There are few hard and fast rules about when to take pictures at your wedding. Most people shy away from taking pictures before the ceremony, due in part to the old tradition of not letting the groom see the bride before the wedding. This custom is actually a rather sensible emotional safeguard. In the final hours before the wedding, stress can get the best of a bride and groom, and keeping them apart is a good way to prevent any disruptive, last-minute misunderstandings.

That said, there's probably no more logical time to take pictures than before the ceremony. The ceremony location is fully decorated, everyone is dressed, everyone's makeup and hair are still fresh. Many experts suggest the following: Arrange for a quiet, meaningful prewedding rendezvous between the bride and groom. She can even walk down the aisle to music -- a kind of final dress rehearsal. That way, the bride and groom can still experience "the moment." Then, pictures can be taken. In coordinating prewedding photos, be sure to allow the necessary amount of time, and a cushion so that the wedding party can exit before guests begin to arrive and be seated.

If you still wish to preserve "the moment": Arrange to take all non-"bride and groom together" photos ahead of time (i.e., photos of just the bride's family, just the groom's family, etc.) and then you'll only need to take the photos that include the couple together after the ceremony. If you're taking photos after the ceremony, be sensitive to the fact that the longer your photos take, the longer the delay before the bride and groom can make their arrival at the reception -- and even the best reception doesn’t really get going until the new couple arrives.