Question regarding formal shots before or after ceremony

I am trying to decide if we take our formal pictures before the ceremony or after. I know there are pros and cons. I was hoping that brides on here who have already done this either way would give me their opionons on how it worked out. Since my ceremony and reception are both at the hall If I don't do formal pics before the ceremony I will miss all of the cocktail hour and perhaps still need some pics (who knows) during the reception. Is something lost when you see the groom prior to the ceremony? I know a lot of brides get a 'moment alone' before the pictures are done. Please share your thoughts. Thanks

Re: Question regarding formal shots before or after ceremony

i did mine after

Re: Question regarding formal shots before or after ceremony

We did ours before. Our photo. and his assistant set it up so that each of them had a camera focused on us when we saw each other for the first time, its a great shot. Also, I feel like it was nice that DH and I got a second alone together before everyone started lining up to go down, he really calmed my nerves.

Re: Question regarding formal shots before or after ceremony

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Posted by DLWDLG

Our photo. and his assistant set it up so that each of them had a camera focused on us when we saw each other for the first time, its a great shot.

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We are taking pics before and we plan on getting pics when we see eachother for the fist time. You will still be excited when you walk down the aisle!!!

Re: Question regarding formal shots before or after ceremony

We took pictures before (we also had our ceremony & reception at the same location) and it was still very surreal for both of us when I walked down the aisle.

We both feel like seeing each other before the ceremony allowed us to be calm during the ceremony and really focus on that, rather than being all nervous and excited, etc like we were when we first saw each other. JMO

Re: Question regarding formal shots before or after ceremony

We did pics before the ceremony and wouldn't change it! We got great shots, had plenty of time, didn't feel rushed, and got to enjoy the whole cocktail hour. I love the shot we have of DH seeing me for the first time. Those are some of my favorites.

Re: Question regarding formal shots before or after ceremony

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Posted by Sasha96

We did pics before the ceremony and wouldn't change it! We got great shots, had plenty of time, didn't feel rushed, and got to enjoy the whole cocktail hour. I love the shot we have of DH seeing me for the first time. Those are some of my favorites.

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Ditto! Plus, seeing him before maked me a lot less nervous.

Re: Question regarding formal shots before or after ceremony

We did it before too - and I'm so glad. Our ceremony was at the hall too and we didn't want to miss out on the cocktail hour- we actually used that as a time to go around and visit with a lot of our guests so during dinner and dancing, we could just enjoy ourselves and not feel like we had to go from table to table then.
It also, I think, made us both calmer than we might have been since everyone tells us both they were so surprised that we didn't seem nervous, just unbelievably happy

Re: Question regarding formal shots before or after ceremony

We did it before as well!! I was thrilled to do it that way for many reasons.....
1.We were SO very relaxed by the time we had the ceremony, we were NOT nervous at all!!
2. We were able to spend some additional time during the cocktail visiting with all of our family & friends.... which in turn allowed....
3. We had an AWESOME time at our reception!! I danced all night!! We made it a priorty during the cocktail hour & beginning of the reception to visit with the older folks I knew weren't going to be dancing!! That way I got to spend lots of time with those that were!!

And if you are like me and have a LARGE family (well on my side we do) then it saves a lot of stress!!

I do not think it diminished seeing each other for the first time that day at all.... I only wish the bridal party & family had listened when I said not to come over to where we were taking pictures right away... I would have liked a few more minutes alone!!

Edited to say we had our ceremony & reception at the hall.

Re: Question regarding formal shots before or after ceremony

I thought long and hard about this and I know everyone does it differently, it would have been easier for us to do it before..but I really wanted to see him for the first time when we are about to be married. there is something about the ensemble playing that beautiful music and all of the guests oooing and aewing that made it so special. The vidoegrpaher has him saying how beautiful I am and it was an amazing experience. I wouldnt do it differently if I had the chance. Also, our chapel was on the same grounds as our reception hall, so while our guetsts were enjoying the cocktial hour, we had the waiters bring the cocktail hour to us, so as we were having our formals, we were still drinking and eatinga nd we had a blast!
I know everyone has their own way of doing things..but I thought it was so worth it for us to wait and have him see me for the first time as Im walking down teh aisle.It was very magical.

Re: Question regarding formal shots before or after ceremony

Ive posted on this before but in my case - there was nothing lost by doing it before. If anything, we gained. Instead of having one really emotional and memorable moment we had two. (as you can see from tears at both moments). We got to have a few minutes alone after we first met ....and the coming down the aisle was just as wonderful.

We got to take our photos when we wanted, in the locations we wanted b/c we werent as tight on time..we got to enjoy our cocktail hour which I can tell you that I would have been so upset if I had missed, we got to mingle with people which saved us the guilt factor of not mingling more at the reception (and thus danced all night, ate our entire meal, etc..). There are other pros but I highly recommend doing it this way.

Re: Question regarding formal shots before or after ceremony

Thank you all for responding. I really appreciate your input

Re: Question regarding formal shots before or after ceremony

we did ours after the ceremony...I wanted the emotion of us first seeing each other at the end of the aisle....it was the greatest thing.....

Re: Question regarding formal shots before or after ceremony

We took our pictures before the ceremony. We had that moment when we first saw each other that day and I can't imagine the joy I felt walking down the aisle was diminished by it not being the first time we saw each other that day.

We also had our reception & ceremony at the hall which didn't have too many places for photos besides. We have tons of gorgeous photos of us and the photographer was able to concentrate on some family picks at the beginning of the cocktail hour. We did miss a portion of it but I could not imagine getting all this pictures done during the cocktail hour.

Re: Question regarding formal shots before or after ceremony

I did mine before for the exact reason that you were talking about. We got married at the hall and I would have had to squeeze all of my picts in 1 hour. My ceremony was at 7.. WE began taking picts at 4:30 and finished around 6:16... I am happy I did it that way because you spend so much $ on the picts and I wanted to enjoy myself...
If I would have gotten married in church I would have waited and done them after the ceremony.

ETA - I also wanted pictures in the day time and since my ceremony started at 7, all of the cocktail picts would have been inside or in the dark outside...