Bride Sends Her Brother For 'First Look' Instead Of Her, And The Groom's Reaction Is Going Viral

Recently a couple named Heidi and Val Zherelyev had their wedding after 5 years of being eloped but something funny happened along the way. When their wedding day finally arrived, the groom was incredibly nervous so Heidi decided to pull a prank on him to loosen him up. When the time came for Val to see the bride for the first time, it was someone else waiting for him - her brother Eric. "My husband was so surprised, and stunned to see Eric instead of me," Heidi told Bored Panda, "Thankfully for him however, he is used to pranks and jokes being pulled in my family." The bride also shared that it was quite an intimate moment, as only the newlyweds, Heidi's brother, the photographer and one friend knew about it. The photographer, Nichole Cline, said she was super excited to do their first look and when she find out Heidi is planning to send her brother, it was the icing on the cake. "I have never photographed pranks like this. But I'm sure beings its now a trend, its not going to be my last time," shared the photographer. After the story went viral, the bride shared something personal - the reason she chose Eric to dress up: "My father passed away when I was 18, and my two brothers were always there. [...] My brother Carson was officiating the ceremony, and I wanted Eric to have a special part too." See the prank and the groom's reaction for yourself in the gallery below! More info: kevinchole.com | Instagram | Facebook | h/t

Recently a couple named Heidi and Val Zherelyev had their wedding after 5 years of being eloped

Image credits: Kevin Chole

When their wedding day finally arrived, the groom was incredibly nervous

Image credits: Kevin Chole

The bride knew she had to do something to loosen him up

Image credits: Kevin Chole

So Heidi decided to pull a prank on him

Image credits: Kevin Chole

The bride’s brother Eric slipped into an old wedding dress

Image credits: Kevin Chole

“When we were zipping him up, everyone was laughing,” told Heidi

Image credits: Kevin Chole

After that, Eric went on to meet the groom for his first look

Image credits: Kevin Chole

Heidi watched her husband's reaction to seeing Eric in a dress

Image credits: Kevin Chole

"I was super excited to do their first look and when Heidi told me about the idea, it was just the icing on the cake", said photographer Nichole Cline

Image credits: Kevin Chole

Val had a hearty laugh upon seeing Eric instead of Heidi

Image credits: Kevin Chole

"We are all really close and love to laugh and play so Val fits right into the family with a wonderful sense of humor" told Heidi

Image credits: Kevin Chole

Looks like the prank worked out!

Image credits: Kevin Chole

Val clearly seemed to have loosened up!

Image credits: Kevin Chole

After recovering from the initial surprise of finding Eric instead of his bride...

Image credits: Kevin Chole

They decided to pose together for some romantic shots

Image credits: Kevin Chole

The bride shared something personal - the reason she chose Eric to dress up

Image credits: Kevin Chole

"My father passed away when I was 18, and my two brothers were always there to step up" confessed Heidi

Image credits: Kevin Chole

"My brother Carson was officiating the ceremony, and I wanted Eric to have a special part too"

Image credits: Kevin Chole

After Val loosened up, Heidi had him had their actual first look moment

"[This is] our first look of seeing my dad’s boots and name at the table"

"We were able to have a very intimate, special moment because he wasn’t so nervous"

The people on the internet seem to absolutely love it!