There are so many wedding traditions one can choose from on their special day. One favorite of wedding photographers is the “first look” in which the groom sees his bride prior to the ceremony.

It’s meant to get rid of the jitters and make sure people don’t turn into blubbering messes during the actual wedding. But it also makes for a very special photo.

“It can be highly emotional,” photographer Cat Mayer told Brides.com. “A wedding is an intimate, emotional experience, and a first look means I can capture a couple together in that moment. Yes, walking down the aisle is emotional too, but you’re not together in those photographs.”

Plenty of couples are opting for the “first look” these days after seeing the touching photos from other weddings. They’re throwing caution to the wind when it comes to the superstition that it’s somehow bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding.

But couples are also trying to shake off some of the stress with elaborate pranks on their wedding day – and Brianne Dennis had a great idea to give her husband-to-be, David Hoffman, a good laugh before the ceremony.

She enlisted the help of their good-natured friend Timmy Horton.

As Hoffman stood with his back to the door, eagerly awaiting the first glimpse of his bride, we see that someone very different has taken her place. It’s Horton in a wedding dress. The groom’s “first look” will be of a burly, bearded man in a dress instead of his blushing bride.

And, needless to say, the results were hysterical.

As the bridesmaids gather at the door, it’s hard not to laugh as we see Horton approach. Hoffman has a big smile on his face, ready to see his future wife.

And when the “bride” approaches, his face changes – a more serious expression comes over him as he realizes he might tear up at the sight of Dennis on their special day.

We can only imagine what goes through a groom’s head at this moment. How do they react? Do they try to hold in the tears?

As Horton taps his pal on the shoulder, we’re eager to see just how he responds.

As expected, he loses it.

Thinking he was going to see Dennis but getting a dude in a wedding dress instead is just too much for him to keep it together.

“I was really nervous and anxious because it’s my best friend and I love the bride and groom so much. When it happened I just couldn’t restrain myself and I burst out laughing. I think it really broke the ice and the tension,” Horton told Fox News.

The groom burst out laughing and couldn’t stop.

Both men are soon doubled over in a fit of laughter.

That’s certainly one way to lighten the mood!

And since it’s clear everyone here is a good sport, they keep up the photo-worthy antics.

Horton takes Hoffman by the hands.

Then he gets ready to pose for some more formal photos as soon as his friend can get it together.

The two embrace for what would soon be some excellent viral photos.

“I’ll remember the day and that moment forever,” Hoffman told Fox News.

And they even follow the whole thing up with a smooch!

It looks like the groom is going to need a moment to pull himself together before the actual ceremony.

The tears he expected are there, but for a totally different reason.

But never fear – Hofmann did get to see his real bride before the ceremony and she was beautiful.

Be sure to scroll down below to see the prank in action!

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Source: Brides.com, Fox News, Kyle Olthoff via YouTube