Should I Have a First Look at My Wedding?
We’ve been finding lately that couples have been doing first looks more than ever before!
Before we jump into it, let’s answer the question of: what is a first look on a wedding day? A first look is when you see your partner before your wedding ceremony. Traditionally couples will spend the night apart, get ready with their respective bridal parties / families, and then see each other for the first time as they are walking down the aisle.
A first look on your wedding day offers a unique and intimate experience that many couples deeply value. By choosing to see each other before the ceremony, you create this magical moment filled with emotion and anticipation, allowing you to connect with each other before the big moment.
There are a few reasons why we love doing a first look on your wedding day— which you’ll read about below— but let us be clear in saying that this is by no means a make or break for us. We are here to support you in whatever way you most feel comfortable with, and in way that speaks to and honours your love story. Every wedding and every couple is different, so let’s do what’s best for you!
With that said, if you’re curious about why we think first looks are a great addition to your wedding photography timeline, let’s get into it!
1. Timing
The main reason we love scheduling a first look into your wedding photography timeline is because of how it allows the rest of the day to unfold. Now that you have seen each other earlier in the day this opens up the possibility to take some, or all, of your portraits and group photos ahead of the ceremony. Even if not every family / friend group is present earlier in the day, being able to knock some names off of your list is always helpful. Doing this also frees up your time during the cocktail hour; we are not rushing off for an entire hour for portraits, but instead are stepping away for maybe 10-15 minutes instead, if at all.
We tell couples all of the time to try and enjoy every moment because your wedding flies by quicker than you think! And it’s all too true if you are running around all day trying to get photos with everyone and everything. Many couples want to prioritize being fully present with their guests and, truly, this is our top tip to make that happen!
2. Emotion, emotion, emotion!
A lot of people think that doing a first look will take away from the emotional reaction of seeing your significant other for the first time at the wedding ceremony but in our experience the excitement of seeing your partner, whether privately ahead of time or as you’re walking down the aisle, is still very real and present.
In truth you’re going to have a lot of emotions on your wedding day— excitement, anxiousness, nervousness, an overwhelming amount of joy, just to name a few— and doing a first look allows you to connect with each other before the day's activities begin, bringing a sense of calm amongst the chaos. Sharing this intimate moment helps express your love authentically, and can alleviate some of those building emotions ahead of time, so when it is your turn to walk down the aisle you feel calm, cool, and collected.
3. Mix it up
A first look doesn’t have to be with just your significant other, it can be with your parents and bridal party too! Give your girlfriends a little surprise by finally revealing the dress you’ve been keeping secret all summer, or get emotional and have a little moment with your parent before they finally walk you down the aisle! You’re sure to be a big hit on your wedding day no matter who you ‘reveal’ yourself to, and tears are almost always guaranteed!
4. Privacy
For couples who are not a big fan of PDA we cannot emphasize enough how beneficial doing a first look on your wedding day is. When you're walking down the aisle at your ceremony you'll have so many people watching and looking at you, and if you are not a big fan of the spotlight (same!) having a first look will allow you to see your partner, and to be emotional, alone.
In our opinion, there's more magic and more intimacy in being alone than trying to keep it cool in front of all of your friends and family. You finally get to show your fiancé(e) the dress you've been keeping a secret, you can quickly talk about how crazy the morning has been, and even express how excited you are for the rest of the night to come! While seeing each other really only take a few minutes we suggest adding 15 minutes into your timeline so you can have a few more moments with privately together.
