Seeing Groom Before the Ceremony?

[quote="bamabride"]Hi Ladies,

My fiance and I have been playing with the idea of taking all of the photos before the ceremony, so that afterward we can go right into the reception and cut the wait time for guests.

From what I've read on several sites, photographers recommend that when you do it this way, you set up a private moment for the bride and groom to see each other without anyone else around. Then, the bride and groom take lots of photos with just the 2 of them. After that, the wedding party photos and family photos are taken.

My question is, do you guys think that doing it this way will take away from "the moment" when he sees me coming down the aisle?

Are any of you choosing to do your photos this way?
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I think that you should have the photographer do the wedding party pics before the wedding not the bride and groom pics.

It wil deifintely TAKE AWAY from the look on his face when he sees you walking down the isle.

I can't wait to see his face when he sees me and to relive looking at the pics. i want to see the tear eyed " My Baby " look.

The only way he will see me before I walk down the isle is if the island is collapsing in on itself.

I agree with MzTajia.

Seeing each other before the wedding can be just as special if not more. The more I think about it, it seems like FH and I will have a private moment and the poignancy will be reflected in those pictures. I guess i would feel like we're doing this together as i walk down the aisle toward him. I love the idea.

I think photos will be just as special if they are taken after the ceremony being the first photos as husband and wife.
Like MzT, I would hate to miss that one photos of his face right as I come into view down the isle and he sees me -his bride- for the first time.

We are seeing each other before the wedding. For me its more of calming my nerves as I will already be excited, plus it does let us get most of the photos out of the way and we want to be able to spend as much time with our guests as we can. I don't think that it will take away anything from me walking down the aisle because that will be a whole other view for him and me. This is our personal choice, but I say to each his/her own.

I'm with the ladies, I want his first look of me to be when I walk down the aisle. Usually when I go to weddings what I look at when the bride walks in for the first time is the look on the groom face. That is just as beautiful as the bride coming down. The look on the groom face whether it's bewilderment at how beautiful she looks, or this intense look of love and thankfulness that you see in his eyes. And honey if they start tearing up.....that's even BETTER!......but that's just me, if you feel that you need to see him before the wedding whether it's to calm your nerves, share a quiet moment, or take pictures, it's your wedding, your day, do whatever makes you feel comfortable...

My husband and I didn't see each other. The look that he had on his face as I walked down the aisle was priceless! If we had taken pictures before, I feel it would've taken away from that. What we did do was have pictures taken of the the bridal party before hand and also of the bride and groom individually. After the ceremony we took pictures together. It worked out really nicely that way. I wouldn't have changed a thing.

[quote="MzTajsia"]

I think that you should have the photographer do the wedding party pics before the wedding not the bride and groom pics.

It wil deifintely TAKE AWAY from the look on his face when he sees you walking down the isle.

I can't wait to see his face when he sees me and to relive looking at the pics. i want to see the tear eyed " My Baby " look.

The only way he will see me before I walk down the isle is if the island is collapsing in on itself.
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Perfectly put. You are so on top of things MzTajia! I stayed away my my fiance a whole week and it was so GREAT to see the look on his face! He also avoided all my last minute freak out drama. lol

Man oh MAN do I miss you guys!!!!

Rosey, when did you do your rehearsal?

We had our rehearsal almost a week before the event. Some people wait until the day before, but I was told that with nerves and last minute things it wasn't a good idea. Also it may not show you in your best light when you are screaming at your fiance in front of his parents because he still hadn't bought the groomsmen gifts yet! lol

You want your future hubby to only see you in the best possible way just before you tie the knot. You have no idea how many grooms have told me in confidence that they question if they made the right choice after a bride meltdown. I had a LOT of those.

I asked my FH if he wanated to take pictures before the ceramony he gave me a flat...NO!!!! he said he wants his first look of me that day to be me comming down the asle. I was touched by that.

Awwww, that's sweet onyx!

It's great to see everyone else preceptive on this question.

I think it will depend on you and FH.

I mean he could just be overwhelmed by knwoing he is marrying his beloved that it won't matter to him whether or not he sees you, you may luck out and get the tears when you take the pics and when you are walking down the isle.

I mean hey anyone can take pics. But him seeing you walking towards him may bring up a whole new bunch of feelings.