I, too, had originally wanted to first see each other at the ceremony however after some of the things I've read through, I'm okay with doing them beforehand. I am an emotional person, and it may be a good thing to get that out of the way if I can, and have time for makeup touch-ups lol. It turned out that our ceremony is scheduled not long before sunset so we will have pictures just the 2 of us, sunset on the beach. Our pictures beforehand will start out with just the two of us as well, in order to share that alone-time before the festivities begin.
My photographer did mention that majority of group pictures can be done before the wedding even if the bride and groom doesn't want to see each other...bride with her family, bridesmaids, groom with his family, groomsmen, etc, and then do the larger group pics afterwards. So that's something you could consider too, I'm sure.