Rathbone Images Blog

Pictures Before or After?

When you start thinking about your wedding photography, you have an important decision to make-- whether you and your spouse-to-be will see each other before the ceremony for group and couple shots, or wait until afterwards. Many professional photographers have strong opinions on this issue, much prefering that their couples see each other before. However, photographer preference aside, this can be a complex issue. Here is a list of personal experiences from brides on their preference:

USA Bride Article

There are certainly many good reasons to have your pictures together before. Everyone looks fresh, you are not worrying about getting to the reception and seeing your guests, the light tends to be better, etc. Although you do not get to see each other during the ceremony for the first time, we often set up a special "first meeting," which can be just the two of you or you and your wedding party. Here are several first meeting pictures from Renato and April's wedding, August 28, 2005.

He waits:



They embrace:



He admires:



The "dog of honor" and bridal party look on:



April and Renato have some couple time before the wedding:



Not only do we have time for a "first meeting," but there is often more time (and better light!) for a romantic couple's session, as well as some relaxed bridal portraits.

So, you can certainly see why photographers would prefer to have you two see each other before the ceremony! However, at Rathbone Images, we believe that it is not our day, it is your day. And the most important thing to us is documenting your day the way that you envision it.

Many brides and grooms love the tradition, the romance, the nervous butterflies that accompany the anticipation of waiting until you see each other for the first time in order to pledge your love in front of family and friends . . . Who are we to say that this desire is not important?

If you choose to do your formals together after the ceremony, there are still some we can do before-- for example, the bride with her bridesmaids, bride with her parents, groom with his brothers, etc. We do as many before that we can, without you two seeing each other, so that after the ceremony you can get to your reception faster. We always recommend that you have a friend (not a member of the wedding party) who can help gather the family together as well as point out the most important people to us. Although it is fairly easily to identify people like the mother of the bride, it is often more difficult to know who the groom's godmother is, or other important people.

Whether you choose to see each other before your ceremony, or not, we will help you develop a schedule of the day that works best for the two of you. It is your day, and your priorities are our priority.

-- Priscilla

posted by Rathbone Images @ 10:10 AM PERMALINK