Five Reasons a First Look May be Right For You

 

Ok guys, if you’ve ever been to a wedding consultation with me, or if we’ve ever talked on the phone about your plans for your wedding, you’ll know that one of the first questions I always ask is whether or not you’re planning on having a first look.

Most of the time, this is the response I receive.

“What’s that?”

I tend to get caught up in wedding jargon, having attended a few more weddings than the average person in my lifetime. Let me explain what a first look is: A time the couple sets aside to see each other, all dressed up and ready for their wedding, prior to the ceremony. This can be in front of friends and family, or completely private depending on the preference of the couple.

I know what you’re thinking: “There’s no way I could do that because I want the first time my future hubby sees me to be when I walk down the aisle.”

Totally understandable sentiments. I totally get it! And let’s face it, it’s your wedding so what you want goes! There really is something special about seeing each other for the first time when you walk down the aisle.

But many of my couples have found a first look to not only be practical, but sentimental, emotional, and oh so beautiful.

 

Let me share with you just a few reasons some of my couples have chosen to go for a first look:

 

1. They crave a private moment between the two of them.

Your wedding day will go by in the blink of an eye, most of the time without the couple of the day having more than a few moments to themselves. A first look allows a chance to go off on your own and have a beautiful moment with no one else but your photographer present (and I promise not to be invasive, lol). Many of my couples have told me afterwards how happy they were that they decided to do a first look because it gave them a chance to relax, breathe, and really absorb what was about to happen.

 

2. The Photos are out of this world!

Having a first look gives you a chance for photos that you normally wouldn’t have. Let’s face it, when you’re walking down the aisle many times people can step in the way of the photographer, or you just don’t have the chance to really capture the moment just because everything’s happening so fast. A first look allows a chance for your media team to really take time and focus on the two of you interacting for the first time on your wedding day without the fear of Aunt Linda stepping in with her ipad to catch the moment for you.

3. You know you’re going to need some down time before the ceremony.

Fun fact: every wedding that I’ve photographed where a first look was done ended up having at least 40 minutes of extra time before the ceremony. This was after the first look, family portraits, and bridal party portraits, which tends to be the most stressful part of the day. Time before the ceremony to just chill and relax is such a wonderful thing that most people don’t even realize they need until the day of the wedding.

4. The leading man doesn’t feel any pressure to react a certain way

Let’s face it, people are obsessed with seeing the groom’s face the first time he sees his bride. This can actually put a lot of pressure on the groom and many times can inhibit his true emotions as he processes what’s happening. A first look allows for a pressure-free moment for the groom to enjoy seeing his bride on the wedding day without the fear of needing to look or act a certain way.

5. Let’s face it, not seeing the bride before the ceremony is an outdated tradition.

Girl, you know I’m all about being the best bosslady possible and that means we got things that need to be done regardless of what an old tradition may dictate. Sure it’s romantic to think about the groom seeing the bride for the first time as she walks down the aisle, but the reality is that most of the time the moment fails to live up to the expectation. I’d rather give my couples a private moment to exchange their emotions before the ceremony than have them feel disappointed because someone didn’t react the way they expected as they walked down the aisle. Just because something is a tradition doesn’t make it a must at your wedding.

But not matter what you read in this blog, and not matter what other people tell you, you need to do what’s right for YOU on your wedding day. If you don’t want to see each other before the ceremony THAT’S OK! Your wedding day is all about the leading couple and the exchange of their love for each other.

So think about it, talk about it, and decide what’s right for you 🙂