To take pics with your groom before the ceremony, that is the question

Original post by jsha20

Mar 20, 2009 06:01 PM

Will you or did you take pics prior to the ceremony? I am leaning towards a yes b/c i want to be there somewhat for my cocktail hour and enjoy it, rather than stressing over taking pics. However, I'd like to also see my hubs to be for the first time when I walk down the aisle. It's a tough decision.

bubberflys Posted: Mar 22, 2009 09:36 PM

Re: To take pics with your groom before the ceremony, that is the question

We are taking pics before the ceremony. Our photographer actually has an 'arangement' of how they will let him and I see each other for the 1st time so that they can capture the genuine surprise factor.

I keep saying ' I'm paying for the wedding, I want to see the whole thing!!!'

kristentinnelly Posted: Mar 22, 2009 10:03 PM

Re: To take pics with your groom before the ceremony, that is the question

We arent seeing each other before the ceremony but I LOVE how the pictures come out when the groom sees the bride for the first time before the ceremony. Such a nice moment

MirabellaNYC Posted: Mar 22, 2009 10:33 PM

Re: To take pics with your groom before the ceremony, that is the question

Everyone is bringing up really great points.
We are taking pics in between church and reception because we have a 3 hour gap..BUT
one of my dear friends who got married at the RH never saw her cocktail hour b/c of pics. In hindsight she says now she wishes they would have done pics before so they didn't spend so much of their reception saying hello to their guests. The choice is really up to you...would you rather have the element of surprise at the ceremony, or be able to greet everyone at cocktail hour?

No matter what ,your pics will be amazing. You can still get great groom reaction shots even if its before the ceremony.

Good luck!

DeeDee1013 Posted: Mar 23, 2009 08:19 AM

Re: To take pics with your groom before the ceremony, that is the question

Posted by jsha20

Will you or did you take pics prior to the ceremony? I am leaning towards a yes b/c i want to be there somewhat for my cocktail hour and enjoy it, rather than stressing over taking pics. However, I'd like to also see my hubs to be for the first time when I walk down the aisle. It's a tough decision.

We did not take pictures before the ceremony. The photographer took an amazing close-up picture of my DH when he first saw me in church. I absolutely love the picture...such an awesome expression on his face.

MrsDR2010 Posted: Mar 23, 2009 09:09 AM

Re: To take pics with your groom before the ceremony, that is the question

I am thinking about taking them before because my ceremony will be at the reception hall. However, I would really prefer to see FH when I'm walking down the aisle. I am still debating.

Future Mulligan Posted: Mar 23, 2009 09:43 AM

Re: To take pics with your groom before the ceremony, that is the question

it was the best decision we made regarding our wedding

all morning we were dying to see eachother....

we got to spend the entire day together which made our wedding day feel REALLY long!!

we got lots of great pics and we both say that taking pics was one of our favorite things about the wedding day - b/c we were ALONE together SO MUCH

we had two special moments - one when we first saw eachother and when i walked downt he aisle - we were emotional during both....being with him all day did NOT have any effect on that moment - i was still so nervous to 'get married' right before the ceremony - it was like i didn't even see him yet and we both got teary when i walked down.....

we got to see our CH and said hello to everyone there - we partied our entire reception......

honest to god there was not one negative thing i can say about seeing eachother for pictures.....the moment i was revealed to him was amazing and spending the day together was awesome....we were together from about 1:00pm to 1:00am - the day felt LONG and not rushed at all.....

Butterfly123 Posted: Mar 23, 2009 10:09 AM

Re: To take pics with your groom before the ceremony, that is the question

I didnt want to see hubby before the ceremony and my photog (Thomas Paul) made it work. I even made it to my cocktail hour. We took all the pics with family seperately before the ceremony. And DH and I took our pics during salad at the reception. I liked having the little intimate time while everyone was dancing to take quick pics. It was over in no time and we didnt miss a thing. If you want to wait to see eachother on the aisle then do it. A good photog will be able to work around it.

jeswedding Posted: Mar 23, 2009 12:29 PM

Re: To take pics with your groom before the ceremony, that is the question

for the girls who did pics before, did you go to the CH? and then did the formal introduction at the reception? was this also the time in which you thanked everyone for coming?... we have a lot of guests, and i am nervous it will take us forever to say hello/thank you to all of them

Rosalind_75 Posted: Mar 23, 2009 12:34 PM

Re: To take pics with your groom before the ceremony, that is the question

we are getting married at the RH so
we are taking pictures before the ceremony.

we are paying for it so we want to enjoy part of our ch.

Its2Snappy Posted: Mar 23, 2009 12:40 PM

Re: To take pics with your groom before the ceremony, that is the question

Posted by princessSDG

I am thinking about taking them before because my ceremony will be at the reception hall. However, I would really prefer to see FH when I'm walking down the aisle. I am still debating.

I have the same debate. It is SO confusing.

jtgarsik Posted: Mar 23, 2009 02:27 PM

Re: To take pics with your groom before the ceremony, that is the question

it is COMPLETELY a personal choice and something u have to make for urself. There are plenty of girls who chose to do it that way & wouldn't have had it any other way.

i however dreamed since i'm a little girl of those doors swinging open & seeing my husband for the first time waiting at the end of that aisle...that's what we chose to do (dh actually wouldn't have it any other way! lol)... to me, there is no feeling like it

lauraandrob2009 Posted: Mar 23, 2009 07:49 PM

Re: To take pics with your groom before the ceremony, that is the question

I'm traditional - want the first time he seems me to be at the church. I think that makes it so special.

MeaganAndJoeC Posted: Mar 23, 2009 08:49 PM

Re: To take pics with your groom before the ceremony, that is the question

Taking pics bf ceremony was best thing ever...

We set up a moment for he and I to meet just the two of us with the photographer.

It was great and we have beautiful pics!

we went to cocktail hour and never left the ceremony !

curiousgeorge Posted: Mar 23, 2009 10:27 PM

Re: To take pics with your groom before the ceremony, that is the question

We took pics before the ceremony! Thank GOD we did! We both were able to enjoy the ceremony more since we were relaxed from already seeing each other. WE had fun at our cocktail hour! We were able to go around and talk to almost everyone. It was great.

MrsDR2010 Posted: Mar 24, 2009 06:43 AM

Re: To take pics with your groom before the ceremony, that is the question

I think I am going to call my banquet manager and see if he can start my ceremony 30 minutes earlier. Then If we can have a tea/coffee social (so both families can mix and mingle) in the cocktail room so that we can run an take pics....then start the cocktail hour. I want to take pics with my girls at one park and he take pics with his boys at a different park before the ceremony and btwn the time when we have the 'tea social' then we take pics with entire bridal party parents, etc....and maybe family pics and FH and I can do our private pics during sald time as someone else had said they were doing on here....How does that sound? I obviously don't want to see him before...lol