First Look

I want to enjoy every second of our wedding day.  I don't want to miss the cocktail hour while getting our professional pictures taken.  So, I have spent the past few weeks weighing the pros and cons of having a "first look."  

For those of you who are not familiar with a first look, basically, the bride and groom meet before the wedding ceremony and have their "first look" photographed.  Typically, the groom stands in one place with his back to the bride.  Then, the bride walks up to the groom and then the groom turns around to see the bride for the first time.

I wasn't sure about doing a first look because I love the idea of Philip seeing me for the first time as I walk down the aisle.  However, I don't think the photographer could really catch our first look as I'm walking down the aisle.  

I've talked to a bunch of brides on wedding boards.  Of the brides I spoke to who had done a first look, absolutely none of them said they regretted it.  Of the brides who did not have a first look, I think at least half said that they wished they would have done a first look (mostly because their guests left shortly after dinner because they'd already been at the reception for 2 hours or more).  I want to enjoy the time with our guests.  I don't want them to leave right after we arrive!  

Also, I really do love the photos that come out of a first look!  See for yourself:

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Please check out the rest of the photos from this wedding!  Everything is so perfect and absolutely beautiful.  (Source)

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So, I decided that this was something that I wanted to pursue.  I sat down with Philip and we discussed it.  He wanted to make sure I was sure that I was okay with giving up the tradition.  Otherwise, he was fine with doing a first look.  So, there you have it, folks!  We'll be breaking with tradition and doing our very own first look!  :)