First Look


First Look


What is a First Look?

A growing number of bride and grooms are opting to see each other, fully attired, on the day of the wedding before the ceremony. This concept is known as a “First Look”. It is typically a private and intimate moment with only the bride, groom, and photographer. It is a newer tradition, and growing in popularity, but certainly is not for everyone. So is a first look for you? I’ve put together some useful information to help you make that decision for yourself.

If you want to do a first look, you should understand the pros and cons of doing so. After weighing to pros and cons, you can make the decision that is best for you both, together. Which ever you choose, is perfectly ok with me as your photographer. This is completely a personal decision for the bride and groom.

How does a First Look work?

We will typically turn the grooms back in the direction from which the bride will be coming. There after the bride is directed to walk up

Pros and Cons

Pro: Fewer butterflies for the ceremony. One of the main beefs that some have with a first look session is the incorrect assumption that you ruin the excitement and joy of seeing your groom for the first time. During a first look, you experience ALL of those same feelings…just at a different time of day! The session helps to get rid of some of the pre-ceremony jitters, making you calmer and more focused for your march down the aisle.

Con: Makeup, hair, and clothing may need a refresh. Depending on your timeline, you could be spending quite some time getting photos taken before the ceremony even begins. This may mean you need to do some touching up before walking down the aisle. Not a big deal…just have the compact and lip gloss handy!

Pro: More time to party! The more photos you take before the ceremony, the fewer you’ll need to take after. This allows you, or at least your bridal party, to actually attend and enjoy the cocktail hour, mingle with your guests, grab some munchies, and take it all in!

Con: You’ll need to be ready earlier. In order to take photos before the ceremony, you’ll need to be all dressed and ready to go earlier…which means you’ll need to start prepping earlier…which means you’ll need to wake up earlier. If you have visions of sleeping in and enjoying a leisurely morning/afternoon with your bridesmaids, then you may want to skip a first look.

Pro: An intimate moment, just the two of you. Your wedding day will be a whirlwind. While you’ll have the best time of your life, you may also feel like you’re being pulled in a thousand different directions at once. A first look session is an opportunity to have some quiet time together with your oh-so-soon-to-be husband or wife. You won’t get much of that once the event begins so why not share a special moment together beforehand?

Con: Bad luck. Ok, personally I think this is a bunch of BS. But some people do believe in tradition or are superstitious about this sort of thing. If you think that a lot of bad juju will come your way if your bride or groom catches a glimpse of you before the ceremony, a first look may not be for you.

Pro: Really awesome photos. Can you really beat a photo of someone turning around to see their soon-to-be spouse for the first time on their wedding day? I mean coooome on! The look on their face is always priceless and your photographer can be right there, up close and personal, to capture their every reaction.

Con: Your flowers could take a beating. If you’re getting married in the summer, it can be taxing for your bouquets and boutonnières to be in the heat so long before your ceremony. They’ll look great in the first look photos, but might be tired before you walk down the aisle. If you’re opting for a first look, talk to your florist about what flowers will stay fresh and happy and what flowers you might want to avoid.