SEVEN REASONS TO DO A ‘FIRST LOOK’

You know the concept of waiting to see your future spouse until the moment of the ceremony?  The whole “bad luck” superstition is from a time when marriages were often arranged without the couple meeting each other before exchanging vows.  If the groom saw the bride before the ceremony and didn’t like what he saw, he still had time to escape; this is also where the tradition of the bridal veil comes from.  So, the bride was kept secret from the groom until it was, essentially, too late for him to make a run for it.

The tradition of the wedding ceremony has come a long way since the days of arranged marriages.  Still, the desire to wait until “the big moment” for the groom to see the bride coming down the aisle has persisted.  It has become a tradition with social significance, even if the original practical reasons no longer apply. It’s still important to many couples to maintain the dramatic “reveal” of the ceremony, and I firmly believe that’s something that should be respected by your photographer and any other wedding vendor.  If I’m chatting with a client and they are hands-down set on waiting until the walk down the aisle to see each other, I do not consider it my place to try to change their minds.

If you want to wait until ceremony time to see each other, then that’s what we’re going to do.

BUT, for those of you on the fence or not sure what it means to do a “first look,” I’m here to share the details of what it means so that you make an informed decision.

 

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1. The moment that you see each other for the first time on your wedding day is PRIVATE.  This is an emotionally-charged day that is going to pass by faster than you can even imagine, so meeting up before all the festivities begin is a great opportunity to enjoy a moment alone, without all your friends and family looking on during the ceremony.  It is also a great photo op, so your photographer will be there with his/her camera, and maybe you’ll let your bridesmaids and groomsmen peek around the corner, but the moment is MUCH more intimate and allows the two of you to have a more authentic interaction.

2. Your memory of your actual ceremony is likely to improve.  I’ve met a few couples who know they’re going to be a ball of nerves and thus would prefer to see their spouse-to-be before it’s time to focus on details like reading vows, exchanging rings, and a family-appropriate first kiss.  If you decide to reserve a separate moment for the excitement of being together for the first time on your wedding day, then the actual ceremony might be a little less stressful and a lot more memorable (in a good way).

3. Take care of some of the formal photos before the ceremony.  After seeing each other, you can also plan to take some bridal portraits, bridal party group shots, and even some (or all) of your posed family photos instead of waiting until cocktail hour.  Many couples either want more time for bride and groom solo portraits, or want to actually attend their cocktail hour.  These are both GREAT reasons for getting some of the formal portraits taken care of earlier in the day.  This is yet another way for you to enjoy the day and make it last longer by attending your own cocktail hour, or taking more time for bridal portraits with just the two of you.

4. Take advantage of daylight! Depending on the time you’ve scheduled your ceremony, we might have to rush to take advantage of daylight for post-ceremony photos.  If you’re getting married in winter (when days are shorter) or later in the evening (and it’s almost dark when the ceremony is finished), you’re going to have a shortage of photo opportunities if you wait until the ceremony to see each other.  If you love that beautiful “magic hour” pre-sunset light but your ceremony is scheduled for the late afternoon or early evening, you want to be realistic about what photos to expect from your photographer. And if you REALLY don’t want to do a first look, then consider moving up your ceremony time to a bit earlier in the day.  Or, just know you’ll only have nighttime photos of the two of you together and that your photographer is probably going to have to use flash for family portraits.

5. Bridal hair and makeup is more fresh when photographed earlier in the day!

6. You won’t yet be suffering from “photo fatigue.” Even if your wedding photographer has a photojournalistic, unobtrusive approach, you’re still technically “posing for photos” with your family, your bridal party, and each other.  You might hit a point at which you’re just “over it” and just want to have a drink already, or make sure you actually get to eat your wedding cake.  If you’re not used to having your photo taken or you know you’re going to want to relax and keep photos to a minimum after the ceremony, then a “first look” is definitely a good idea.

7. You’ll see each other earlier in the day, so you get to hang out a little longer.  This day is about the two of you, so you should be together for most of it, right?  Spend more time with each other.

 

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Regardless of your decision regarding a “first look,” remember that this is YOUR wedding day and the very best wedding photographer will know how to work with whatever you decide.  This is just so you can make an informed decision and so you can prioritize and maximize your wedding day timeline and photo opportunities.

Photo Credit: Anna Delores Photography