HOW is it already Thursday?! It’s hard to believe that a year ago today I was checking it at the Palace for our wedding weekend. Time is truly flying but I have to say that these daily posts are helping with the hefty dose of nostalgia that I’m feeling. Every time I look at the photos, I find a new one that I love.
Today, I’m sharing the story of our first look, and to be honest, there isn’t much to it. Originally, I didn’t want to do a first look at all. I was very traditional in most of my wedding preferences and I loved the idea of walking down the aisle for the first time and seeing Tom at the end of it. However, when we chose NYPL as our venue and found out we couldn’t start the ceremony until 7:30 pm, our plans changed and all in all, I think it was for the best.
Unlike most New York Public Library brides, I chose NOT to do our first look on the steps of the library. While the backdrop is ICONIC and we did plenty of photos there, it felt too public for a moment that was truly just for Tom and I. Being in public as a NYC bride was one of the things that gave me the most anxiety going into the wedding and was actually a significant factor in choosing our venue. When we were in our venue search, it was extremely important to me that our wedding, where we were going to take pictures, and my guests felt private. The last thing I wanted was to become a spectacle because it would make me feel more anxious than I already am on a daily basis. That being said, being on the streets of New York is a necessary evil when you are getting married in the city and it’s hard to avoid. When all was said and done, the few moments out in public weren’t as bad as I was expecting but I’m still glad that I considered it.
Instead of the NYPL steps, Tom and I had a private first look at the Lotte Palace, which is not only one of my favorite places on earth but the ultimate place to be during Christmas. We chose a private marble stairway, which is a part of the historic brownstones built in 1882 that are now a part of the Lotte Palace Hotel property. It was just the two of us and the gorgeous piece of NYC history. In fact, we’re visiting this very staircase this weekend for a celebratory anniversary brunch.
Overall, the moment was absolute magic. It wasn’t overly dramatic. Sure a few tears were shed but nobody fell to their knees and started sobbing. The moment was full of excitement and anticipation for the moments that would come next. Even though I was on the fence about doing a first look, I’m happy I did because I think having Tom next to me for the remainder of the day made me feel more confident and comfortable than I would have been if I was on my own.
Okay, it’s almost wedding time!! Check back tomorrow for a look at our ceremony.
