13 Priceless Grooms' Reactions to Seeing Their Brides for the First Time

These couples didn't wait until the ceremony to gaze upon one another for the first time. In a relatively new tradition, they met prior to saying their I do's. Indeed, more and more soon-to-be-newlyweds are carving out time together before being among their guests, whether to schedule wedding photos, calm preceremony jitters, or to simply grab an intimate moment together. Worried a first look may diminish the emotional impact of the big-day unveiling? As these photos show, that couldn't be further from the truth.

Patrick patiently waited, facing the opposite direction, for his bride to come tap him on the shoulder to turn around. "It was then, when I saw her in her wedding dress for the first time, that I realized it was actually going to happen, I had somehow found a way to marry the girl of my dreams," Patrick says. "When I first saw her that day, our entire relationship flashed before my eyes, starting with our first date. Finally seeing her in her dress made it all real for me, and I realized she had chosen me as her partner for life. Not to mention that she looked so amazing!"

Brandon walked down the venue's staircase and stood next to his bride, who was waiting alone with her eyes closed, took her hand, closed his eyes, and said a quick prayer for only the two of them to hear. After he finished, they both opened their eyes to soak in the look on each other's faces. "What a moment. It was ours and ours alone," says Coleen.

Both Dean and Mike teared up when they met in front of the barn in the middle of the afternoon to see each other for the first time.

Jeff stood blindfolded (as the couple's parents and bridal party looked on) until his bride-to-be approached him and removed his blindfold for their first look. They chose to pose for portraits before the ceremony to ensure they wouldn't miss out on mingling during cocktail hour.

Before their ceremony, this couple shared a beautiful, private first look before posing for portraits in the venue's apple orchard.

Irby and Adam decided early on in the planning process that they would do a first look. "In retrospect, I love the time we were able to spend together before the ceremony," Irby says. "The pictures taken by our photographers, Landon Jacob, will always hold a special place in our hearts."

Wanting to spend precious time alone to reflect on the day, Alison and Chris embraced when they met for their first look a few hours before the ceremony.

Surrounded by their close friends, excitement and happiness overwhelmed Emily and Brett when they first saw each other on their big day in Calgary, Canada.

This Southern belle met her Frenchman for a quiet, breathtaking moment beneath the trees.

At the suggestion of their planner, Marianne Weiman-Nelson of Special Occasions Event Planning, Vanessa and Gavin met in private before becoming Mr. and Mrs. Hood. "We both laughed and cried," Vanessa says. "It was the culmination of three blissful days and the beginning of our new life together. The moment we saw each other, the nerves dissipated; we were ready to enjoy the ceremony."

A couple hours prior to their arrival at their venue, Lauren and Jason looked at each other for the first time that day. After a few special seconds and snaps of the camera, their nerves disappeared.

Casey and Ross had a "first look" at the bathhouses at Hither Hills State Park Campground, a meaningful place to Casey because of childhood memories made there with her family.

Seeing Kate in her wedding gown for the first time was the most memorable part of the day for Joe. The bride and groom first set eyes on each other in the bride's favorite room of their wedding venue.