1 Peter 4:8: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."

Before your wedding day, as you're coming up with a timeline with your wedding planner, photographer and so on, you have to decide whether you're groom will see you for the first time as you're walking down the aisle. Or whether you will be doing a first look sometime before the wedding ceremony.

There's pros and cons to both.

1. Walking down the aisle

This is the traditional way its done. And if this has always been your dream, then you should totally go for it. Everyone attending the wedding will be able to see the grooms reaction as he first sees the love of his life walking down the aisle to be married to him.

However if other people are pressuring you to do it this way, because its "tradition", explain to them where this tradition comes from:
Years ago, in a far, far away land... Actually i don't know what land it was. The wedding ceremony was actually a business arrangement between a father and a young man (romantic huh?)

A father wanted to sell his daughter to the "highest bidder" so to say. If he had a lot of land, a lot of cattle, or anything else of value he could buy the "prettiest" young lady out there, of course this opinion of how pretty she is must have just been what he heard from word of mouth. Every man needed someone to cook and clean for him, because young men needed to move away from their parents homes (now thats a good tradition everyone should keep these days, instead of sitting on mom and dad's couch)

But he wasnt allowed to see his "bride" until they were married at the altar, because she was wearing a veil. So when they were actually married he got to lift up the veil and see what he had just gotten himself into! Poor him if she was not what he expected at all. Now the woman had no choice in the matter, if her dad said "this is how you'll spend the rest of your life" she would concede and do as he said.

Even the during the Bible times you read how something similar was done. Jacob worked 7 years for Rachel and Leah's Father to get his daughters hand in marriage, the one he wanted was Rachel, but he unknowingly married Leah. So he had to work another 7 years for his father in law , to get permission to marry Rachel. Read all about it in Genesis 29.

I find this to be very interesting that this tradition has been able to be passed down for so many generations! And something tells me it will last for many generations more. There's just something so touching and appealing about it. And everyone has to decide for themselves what they would like that moment to be like, and when they would like that moment to be.

CONS: The moment won't be intimate between you, and he probably won't let himself go emotionally with everyone around and you wont be able to just hug and hold each other for a little bit, letting the day sink in. Plus everyone else gets to see you for the first time at the same time as he does

CONS: All of the photos of you two as a couple and the whole bridal party will be done after the wedding (which isn't a big deal with the right timeline)

PROS: This will build the anticipation up a little more than a first look

PROS: you will get to share this emotional and exciting moment with your guests

2. First Look

Although not traditional, this can be done in so many different ways. With your bridal party around. Or just the 2 of you, meeting at a private spot. And he gets to turn around and lay eyes on you for the first time. No one around but the ones you both decide should be part of that moment. Plus it also allows a lot more flexible time for wedding photos.

CONS: you will be going against "tradition"

CONS: Your guests wont be part of this moment

PROS: You're photo timeline will be a lot more flexible

PROS: after you see each other you get to spend a lot more relaxing time together. Instead of just rush rush everything after the ceremony.

These are just some things to consider as you're dreaming about and planning your dream wedding! In the end you have to do what you want, not what anyone else tells you to do!