Seeing each other Before the Ceremony

I don't normally post e-zine articles on the blog because I don't want those of you that get the e-zine to have to read the same thing twice but I like this idea so much I wanted to post it. (And if you aren't on the e-zine list sign-up now so you don't miss out!)

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Private Time Before the Ceremony

I am not going to try to take credit for this idea because it isn’t mine (it belongs to Shay Freeman of Bells and Bows in Little Rock, AR) but I think it is an amazing idea.

I have always been the one fighting for the traditional idea of not seeing each other before the ceremony while it seems that most photographers will give you a thousand reasons why it is a good idea. In my opinion the reaction from the groom when he sees his beautiful bride in her wedding dress for the first time as she walks down the aisle to become his wife is worth a lot more than the 15 extra minutes of picture time.

Shay has thought of a way to give you both.

Instead of having the groom waiting in a beautiful field or beside a gorgeous tree (the setting of most pre-ceremony shots), Shay has him waiting at the front of the church just like he would during the ceremony. The bride is then escorted down the aisle by whoever will be escorting her for the ceremony.

After being escorted down the aisle everyone leaves to give the bride and groom just a few minutes of alone time that they may not get for the rest of the day. The photographer then comes back in and you can get most or all of your group shots out of the way allowing you to get to the party sooner after the ceremony.

If you are on the fence about whether or not to see each other before the ceremony hopefully this will make your decision a lot easier.

Choosing whether or not to see each other before the ceremony should be a decision between the bride and groom and no one else. Don’t let the photographer, wedding planner, your mom or anyone else pressure you into a decision one way or the other.

So what do you ladies think? Are you going to see your groom before the ceremony or are you going to go the traditional route of waiting?

Happy planning,