different locations without feeling like we were missing too much of anything! Maybe you could suggest that.

    I’d also recommend doing some bridal party photos before the ceremony if you wanted to get some out of the way. Like you and your girls, and your husband and his guys. Those groups will theoretically all be together anyway and that would save you some time after the ceremony. The only reason we didn’t do that is because we had a noon ceremony so things were a bit more hectic in the morning for us. Though my husband actually still managed to get some photos with his groomsmen before the ceremony.
    Time for Photos When you Don't Do a First Look 1


    Time for Photos When you Don't Do a First Look 2

    Time for Photos When you Don't Do a First Look 3


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  • Rebelle Fleur
    Master July 2021
    Rebelle Fleur ·
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    Omg look at the look in his eyes! You can tell he absolutely adores you.
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  • Rebelle Fleur
    Master July 2021
    Rebelle Fleur ·
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    1000 guest. That is absolutely insane. That is going to be a HUGE party. How are you not going crazy planning for so many???
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  • Gen
    Champion June 2019
    Gen ·
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    Agh I know right? 🥺 it’s everything I could’ve wanted
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  • Rebelle Fleur
    Master July 2021
    Rebelle Fleur ·
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    You’re lucky! I’m going to show my FH this and tell him if he doesn’t measure up to this we have to start the ceremony over 😂
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  • Gen
    Champion June 2019
    Gen ·
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    Hahaha, my husband even cried at our rehearsal😂 I was sure I’d be more emotional at the ceremony too but honestly I was in such shock I was just shaking and smiling the entire time lol
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  • Nakesha
    Dedicated February 2021
    Nakesha ·
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    Lol. Well, first off, we're taking it one decision at a time, we both have massive families, I love this so much it's convinced me to launch my business doing this (it genuinely makes me happy) and it really isn't that different than planning for 30, aside from cost and some uncertainties with 30 become definite once you cross the 400 mark (do you plan for special requirements (gluten free, vegan, etc. 30 probably not as far as cake. 1000 you've got A layer. You didn't get a piece, that's your fault. Lol). My groom is exceptionally helpful (even though he's over 1800 miles away), too (bride brag, lol).
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  • Nakesha
    Dedicated February 2021
    Nakesha ·
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    His face is PRICELESS!! I love it! I'm so happy for you both!
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  • Nakesha
    Dedicated February 2021
    Nakesha ·
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    You're going to make me tear up! You're so precious!
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  • Gen
    Champion June 2019
    Gen ·
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    Thank you!! 😭❤️
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  • Nakesha
    Dedicated February 2021
    Nakesha ·
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    That's hilarious! My FH is threatening tears the first time he sees me that day. (I have no doubts he'll full cry at our wedding.)
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  • Nakesha
    Dedicated February 2021
    Nakesha ·
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    That's adorable!
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  • Nakesha
    Dedicated February 2021
    Nakesha ·
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    You're welcome!
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  • Chantal
    Expert May 2021
    Chantal ·
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    That's a good point. I keep forgetting people can entertain themselves and we don't have to be there every second. Thanks!

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  • Chantal
    Expert May 2021
    Chantal ·
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    That's what I'm thinking, too Smiley smile I just have to figure out how to coordinate that with the stylists and the photographer.

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  • Chantal
    Expert May 2021
    Chantal ·
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    It's good to know that it's doable! My biggest fear is doing our pictures separate and accidentally running into each other during the transition, but I think that as long as we are communicating with everyone, it should be fine.

    I like the photographer list idea! I'll definitely need to start putting that together.

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