Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

Here is an issue i'm dealing with.... We are getting married at our reception hall and really want to enjoy at least some of our cocktail hour. FI really doesn't want to see me before the ceremony but, I think it would be a good idea if we got all our pictures out of the way beforehand. What are you guys doing?

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

Since we're getting married at church we're not seeing each other before hand...we're not even seeing each other the night before. If it were at the hall I would miss the cocktail hour for pics because I want him to see me for the first time walking down the aisle...but it's perfectly acceptable and a lot more time savvy to see each other before hand, just have the photographer set-up to capture the "first glance", it'll be special regardless!

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

We are getting married at our church, so we won't see each other, and we also have a little time in between to snap away.

I am traditional in that way, but I have been to weddings where the B and G saw each other, it seemed sort of.....I don't know....anticlimactic. There was no oooooh, aaahhhh type of surprise.

Don't do it if you don't have to. All I can think about is the moment I come down the aisle and see my FH see me for the first time.....Wow, I can't wait!

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

I've been dead set against seeing FH before the ceremony, but I'm having second thoughts about missing so much of the cocktail hour I know FH will tell me we can do whatever I want, but I'm just so unsure!

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

LadyPrincess got a lot of her pictures done before the ceremony. He saw her for the first time at Westbury Gardens and was bowled over by her. It did nothing to lessen how breathless he was when he saw her coming down the aisle towards him.

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

We are also getting married at our reception site, but we are not seeing each other before hand. We extended our cocktail hour a half hour.

The only pictures I am taking before hand is of me and my girls, so all we will have to do is the pictures of us together and the bridal party. Our photographer is great and he promised us we will be at the last half hour of our cocktail hour!

I recommend to not see him before hand. I feel it will ruin that "special" moment.

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

---

Posted by Katherine121

LadyPrincess got a lot of her pictures done before the ceremony. He saw her for the first time at Westbury Gardens and was bowled over by her. It did nothing to lessen how breathless he was when he saw her coming down the aisle towards him.

---

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

I'd rather stick with tradition and miss cocktail hour. Stinks but I wnat him to see me walking down the aise for the 1st time.

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

One of the photograhers we met with were trying to convince us to see each other, when we don't want to. So the photographer we actually booked with we asked him if we could go to the first half of our cocktail hour and then take pics...he said we might have to take some at the reception then, but I'd rather at least get to go to part of my cocktail hour then none at all.

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

---

Posted by miss_qiana

Here is an issue i'm dealing with.... We are getting married at our reception hall and really want to enjoy at least some of our cocktail hour. FI really doesn't want to see me before the ceremony but, I think it would be a good idea if we got all our pictures out of the way beforehand. What are you guys doing?

---

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

We're not seeing each other before the wedding for the reasons stated above by other brides to be.

However, from seeing LP pictures, I think that the first time he sees you will be magical regardless. Alot of brides who have seen their FH beforehand said that they appreciated having that private time together.

I want to go to my CH, but FH doesn't because he thinks it will ruin the grand entrance.

All in all, I guess you have to decide which one is more important to you. I really think that either way, you can't go wrong.

Message edited 3/17/2005 1:26:30 PM.

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

We have the same problem and want to enjoy the cocktail hours, but I decided not see FH before the ceremony. I just was that moment when he see me walking down the aisle to be as special as possible and a surprise

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

I am adament about attending my cocktail hour (we are doing the meet and greet there) and spending most of my entire reception out on the dance floor. I told everyone that all posed pictures MUST be done before hand. More than half of all brides are doing it this way. I will be in the bridal suite with the photographer, FH will be brought in with his eyes closed and then we will see each other fir the first time.

We are also getting married at the hall. I insisted upon this because I'm paying for the bulk of the wedding and FH is paying for major home repairs. If I'm paying, I'm not missing a second of the CH or reception. It goes by way too fast.

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

It was amazing to see my husband for the first time walking down the aisle but I did not have the same situation as you. I'm sure you guys will decide what's best.

I wish you lots of luck. That's not going to be an easy one.

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

we do not under any circumstances want to see each other before the ceremony (we're a little old fashioned) and we had no intention of going to the cocktail hour anyway, as we'd rather make our "grand entrance" at the reception, so this is what we're doing:

pics with me and all family, including all the BP (minus the groom) before the ceremony.

the photographer will then leave me one hour before the ceremony, to meet up with FH and all the family to take pics of him with all the family and the BP (excluding myself)

then during the cocktail hour, we'll do our pics together, with family and the BP. I don't imagine it taking much more than 30 minutes...then we'll go back to the bridal suite to enjoy the food and our bridal party before the official entrance into the reception.

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

WE will see eachother before the ceremony. Our reception is also at the same place... WE want to enjoy everything about our wedding with out being hung up on posing all day.

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

we saw each other before for that same reason - to get most of the pics done. We were at Old Westbury gardns & the first time he saw me was truly special

Then when we saw each other at the cermony, as i walked toward him,
DH was equally overcome with joy

i think it just a matter of choice

JMHO

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

We are also seeing each other before the ceremony to take pictures.We really want to enjoy the cocktail hour. It doesn't really make a difference to me if he sees me before the ceremony the effect will be the same.

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

I am getting married at the reception hall as well. And I also didnt want to miss my CH. So, we talked to our photographer and he assured us that if we can keep the BP together in between the ceremony and CH he can get the pics done in 30 minutes (half the CH). It's not perfect but it works for me.

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

we'll already be married on the 5th.. so i had no problem with him seeing me beforehand to take pics. FH was the one who now is like its so great seeing you for the first time.. since when did he turn into a sap?

So what we're doing is kinda "recreating" the walk down the aisle. we're still doing all our pics before hand (cause we figure if we dropping a big chunk of money we want to at least enjoy as much as possible) but the first time he sees me he'll be standing at the front and i'll be walking down the aisle towards him and that will be the beginning of our pictures.

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

We WON'T see each other b4 the church, though this will be hard b/c he lives right across the street and I will be trying to peek/as will he...our parents both said they are going to close the shades... hehe :)

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

We are getting married at the church....
and we are not goin to see eachother...
I WANNA SEE HIS FACE AT THE ALTER!

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

---

Posted by alibali

we'll already be married on the 5th.. so i had no problem with him seeing me beforehand to take pics. FH was the one who now is like its so great seeing you for the first time.. since when did he turn into a sap?

So what we're doing is kinda "recreating" the walk down the aisle. we're still doing all our pics before hand (cause we figure if we dropping a big chunk of money we want to at least enjoy as much as possible) but the first time he sees me he'll be standing at the front and i'll be walking down the aisle towards him and that will be the beginning of our pictures.

---

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

We're seeing each other beforehand to do pictures. It's not like you're just like "hey, what's up" when you see each other - your photographer will set up a moment when it is just the two of you. FH will stand with his back to you and then they'll have him turn around.

IMO it's way more intimate than 200 people staring you down as it happens. And, for us, it'll help calm any nerves. And, of course, the benefit of being at the cocktail hour. It also helps with your reception - you can get in as many hellos at the CH as possible so you don't have to do the walk around as much at the reception - more time for dancing and having fun.

Message edited 3/18/2005 3:06:14 PM.

Re: Repost from 06 board... Seeing FI before ceremony

we are meeting before hand, and taking pics at the park.
I still plan on making him seeing me, special, maybe in the room with just me and the photographers, but we will definately use the time before for pics.