Should you take photos before the wedding, much to your guests' pleasure, and bring on 7 years of bad luck? Let's investigate when and where your wedding photos get taken affect your entire wedding guest list.
The practice of not seeing each other before the ceremony was supposedly derived hundreds of years ago while marriages were still arranged by the parents. The father of the bride was reportedly afraid the groom might flee if his fiancee wasn't to his liking. So they postponed the "unveiling" until the actual ceremony.
But nowadays, you know each other. Heck, you most likely already live together. You know what the other one looks like. And, you know what to expect when you see the other one at the ceremony. Things are different these days, and this gives you "permission" to let go of that old superstition, and get your photos over with before the wedding.
But, you may be whining, not seeing each other beforehand is so romantic. Which it is. And, if that's the way you want it to go, then do it your way, and your guests will wait. No big whoop.
However, if you're considering taking all your formal photos before the ceremony, there are some real advantages that you're going to like a lot. And, if you and your groom want a private moment to see each other or the first time, just alert the photographer, family, and friends, and they will most likely be more than happy to accomodate you. Then you can enjoy the rest of the wedding without any stress. Hey, that's romantic, too.
Advantages of taking pictures before the ceremony:
* No guests waiting at the reception for extended periods for the couple to make their appearance. * The photographer doesn't have to rush through the list of photos you requested. * Make-up, hair, clothing and flowers are fresh and haven't been crushed or cried in yet. * Less stress during the actual ceremony. The nervousness is greatly reduced. * Some photographers give a bonus or special for those who decide on pre-ceremony formals.
Best of all? Taking your photos in private before the ceremony allows you to actually get to share the first moment when you see each other. If you meet at the altar, you don't get to really talk to each other (you've got a lot of eyes on you). So, all that gets pent up to the end of the ceremony, and many times when the bride and groom finally do get to speak to one another, it's usually something really profound, like, "Hey, we did it!"
The important thing to remember is, talk about it with your fiance and decide which is really important. IIn the end, it doesn't matter which you do, as long as you get to do the one you want. Then you'll be happy and the guests will be happy (even if they have to stand around for a while) because you're happy. And that's all that matters.
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