When to do the pictures of the bride and groom:
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This page from Jeremiah & Tiffany's album shows her excitement as we are bringing him to see her for the first time. He can't see her, yet, but the moment is coming. When we did let him open his eyes, he was blown away by his beautiful bride, and we caught the moment. We gave them a few minutes to talk and just be together - something most couples don't have on their wedding day - and we documented that memory as well. Then we were able to do some formal portraits of the two of them. It was the beginning of the day, while they were refreshed and relaxed, and there was no pressure to cut it short because guests were waiting at the reception.
Most couples want some pictures together at the location where their wedding takes place - church, chapel or outdoors.
Think about what is important to you as lasting images of your wedding day. If you want a variety of really beautiful images of the bride & groom together, it's better to do them before the ceremony. After the ceremony, you will be ready to "party," and you will be concerned about keeping your reception guests waiting. |
If you're still wondering why we recommend couples see each other before the ceremony and create the moment where the groom sees the bride for the first time, these two images tell the story.
In the first one, Chase opened his eyes to see Rebekah standing before him. Look at his hands. Look at his overall posture and his face. Then compare it to the second image taken just a second later. The first one is almost like a gasp as he's struck by how beautiful she is. In the second, he relaxes into an enjoyment of the beauty of his bride.
You can't fake that. And it just doesn't happen when his first look at his bride is at the other end of the aisle, and he gradually watches her get closer. |
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  Bride and groom portraits can be created on a day other than the wedding day. Colby and Shannon lived out of state, and were married here in Oklahoma City because they had relatives here, and it was more centrally located for other guests. Time was limited, so they requested we do their pictures together the day before the wedding. We went to three different Oklahoma City locations and captured some unique and beautiful images of them togther.
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Picture this:
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Now, on the other hand, picture this.
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Before the ceremony, we take a few formal portraits of the bride alone.
She's pampered. (It's her day more than anyone's.) Then, we set up the next portrait. The groom is brought in (with his view blocked so he can't see her until the right moment). Then, when he's in place, he's allowed to look. We capture his expression the first time he sees his bride in her wedding dress -- his emotion, and her joy at being the light of his life. And, it's captured in pictures for all to enjoy.
Then, after allowing them a few minutes to just relax and visit, we capture some wonderful portraits of the bride and groom together while they are refreshed, relaxed, and they look and feel their best.
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The minister is standing at the end of the aisle. The groom is off to his left. When the bridal march begins, everyone stands, turns, and watches the bride enter -- they never see "the groom's expression." But that's no big deal, because all they would miss is the groom stretching his neck to catch a glimpse of the bride as she enters. By the time he can really see her, she's so near the front of the church that the photographer is getting her and her father coming down the aisle. (So much for the groom's expression).
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Most professional photographers begin taking pictures a couple of hours before the ceremony. It's exciting and fun. It's part of the day. When the ceremony ends, for the bride and groom especially, the day is done. It's party time! They are ready to go to the reception and celebrate. They've been running on adrenalin. It's done. They're done. But, there are more photos to be made. All the aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents who couldn't make it before the ceremony are needed for a large family portrait showing all who were there. Then there's parents, and brothers and sisters, with the bride and groom together. Then there's the whole wedding party together with the bride and groom. Finally, then it's just the bride and groom together. The whole day is about them, but their pictures often are the last made. They're tired. They have guests waiting at the reception. They are eager to go. As a result, they may wind up with fewer pictures of themselves, or their pictures may reflect that they are tired and would rather be at the reception. Not a pretty picture, is it? (pun intended)
"But, it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her wedding dress before the ceremony!!"
Hear the smile and light-heartedness in my voice as I say this in a make-you-think way with no criticism or sarcasm: Are you having a religious ceremony? Are you taking vows "before God and men?" So, then, what place does luck or superstition have in the equation?
"But it's just not traditional!"
Where did the tradition originate? A long time ago, marriages were arranged. A man didn't even know who his bride was until after the ceremony. She wore a veil -- an opaque veil that hid her face -- in part to assure the groom didn't see who he was marrying beforehand and back out. I'm assuming you already know each other, and have seen each other, and are both serious about showing up for the wedding, so you've already pretty much shot that tradition out the window.
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It's time to put aside superstition and start a new tradition. Let's make your wedding day the most beautiful day of your life. Let's record it and capture it in a way that will provide you with the most wonderful images possible -- pictures you will cherish and enjoy looking at again and again.
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Will we do your wedding if you don't want to see each other beforehand? After we've met and chatted, assuming we all agree we're a great fit with one another, sure - this one thing is not the deciding factor. We won't "force" you to see each other before the ceremony. However, if you like the images you see here, if you like our style of photography, and if you want the best possible collection of wedding day images, then what you really want will be best accomplished if you will do all your pictures together before the ceremony. In other words, if this is what you are asking us to do, this is how it's done. If these are the kind of images you want of your wedding day, don't let anyone - not Mom, or Dad, or Grandma - talk you out of it with talk of "tradition" or "bad luck."
The last time that happened with one of our couples, the Mom that talked them out of doing pictures together before the ceremony was the very one who came up to the couple right after the ceremony, just before we began pictures and said excitedly, "It's party time!"
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