For Newlyweds Only - Did you see DH before ceremony?

conigs25 Posted: Jun 08, 2005 08:55 PM

Did you see DH before ceremony?

I am pondering over this so much. Ive gotten some feedback already (thanks Julz33) but I REALLY need more info.

Basically my ceremony and reception are at the same place so the only time for pics is before ceremony or during CT hr which we dont wanna miss so....

Have any of you have 'private time' before the ceremony to see your FI and take pics? If so, are you happy you did it, regret?? Did it feel different when you came down the aisle?

TIA

FM if youd like

AJsMommy122 Posted: Jun 09, 2005 12:24 AM

Re: Did you see DH before ceremony?

No we didnt but that was our personal choice.
ETA: We also got married in a church and had time for pictures inbetween the ceremony and reception.
Honestly you can NEVER have enough time for pictures and if seeing eachother before the actual ceremony dosent bother the two of you then I would go for it 100%
I really don't think it takes away from that special moment when you see eachother for the first time. I have also said it takes away ALOT of stress and anxiety before the big walk down the aisle.
Even though I did not see my DH until the church the second we had a min alone together I felt SO MUCH BETTER!!!

Donna Posted: Jun 09, 2005 08:26 AM

Re: Did you see DH before ceremony?

We didn't because we had church, then the reception.
But I did miss my cocktail hour because of pics so I would say if you don't want to miss yours then do it.

It's always going to be special the first time you see each other, no matter where you are or what time it is.

CaCRmr Posted: Jun 09, 2005 08:42 AM

Re: Did you see DH before ceremony?

To me there is nothing like seeing your FH at the end of the aisle for the first time. JMHO
I just feel that it's a little weird taking 'wedding pictures' when you're not necessarily married. Again, JMHO

If you and your FH don't mind seeing each other and you'll be able to get the pics out of the way then go for it. It's honestly what ever makes you and FH happy, not us!

shamrock12472 Posted: Jun 09, 2005 10:01 AM

Re: Did you see DH before ceremony?

I saw my Dh before the ceremony and was so happy that we did. The photographer will catch his expression when he sees you for the first time. What I found as the benefits to seeing him before the ceremony - I was so much calmer and content that we were able to see each other. We were able to take lots and lots of pictures before hand so we didn't have to worry about that once the reception started. Plus, when you are in the bridal suite relaxing and making sure the final touchs are all there - it is so much more fun to have him with you. I don't regret my decision at all. Like you, I got married at the reception hall too.

dpli Posted: Jun 09, 2005 10:07 AM

Re: Did you see DH before ceremony?

I didn't want to and neither did DH, so we didn't, but we also had a church wedding with the break in between for photos.

I was a BM in a wedding where my friend did see her DH before for photos. They did it mostly because they were taking photos in a public park and the photographer suggested that we do it before their 11:00 wedding so that the park would be pretty empty and he wouldn't have to keep waiting for people to pass through. It worked out fine and I think she really liked it because her makeup and hair had just been done, so it came out great in the photos. It was REALLY early for all of us to get ready, but I think she was really able to relax and enjoy herself after the photos were taken care of.

jar823 Posted: Jun 09, 2005 11:46 AM

Re: Did you see DH before ceremony?

Our ceremony & reception were at the same place as well. We didn't want to miss the cocktail hour and we had a HUGE bridal party, so we took pics before the ceremony at my mothers house and at the hall. Thank God we did it! Everything went smoothly & I wasn't as nervous walking down the aisle as if I didn't see him.

We wound up not even going to to the cocktail hour, we were both so tired and emotionally drained that we spent the cocktail hour in our bridal suite by ourselves relaxing and getting served by the bridal attendant.

Janice Posted: Jun 09, 2005 11:48 AM

Re: Did you see DH before ceremony?

sorry I thought the question was did we see DH before the ceremony?

conigs25 Posted: Jun 09, 2005 12:09 PM

Re: Did you see DH before ceremony?

I dont mean to be rude but reading some of the posts about how you opted not to see FH isnt helping me and is only making my decision harder.

Please only reply IF this situ relates to you.

Again, I love you all for responding and PLEASE dont take my post as mean, I just need to make this decision as painless as possible.

THANKS

bridget&jimmy Posted: Jun 09, 2005 01:10 PM

Re: Did you see DH before ceremony?

I am not a newlywed but I to am getting married at the hall and had the same issues as you are having and in the end I decided to do pictures before. Two of our friends got married this year and both did their pictures before and both were very glad that they did, they said the day ran so smooth and they could not have imagined taking pictures during the CH and everyone disappearing. One of our other friends did not and later on said she wish they would have done them before because after the ceremony the bridal party was walking off and the family was to busy already partying that she missed a lot of photos. I posted a lot of thread like this one so do a search for my name and you will see a lot more responses.

I kept going back and forth with the decision, so just give yourself a deadline and make a decision and stick with it and then move on to the next decision if you don't you will never have peace with your decision and it will keep bothering you.

Also this is a decision you and Matt have to make alone so once you make it don't let anyone else talking you out of it.

Bridget

oneday Posted: Jun 09, 2005 02:49 PM

Re: Did you see DH before ceremony?

DH and I saw each other before, becuase, like you, we had the ceremony & reception at the same place and didn't want to have to do it during the cocktail hour. I am SO glad we did. We had our 1st 'moment' set up by our photographers and it was so sweet. And I don't think it was less 'magical' for me seeing him at the end of the aisle walking down.
Also, what was really nice, was not so much not missing the food and all at the cocktail hour, but I got to spend time with a lot more of my guests. So, during the reception, we didn't have to be so concerned with if we had spoken to this person or that. And I think we got to just relax and enjoy ourselves even more. I also think I'd have been more nervous and rushed if we were trying to get all the pics done after the ceremony.
Ultimately, obviously you and FH need to be the only ones happy with your decision, but I think it was the best thing DH and I could have done for us.

BCTM33 Posted: Jun 09, 2005 10:40 PM

Re: Did you see DH before ceremony?

Yep! We took pictures before because it was going to be dark after the ceremony and I wanted outside pics. My parents and in-laws weren't initially happy about the situation, BUT.......

IT WAS GREAT!!!

It was so nice to see each other and enjoy each other before the ceremony! The pictures are great! Our parents enjoyed having some time with us before the chaos of the ceremony and reception and we enjoyed being together. It was perfect.

melissaandsean Posted: Jun 10, 2005 08:29 AM

Re: Did you see DH before ceremony?

Posted by conigs25

I dont mean to be rude but reading some of the posts about how you opted not to see FH isnt helping me and is only making my decision harder.

Please only reply IF this situ relates to you.

Again, I love you all for responding and PLEASE dont take my post as mean, I just need to make this decision as painless as possible.

THANKS

you might want to adjust your question then to read, *if* you saw DH before ceremony, blah blah blah. The way you have it now doesn't really imply that you ONLY want people who saw their DH to respond.

wc0143 Posted: Jun 10, 2005 09:00 AM

Re: Did you see DH before ceremony?

Yes ... and we got ready together in OUR house (well, I got dressed behind closed doors & made an *entrance* for the photogs/video). It was the best decision!

Frankly, it seeming sort of like 'any other day' has us so calm & relaxed.

We also wanted pictures at our home and it just made sense.

There was no less magic when I walked down the aisle.

tourist Posted: Jun 10, 2005 09:08 AM

Re: Did you see DH before ceremony?

Posted by conigs25

I dont mean to be rude but reading some of the posts about how you opted not to see FH isnt helping me and is only making my decision harder.

Please only reply IF this situ relates to you.

Again, I love you all for responding and PLEASE dont take my post as mean, I just need to make this decision as painless as possible.

THANKS

So, then basically, you just want peope to tell you excatly what you want to hear?
Well, sorry then, can't help.

mrsmeri1104 Posted: Jun 10, 2005 09:24 AM

Re: Did you see DH before ceremony?

Yes we saw each other we took all our pictures before the ceremony. We were so happy we did it this way because we weren't bothered once for one picture our whole reception and we got day light pictures.

FYI: It didn't take a thing away from our ceremony we were both so excited & nervous.

brideinapril Posted: Jun 10, 2005 10:27 AM

Re: Did you see DH before ceremony?

We had our ceremony and reception at the same place also, and we saw each other before for pictures. Honestly, to me, it did not take any of the excitement away. He still got emotional seeing me walk down the aisle. It was wonderful!

conigs25 Posted: Jun 10, 2005 03:33 PM

Re: Did you see DH before ceremony?

Posted by melissaandsean

Posted by conigs25

I dont mean to be rude but reading some of the posts about how you opted not to see FH isnt helping me and is only making my decision harder.

Please only reply IF this situ relates to you.

Again, I love you all for responding and PLEASE dont take my post as mean, I just need to make this decision as painless as possible.

THANKS

you might want to adjust your question then to read, *if* you saw DH before ceremony, blah blah blah. The way you have it now doesn't really imply that you ONLY want people who saw their DH to respond.

Ok my post was friendly and Im sensing yours isnt. Am i correct?? I REALIZE i made an error in the title of my post and that is why i added a new post to explain what I was looking for. I didnt realize my syntax was going to be graded.
I appreciate your response and the time it took you to write it. Please respect that I was asking for something else. There is no reason to be rude.

lilacwine Posted: Jun 10, 2005 03:55 PM

Re: Did you see DH before ceremony?

replied on BHB to help keep this board for true newlywed chat

kel2004 Posted: Jun 10, 2005 04:15 PM

Re: Did you see DH before ceremony?

I did not see DH before the ceremony, but everyone I've ever heard of who has, has not regretted it. And honestly, seeing DH as I was walking down the aisle was not 'the greatest moment'. I had a blusher, so I could barely see anything anyway. I had so much fun at my cocktail hour, so I would recommend taking pictures beforehand.