I’m dramatic. There, I finally admitted what my mom and brother accused me of all those years when I’d constantly hear, “Stop being so dramatic!” Yeah, so that might have been me being dramatic in a not so positive way. However, as a photographer I think it’s a pretty great trait. When I hear the word wedding I think back to all of the great chick flicks I adore, all of the sigh inducing final moments of those movies. I picture the doors swinging open at a beautiful cathedral, sunlight streaming through in perfect rays, the bride has her veil down over her face in her beautiful white ballgown wedding dress, on her side is her father, and at the end of the aisle is her groom with one single tear coming down his face at the sheer beauty of seeing his bride.
Now how many weddings have I shot like that? None! Was my own wedding like that? Nope! It doesn’t matter though, because it seems like many couples relate that moment and drama to what their wedding should be. That first sight moment is exactly what so many women have in their head, and from my experience just as many guys (maybe minus the tear for all of the too tough to cry guys). In recent years it’s become pretty commonplace for couples to have that first sight moment before the ceremony so that they can do all of their portraits before, and then after the ceremony all they have to do is hit their reception, mix, mingle, and party. At the same time, I’ve noticed recently a lot of my couples have gone back to the traditional route of not seeing each other until those big symbolic doors swing open.
So, which way is better? Which one do I prefer you to do? I wouldn’t say there is a better way. A lot of it is just going to be completely personal and what you and your soon-to-be husband/wife decide on. If you take the emotion out of it though, and look at it from a strictly photo perspective there is sometimes a better decision though. If you’re getting married in the middle of the summer, have a 5 p.m. ceremony, then consider this. The best light is always as close as you can get to sunrise and sunset. Maybe we would do all of the bridal party shots before the ceremony and save just you two for after to get that beautiful light (or at least not midday ugly light) while your guests enjoy a cocktail hour or travel to the reception location. Then again, if you’re getting married at sunset or in winter in the afternoon, I’d probably say to seriously consider a first sight before the ceremony, at least if I’m your photographer. You see, I’m a natural light photographer. That doesn’t mean I can’t use lighting or won’t, but it means that my style, the same style that you see on my website and in my albums, is done 90% with natural light. If you want that style, and I sure hope you do if you’re booking me, just consider that. So, which one do I prefer? I prefer pretty light, wherever that may fall in your day.
All that said though, I will NEVER, I repeat, NEVER tell you that you need to see each other before the ceremony or that you shouldn’t see each other before the ceremony. I will probably tell you when the light will be best, but you can use that information or ignore it. What’s most important is that it’s your decision!
My personal experience, the moment that is most burnt into my memory from our wedding day was my church doors swinging open moment. I will never forget riding out to our ceremony location, my stomach full of butterflies, sitting next to my dad, and then seeing Mitch at the end of the aisle. I was a mixture of tears and big goofy grin for the whole ceremony. The funny part, we had spent hours together that afternoon (we gave our photographers plenty of time before, because photos were what was important to us), and had just seen each other 10 minutes before the ceremony. It didn’t change the meaning or emotion behind that moment one bit though.
As usual, every post is better with pictures. So, here are couple from Kendra and Regan’s first sight.
-alm
that afternoon
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