Pictures Before the Ceremony

Hi everyone. My photographer just brought it to my attention that I really need to take pictures before the ceremony. We are getting married at our reception location so the ceremony will flow right into cocktail hour and then right into the reception. If we take photos after the ceremony, we'll be missing all of cocktail hour and part of the reception too. I had never contemplated seeing my FH before the ceremony and don't know how I feel about it (but then again, don't think I have a choice).

Can anyone who has done this tell me how it was? Or if you're going to do it, tell me about your decision? TIA

crashing

I took pics before the ceremony ...

-- your photographer can set it up as a moment to capture and the pics are always awesome
-- you get to actually enjoy your CH
-- you're slightly less emotional during the ceremony since the most stressful part (seeing each other and the whole 'will he like it' stress) is gone


We took about 2 hours of photos pre-ceremony and it wasn't really enough (we wanted A LOT of must take shots but missed soooo many because we needed more time) ... if you don't take pics before the ceremony, that means you need to take pics the entire CH *and* for an hour of your reception ... which really sucks! especially since your bridal party & family will also be forced to miss these things.


HTH

---

Posted by AwaitingAugust

crashing

I took pics before the ceremony ...

-- your photographer can set it up as a moment to capture and the pics are always awesome
-- you get to actually enjoy your CH
-- you're slightly less emotional during the ceremony since the most stressful part (seeing each other and the whole 'will he like it' stress) is gone


We took about 2 hours of photos pre-ceremony and it wasn't really enough (we wanted A LOT of must take shots but missed soooo many because we needed more time) ... if you don't take pics before the ceremony, that means you need to take pics the entire CH *and* for an hour of your reception ... which really sucks! especially since your bridal party & family will also be forced to miss these things.


HTH

---

This is EXACTLY what our photog said - miss the entire cocktail hour and an hour of the reception. She's a super reputable photog too, so it's not like I thought she was lying. I think I was just surprised because I had not contemplated it at all!

I am glad to hear it didn't take away from anything for you. I am trying to convince myself that this will not detract from anything!!

We did this and are so happy we chose to do so!

Our photographers and video guys set up an area in the hotel (there was a staircase which was really pretty) -- they set up the hubby, and then had me come after. The best part is because it was a staircase leading down, both of our families were able to wait for us at the end of the staircase to watch us. I get emotional thinking about it. I loved that first moment and being able to hug him and kiss him and seeing the tears in his eyes...ahh!

After that, we spent about an hour and a half or two hours of just taking pictures, then go to enjoy the rest of hte night. IT was awesome.

If you dont want to see your FH before the ceremony, you can take pics seperately. You with your family and your girls, him with his family and the guys, and then after the ceremony you can take the rest together during cocktail hour. My bff did this for her wedding and she got all the pictures she needed without a problem.

Just to add, she did not miss any part of her reception, only the beginning of her cocktail hour. She had her grand entrance and was free to party the rest of the night.

---

Posted by BigDsGirl

If you dont want to see your FH before the ceremony, you can take pics seperately. You with your family and your girls, him with his family and the guys, and then after the ceremony you can take the rest together during cocktail hour. My bff did this for her wedding and she got all the pictures she needed without a problem.

Just to add, she did not miss any part of her reception, only the beginning of her cocktail hour. She had her grand entrance and was free to party the rest of the night.

---

This is what I will be doing. Getting shots of the girls and guys seperately and family shots...and the rest afterwards. The BP will only miss a little bit of the cocktail hour...and I didn't mind missing most of it. But we will still make it to the start of the reception on time. And I too am having the ceremony & reception in one place

---

Posted by Jennielee15

We are doing this. Our photographer didn't say we had to but he was relieved when we told him we wanted to. For the amount of money FH and I are shelling out there is no way we are missing our cocktail hour!!! No way! We are actually excited to have our first look a bit more private! I'm an emotional mess and don't want to ruin our ceremony with crazy amounts of tears!

---

This is a good point about the privacy. I actually think I will be much MORE emotional and less uncomfortable if we are alone. You girls are convincing me!!

We are doing it too.

I thought of it this way. I get to share the moment where FH and I see each other for the first time with just the most important people in our lives (our bridal party and family). He doesn't like to be the center of attention so he loved the idea.

Also your hair and makeup will look pristine since it will be first thing

Our pics are before our ceremony as well!
We have about 2.5 hours to get it done and im sure we will as we dont have a huge family. I will NOT miss my CH and we are seeing each other before the ceremony anyway to sign our Ketubbah!
good luck HTH!