Taking pics before your wedding!

So i'm at a stand still....I had this great plan of taking all of our pictures ahead of the start of the ceremony so that me and my fiance could enjoy our wedding. But then someone put a wrench in my plans and tried to talk me out of doing that. I started to regret my decision of doing it ahead of time but I don't know if it's more because of someone's opinion or my own. If any one has any advice (hopefully positive) about taking pictures ahead of time then pllleeeaase share them with me. I want to know if you've taken you pics ahead of time and thought it was the best decision. Did your fiance have just as much emotion as when they saw you for the first time when you took the pictures and then also when you walked down the aisle? I think that's where my dilemma lies. ANY THOUGHTS...PLEASE DISH!!! Thanks, Joanne :)

Re: Taking pics before your wedding!

Personally, I would wait til after the ceremony. Call me old fashion, but I know I will remember the look on fh face when he see's me for the first time walking down the isle. I just don't want that ruin by him seeing me beforehand. JMO

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Take the pictures before hand, you will enjoy the rest so much more, and wont be rushed.
just make sure someone is there with a camera the first time he see's you...

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We took our pictures before the ceremony and it was the best decision ever! Dh told me he was so nervous but as soon as he saw me he calmed down!
We had a private moment between the two of us (and our photographers and videographer) where we saw each other for the first time which was exciting and wonderful. We were really able to enjoy that moment without a hundred and fifty people staring at us.
We really enjoyed taking pics and then got to relax a little together before the ceremony.
When the ceremony came and I walked down the aisle it was absolutely amazing. Before we were just all dressed up and taking pictures, but now we were actually getting married.
Taking the pics before took absolutely nothing away from that moment.
Absolutely NO regrets!

ETS: I was so much in a different world walking down the aisle I can't even remember what DH's face looked like when he saw me - and that is what all the people who are against taking the pics first say this their reasoning. Not that they are wrong, but honestly, I don't remember much of the ceremony. You are floating on a cloud at that moment, and everything seems so surreal!
I remember that moment though when I was walking up behind him and he turned around and saw me for the first time.

Message edited 9/1/2006 11:48:14 AM.

Re: Taking pics before your wedding!

Coming from someone who has already gotten married....take your pics BEFORE!!!!! I took my pictures leisurely, without being rushed and got a lot of great pics. We did a "special moment" so that my DH could see me for the first time and we have it all on film. I think it's much more personal to see each other alone first, rather then in front of 200 people. We were able to really enjoy the moment. After the ceremony, we sat in our suite for 20 minutes, ate, then enjoyed our CH with everyone else and were able to dance at our ENTIRE reception. It was a great choice and I'm glad we did it, even though many people tried to talk us out of it!! Good Luck.

Re: Taking pics before your wedding!

Well I took pics after the ceremony and (a)we were rushed to the point of missing the whole cocktail hour and still not taking everything we wanted and (b)my husband was so freaked about everyone watching him during the ceremony that he showed almost no emotion when we saw me

One of my BMs got married a month later and they (a)took all the pics before and enjoyed their entire cocktail hour and reception and (b)had this "reveal" thing where she went up and tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around and saw her for the first time w/ only their closest friends and family around and it was all emotional and wonderful

So while tradition says don't do it, I say if you want to you should go for it...HTH

Re: Taking pics before your wedding!

Personally, I wouldn't do it, but that's just me. I've read some of the things brides have posted regarding this issue and how they handled "before the ceremony" pics and they all love it just like LaurenluvsTJ said. I think the photographer sets it up so that you walk in without him seeing you and then gets the pic of him turning and seeing you for the first time. If it's what you want to do, don't let others change your mind for you. Whatever you do, you won't regret it.

Re: Taking pics before your wedding!

Already all these comments are making me feel so much better about my decision. Ladies I can not thank you enough...I am even more excited about the BIG day.

Re: Taking pics before your wedding!

I am going to take them before ...I think it is a great idea...everyone is going to have their own opinion about everything you are going to do...you just have to do what you think is right for you and ur FH.

Re: Taking pics before your wedding!

We are having pictures taken before the ceremony. We just want to get everything out of the way and have a great time at out party.

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I am taking my pics before the ceremony. I don't care about tradition. There have been many posts of girls who got married and took pics b4 and they all said it took nothing away from the moment. It actually was better. I think FH will be more comfortable and more able to express himself without a slew of people focusing all the attention on us. I know I will not regret this decision.

Re: Taking pics before your wedding!

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Posted by leshellem

Personally, I would wait til after the ceremony. Call me old fashion, but I know I will remember the look on fh face when he see's me for the first time walking down the isle. I just don't want that ruin by him seeing me beforehand. JMO

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Re: Taking pics before your wedding!

I was originally leaning towards waiting until after the ceremony.... but after reading all these posts I think it might be best to do it before hand. I kind of like the idea of seeing each other for the first time all dressed up alone. It makes it more private. When my cousin got married she and her husband got up super early... 6am and were ready and out the door with the photographer for a few hours. They went to all kinds of great locations in NYC and to the Brooklyn Bridge and got a lot of gorgeous shots. They said it was the best thing they could have done and don't regret it a bit. According to him it was the best part of the entire day, just the two of them, all gussied up and excited! So I think in light of all this, I may have a chat with FH about taking pics before. Thanks Ladies!!

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I'm in the same situation as you with this. I keep going back and forth but people keep telling me that the feeling the groom gets when he sees you walking down the isle with the music playng and all is undescribalble no matter if he sees you before or not.

Re: Taking pics before your wedding!

its so funny this post is on here ... i always think of this too .. and i am so torn .. FI would like to take pics before but I am still stuck with not seeing him til the moment walking down the aisle .. but it is very common nowadays and not such a bad idea but i am just so torn .. so this post def helps but still don't know

Re: Taking pics before your wedding!

Take them beforehand..enjoy your wedding and most of all your cocktail hr. I'm taking them all before hand and let me tell you something he's gonna be shocked either way!!!

Re: Taking pics before your wedding!

i will be arriving early to take pics with my girls...
FH & I wont see each other until the ceremony, so we will take the majority of our pics at that time along with the rest of the bridal party. I am old fashion as well, I dont want him to see me until i come down the aisle.

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my plans exactly

Re: Taking pics before your wedding!

I saw my DH before the ceremony and we didn't even take photos then! It certainly is a time saver if you take your formal shots before the ceremony, but for me it calmed me down and made me less nervous to spend time with my DH. I swear, I was jittery all day and he was the first thing I saw when I walked into the RH to finish getting ready and I felt 100% better. So there's another reason you may want to do your photos first!

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we are taking pictures before hand. my photographers are going to make it specail for us they said. not like hey here i am lets do pictures. they will set it all uo for us for seeing each other for the first time. i also don't wanna feel rushed after the cermony taking pictures. i also want to go to y cocktail hour along with my bridal party. i am paying per person and i want them to eat and have fun. just my opinion but i think before hand is a great idea.

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We are taking ouras ahead of time. We want to take them on the beach and we want to enjoy our guests and our cocktail hour!

Everyone I know who has done this raves about how much easier it makes the day.

You have to do what is right for you, but IMO - there is nothing wrong with doing it before.

Re: Taking pics before your wedding!

i would definitely take pictures before for a number of reasons:

1. Best for Photos: You're at your most beautiful early in the day right after your makeup is done 'cus everythign is still in place - hair, makeup, etc. No smudgy or smeared eye makeup when you're taking photos after the ceremony 'cus you know you're gonna cry during the ceremony

2. You can get the posed shots out of the way before the ceremony so you can enjoy the cocktail hour

3. you'll have alone time with DH so you can exchange gifts or words. it'll be hard to do so once all the guests arrive

4. it'll be less hectic! tha'ts my advice from other girls who have chosen to take pictures before

5. and finally, it's YOUR day, you do whatever you want! :D

Re: Taking pics before your wedding!

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Posted by leshellem

Personally, I would wait til after the ceremony. Call me old fashion, but I know I will remember the look on fh face when he see's me for the first time walking down the isle. I just don't want that ruin by him seeing me beforehand. JMO

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Re: Taking pics before your wedding!

I think its a good idea, but I want him to see me for the first time when I walk down the isle. Something about that i don't want to miss

Re: Taking pics before your wedding!

I'm waiting til after the ceremony, b/c we have a 3 hour time inbetween. BUT, my cousin did the pictures before and it was wonderful! We were at the aboretum and her now-husband was behind a huge tree. The photographer had my cousin standing about 10 feet from the tree and had her call out his name. When he turned from behind the tree, we all had tears in our eyes including him. It was so romantic and perfect!!!! Don't let anyone tell you different if you want to do it before hand.