This week's latest wedding conundrum is as follows: to have a first look or not?

If you're not familiar with this wedding lingo, a first look is exactly what it sounds like - a meeting between the bride and groom before the ceremony, captured on camera. Typically the bride surprises the groom by tapping him on the shoulder so she can reveal her dress. It's adorable, and the sweetest moment between the couple. When I'm on site with photographers assisting a wedding, this is one of my favorite moments that I feel honored to witness, but I never pictured Raven and myself doing it. Typically, Raven is pretty private, and for me I always wanted to keep the day uber traditional and abide by the "bad luck to be seen before the wedding" rule.

So here's the rub: we are getting married after daylight savings time, which means the sun sets before you can say "Good Morning". Our ceremony has always been slated for 2pm, cocktail hour at 5pm (because I have the most bad ass planner who allows me stomp my foot and declare that I refuse to miss my cocktail hour). But even if the ceremony lasts an hour...that's a two hour break that leaves day trippin' guests with nary a thing to do. Even though we have ideas and schemes and plans to keep guests entertained, it's still a long time. So yesterday, Ashley and I were talking, and now the first look is back on the table. We could have the ceremony at 3pm, have a quick break for guests to wander from the lake to the Inn, use the loo, powder their noses, and be back by 5pm so start cocktail hour.

Well? I need your input, friends! Did you do a first look? Would you? Does it matter in the end? Talk to me!

xoxo,

photo by Ashley Caroline.