question for married girls about seeing each other before ceremony (for the benefit of the nonmarried)

I would like to hear the story afterwards.

If you saw each other before - do you regret it?

If you saw each other for the first time when you walked down the aisle - do you regret that?

Meaning - would you have done it differently if you could do it again?

I am ALWAYS seeing posts about how girls do not under any circumstances want to see their FH before the ceremony because they feel it will ruin 'the moment'

I, for one, took pics before, and would do it again. It was great to see each other in a private moment - and then walking down the aisle was still the most amazing thing. The look on his face at both times was priceless.

We did not see each other prior to me walking down the aisle.

It was perfect for us. I did not regret neither did DH. We would do it again that way.

DH told me he loved the whole atmosphere in the chapel. The anticipation of waiting for me 'as well as everybody else'... LOL

We saw each other and I loved it....our seeing each other for the first time was a sweet, intimate moment wegot to share with each other...not the world. being the private people we are, it was a blessing to us.

we would never change a thing.

We saw each other before the ceremony. We didn't even do pictures then. It worked out that he was in the lobby of the RH when I got there (made up, but not dressed). I had been so nervous all morning, so it really calmed me down to see him and remember that the day was about marrying him and there was nothing to be nervous about. We did a traditional Jewish bedeken (veiling) before the ceremony and signed the ketubah and marriage license. We had a lovely moment with just us, the bridal party and our immediate family. I don't regret it at all.
Also, I was so nervous walking down the aisle (to not trip) that I barely remember seeing him until I got up to him!

I have a weird point of view on this...we didn't see each other before because we both felt that the first time should be when I was walking down the asile ...looking back I'd do it the same way for that reason but in all honesty, I didn't really like it all that much for 2 resons and only now do I think that the seeing each other first route has a lot of merit.

a)DH is a little shy and macho at the same time and when I walked out I know he had some emotions but he barely even showed it because he was afraid everyone would be watching him and then we were so distracted for at least the first 5 minutes of the ceremony beause we kept wispering to each other and trying to be mushy...one of my BMs on the other hand, got married a month later and saw her husband before in a private reveal moment in front of just their closest family and friends and it was so emotional that I think we were all crying...I have a feeling they are going to remember that much more fondly than my DH and I do...

b)due to many factors that were mostly beyond our control our pictures ran so far over our in between time that we missed the whole cocktail hour AND still had to take people out of the reception and I was seriously on the verge of tears at two seperate moments first because we hadn't had a second to relax so I was pretty flustered and then because I felt like we were missing everything...I would have given up a lot not to have that happen

So long story short, my traditional side says first look at the aisle is important but both my sentimental and practical sides say do pics before and I think everyone has a different story but when it comes down it, each bride needs to decide for herselp which side should win out

Hope that helps more than it confuses

ETA:

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Also, I was so nervous walking down the aisle (to not trip) that I barely remember seeing him until I got up to him!

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...yup, that happened to me too

We didn't see each other until I started walking down the aisle, but that's what we both wanted. I also think seeing each other in a private moment beforehand would've been lovely, but I kinda wanted to keep things traditional.

I don't regret our decision, but it would've been nice to have had more time for pics. If we could do it again I would think about seeing him beforehand bc now I could have enjoyed it both ways. Does that make sense? In other words, I'm glad we did it the way we did but I'd also like to have had the experience of seeing each other in that private moment. Since we already did it the 1 way, if we were going to do it again, this time I'd do it the other way. So basically I could have my cake and eat it too!!

I personally wanted to incorporate alot of tradition into my wedding because it was something I dreamed of since I was little. I didnt see or speak to DH that morning or even the night before and I am so happy with that decision.

We saw each other before for pictures and Bedeken, and it was perfect!!!