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Photos Session *before* ceremony...thoughts?

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Rock_of_Love

Rock_of_Love

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Hi all...I''m faced with potentially needing to do the photo session of my FI and I before the ceremony. I never wanted to do this, as I''ve always loved the surprise of appearing for the first time when you walk down the aisle.

I''m considering this because we are planning a "wedding parade" after the ceremony to our reception site that is about 3-4 blocks away. My coordinator and I thoguth it would be fun to make this a real focus - have signs, flowers, instruments, etc. as we walk through the quaint cobblestone streets of Puerto Vallarta. I also thought it would be a great photo opportunity.

I really want to participate in the parade, but I think the only way to do this *and* get our photos done of just the two of us, is to do it before the ceremony.

I''ve heard mixed things...in the positive, that it can be really special time for the couple...sort of a calm, stolen moment before all the activity, etc. I would love to hear your thoughts...especially if you did this...let me know!!! Pros/Cons!!!
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We are doing as many pictures as we can before. I love this because I will look my best then and fresh, and also I like that the guests and relatives will hopefully will not be around and it will be calmer and more intimate that way. I just think that for me it will be relaxing and fun plus this way after the ceremony I get to enjoy our cocktail hour with our guests and I really want my sweet potato cocktails.
 
My best friend did a First Sight and loved it. They weren''t rushed to get all the couple shots, her makeup hadn''t been cried off during the ceremony, the guests weren''t stuck waiting for an hour (although they did do some family shots after the ceremony, they were pretty quick).

Watching his face as she walked down the aisle, it was clear having seen each other before didn''t diminish that moment in any way!
 
I''ve heard people say that they were so happy that they saw each other before the ceremony. They said that they wouldn''t change anything about doing it that way, and they felt it was more intimate.
 
We''re doing this. We felt strongly that having that 15-20 minutes before the ceremony to say "this is it!" and be excited and emotional and intimate together will be truly a few great moments. We too plan to do as many photos as possible at this point. Plus, once the ceremony starts you''re really at the will of the guests and the whole show getting started, so it will be nice to have a little calm before the exciting wedding storm!
 
I wanted to do photos before the ceremony, but FI was totally against it. He didn''t want to see me before I came down the aisle.

I think the parade sounds super fun- and what a unique experience!

If I were you, I''d setting up a quiet, romantic "meeting time" before the ceremony where it''s just you and your FI (and photographer if you want). It''ll give you a while to enjoy the moment and be emotional. After that moment, do your photos with each other, bridal party, family, etc. Then have the ceremony, then go for the parade!
 
I say go ahead with photos ahead of time. All 3 of my daughters did this and they have NO regrets. Remember... no matter where it is, your groom will still have that *gasp* moment the first time he sees you. I''ll never forget my son-in-law this past October... he was so glad that it was family only at the photo site because he was so overwhelmed with how beautiful his bride (my lovely daughter) was... like others have said, he was able to better hold his composure during the ceremony because he had already been able to have a tearful moment in private with her.

My sweetie and I plan to do photos ahead of time, and then travel together in the limo to our ceremony. At the ripe old age of 50 I have now come to the conclusion that you make your own luck! We are stepping into our future together.

I absolutely LOVE the idea of a wedding parade! It sounds wonderful!!!
 
I asked FI if he wanted to do this as it is tradition in my culture he didn''t otherwise we would have but I think it can be beautiful you get to share that first momment just with each other and no one else and calm any nervous butterflies- I say go for it the momment he sees you walk down the aisle is still just going to be as special you just got to share one extra momment beforehand :).
 
DH and I did photos before the ceremony, and I was a bride-to-be that did not my future husband seeing me before I walked down the isle. We had a small, intimate ceremony, and I''m glad we did it the way we did. Right after, we took all the family photos, and that was a "hi, congrats" etc. I liked that instead of us taking photos and not spending time with our family.

Your parade sounds awesome, and I would get your photos before hand, AND get to participate in your celebration march. You can never have too many photos of the day. I do not regret that we saw each other before the ceremony at all.
 
We are probably going to do this. I wasn''t keen, because I wanted him to see me for the first time as I walked down the aisle. However FI is very shy and already nervous about being in front of so many people, and he told me he thinks it will help him relax if he''s already seen me. I figure that is definitley worth it!
 
We''re doing this. The pictures I''ve seen that came out of these kinds of sessions are SO incredibly emotional and beautiful. With all of the hustle going on in the day, I completely want 20-30 minutes of just FI and I without anyone around. We''re not having a traditional ceremony, so waiting is not all that important to us.
 
Date: 4/3/2010 12:31:25 PM
Author:Rock_of_Love
Hi all...I''m faced with potentially needing to do the photo session of my FI and I before the ceremony. I never wanted to do this, as I''ve always loved the surprise of appearing for the first time when you walk down the aisle.


I''m considering this because we are planning a ''wedding parade'' after the ceremony to our reception site that is about 3-4 blocks away. My coordinator and I thoguth it would be fun to make this a real focus - have signs, flowers, instruments, etc. as we walk through the quaint cobblestone streets of Puerto Vallarta. I also thought it would be a great photo opportunity.


I really want to participate in the parade, but I think the only way to do this *and* get our photos done of just the two of us, is to do it before the ceremony.


I''ve heard mixed things...in the positive, that it can be really special time for the couple...sort of a calm, stolen moment before all the activity, etc. I would love to hear your thoughts...especially if you did this...let me know!!! Pros/Cons!!!
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We did many of our photos before the wedding so we could enjoy the cocktail hour before the reception. Basically, we wanted to enjoy the whole party and not have to pose for photos. But we are not the average couple and did not even have video done as we did not want anything intrusive. So we did photos before and candid photos during and that was that. No posing during cocktails or reception as that was our preference. Only posing before the ceremony. We were pleased with our photos and wouldn''t do it any differently.

The parade idea sounds like lots of fun! Enjoy your special day and congrats on your upcoming wedding. I know it will be beautiful no matter what you decide.
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We did our photos before the ceremony and I absolutely wouldn't have done it any other way. We were able to go to a different town a few miles away and have plenty of sunlight (since our ceremony was only 30 minutes before sunset, we wouldn't have had much light left afterwards). And we wouldn't have been able to go all the way down to the other town right after our ceremony. Plus, I was able to participate in the entire cocktail hour (well, 90 minutes) that I would've missed otherwise. That was my favorite part!

But DH and I aren't traditional at all. He went with me to pick out my dress, and I didn't want to be away from him at all before the ceremony. We didn't miss out on anything by not having the "surprise" moment.

eta: We dragged our parents and bridal party with us for the before ceremony shots. We did some group shots towards the end of the evening with all family, all friends from college, etc, but we had all of the other posed shots totally done before the ceremony.
 
It''s interesting to hear everyone''s experiences. I''ve always thought that we would first see each other at the ceremony and so we''ve planned to do a bridal session the day after the wedding, because we don''t want to miss out on time with our guests either. And my fiance has been fine with this. But after reading some of these stories I''ll ask him if he''d prefer to see me before the wedding. But knowing him he''ll say "whatever you want" and we''ll end up doing our photos the next day.
 
Date: 4/4/2010 12:03:14 PM
Author: AustenNut
It''s interesting to hear everyone''s experiences. I''ve always thought that we would first see each other at the ceremony and so we''ve planned to do a bridal session the day after the wedding, because we don''t want to miss out on time with our guests either. And my fiance has been fine with this. But after reading some of these stories I''ll ask him if he''d prefer to see me before the wedding. But knowing him he''ll say ''whatever you want'' and we''ll end up doing our photos the next day.
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I like this idea, though I would be too cheap to pay for hair and makeup again! I guess that''s not a problem if you''re doing your own hair and makeup, of course.
 
I am already anxious about being the center of attention and being in front of 100 people for such an emotional moment, so I think having a private moment with my fiance before the ceremony will be just what I need to relax my nerves. Also our wedding will be taking place in the back garden of our reception site, so I think it will be best to get a lot of the formal pictures out of the way before the guests start to arrive at the center and I have to retreat upstairs and hide.
 
Oh my goodness!! Thank you so much for all the wonderful responses!! I am actually now feeling like I really like this idea so much MORE than the other way around. I can now envision us having a really sweet, special and intimate moment, just us (and the photog of course) before the ceremony and I just love it! Now, I''m getting really excited for this moment!!

I truly think it is the best of ALL worlds for me...we''ll get to participate in the parade, not lose any time with the guests or any part of the early festivities, have a special moment "just us," then head in to the ceremony sort of "at peace" and ready for what''s to come!!

Again...thank you all soooooo much!!
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hey, ROL! sounds like you''ve basically made up your mind but just so you know, i say go for it too! i''ve never heard anyone who''s done a first look, say that they didn''t enjoy the experience or that it diminished the moment of walking down the aisle & it will let you participate in the parade which sounds sooo awesome!
 
This thread has made me want to do a "first look" as well. Go for it! I may as well.
 
We did it! No regrets. I would strongly suggest doing this for several reasons. First, nerves-I was totally calm and comfortable walking down the grass in front of our guests because I had already seen him. Second-the wedding is about you and your husband, period. I think that the first time you see each other is very emotional and special-it felt right doing this in private (with the exception of our photographer)-it was just us, no people to worry about, no distractions! And the photographer got some neat shots of this special time :)
 
i think this is one of those things where it is completely personal and up to the bride and groom. I almost did a first shot, but honestly, i want the first time for E to see me is when i walk down.
However, we are doing group shots before hand - It just makes sense that way and less waiting around for everyone else :)
 
We did ALL our pics before the ceremony. We also did a little "first look" thing where they took pics of me walking down the stairs and him turning around seeing me for the first time.
Taking all the pics before hand made everything SO MUCH EASIER. After the ceremony you can just get in there with your guests and enjoy!
 
We did our photos first and it was great. I definately felt more ''at ease'' when it came to walking down the beach for the ceremony, plus it gave us more time to celebrate with our friends and family afterwards!
 
We did not have a formal photographer, nor an aisle, but DH and I saw one another before the ceremony.

Indeed, we walked from our hotel room (where we had both stayed the night before) to our ceremony room together - and then sat next to one another for an hour or so before we started our legal vows (we had an informal non-legal ceremony before the legal one).

It was great seeing him, and being able to talk to him beforehand. We were excited, a bit nervous, and overjoyed together. It was after all *our* wedding and we were in this together. We had the time for some intimate time together. As a couple we are very emotionally close, and could not understand the idea of not spending this time together beforehand due to some traditional ideas that do not fit for us as a couple. In no way did it diminish the moment when we went up to say our vows! It was incredibly special.

We would not do it any other way, in retrospect. I would have no problem doing formal pictures before the ceremony in order to enjoy the activities afterward!

However, DH and I are not traditional at all (nor was our wedding).
 
I REALLY wanted to do photos before the ceremony, and even though DH wasn't convinced, he said okay because I wanted it. Then, my hairdresser was late to the venue and everything was running way behind, so there was no time and he got his way in the end.
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I still think our couples photos would have been so much better if we were able to take them beforehand, and I think we'd have gotten more shots with our families than we ended up getting because things were rushed during cocktail hour. AND I would have gotten some of the delicious appetizers I looked forward to for months and never got to eat. Oh well.

Your parade sounds awesome, I think it would definitely be worth doing photos beforehand. To me, the parade experience would be much more memorable and special than having the "aisle surprise," but of course, it really depends on what is more important to you. Base your decision around that (but know that even best-laid plans sometimes go awry).
 
we''re doing photos before the ceremony for lots of reasons.
1. we''re jewish and that''s sorta typical
2. i think it''s nice to have that time before the craziness to see each other and take it all in. we''ll still get that ''moment'' the first time we see each other, it just won''t be while i''m walking.
3. gets rid of some of the nerves i imagine.
4. that way we can enjoy the entire wedding and don''t need to miss cocktail hour. i want to be present for every minute of the day since it''s going to fly by.
5. makes the day longer which i think is nice. another phase of the day.
6. we''ll look our freshest in the photos.
 
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