With the wedding season fast approaching, I’ve had many of my upcoming brides ask about doing a first look. It’s a new age, so it’s no longer considered bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding. This is always such a very personal decision and the best answer to this question is to do what is important and feels right to you!
As a professional photographer, I’ve found there are some pretty big advantages to doing a first look! Keep reading to find out my top five reasons why you should do one on your wedding day!
5 Reasons Why You Should Do A First Look | Wisconsin Wedding Photographer
It’s just the two of you
Seeing each other before the ceremony always, always helps to calm your nerves. In all honesty, this will probably be the only time throughout your whole wedding day where you will be alone together. These private moments before you start taking more formal portraits are often the most special for the bride and groom. You are able to say a prayer together, exchange meaningful gifts, relax and think about the moments to come. This quiet, contemplative time also helps to calm your nerves and prepare for the day ahead.
The other big thing is you’ll actually get intimate time together! Most people think walking down the aisle is the most emotional moment of the whole day because of tradition. When he watches you walk down the aisle and sees just how amazing you look, he can’t touch you, embrace you, hug you or even speak to you until the end of the ceremony. You have to wait until the ceremony is over for him to react and tell you just how beautiful you look! By then, generally the reaction isn’t the same as the initial first look.
You’ll have more time for portraits (+ insurance!)
You’re investing a lot into your wedding photography. With a First Look, you’ll receive 40% MORE portraits of the two of you and those are the images you will decorate your first home with! With a First Look, you make the most out of this large investment and get the most for your money.
Also, a First Look serves as a type of insurance in the case of rain or storms! Imagine if you didn’t do a First Look and a storm sets in during the ceremony? Your window of opportunity for beautiful portraits has passed. However, if you shared a First Look, you have already gotten a large majority of your portraits done!
You’ll look your best in your portraits
Doing all of your portraits before the ceremony ensures the bride, groom, bridal party and family are all in top form. The bride and bridesmaids hair and makeup are fresh, and the groom and groomsmen are still okay with being in their tuxes!
Extend your day by 3 hours
First Looks allow you to extend your wedding day! Normally the wedding day would start when you come down the aisle, then the ceremony would end, you would rush through portraits so that you’re not late for the introductions and then it’s reception time. With a First Look, your wedding day is extended by almost 3 hours!
Instead of being rushed for your bridal party portraits, you actually get to enjoy them and have fun hanging out with your BEST friends on your wedding day. The WHOLE first half of my clients’ wedding albums are filled with images just from this time together before the ceremony.
Spend time with guests
A wedding day is meant to be a celebration of two souls and two families joining together. There are many family members and friends coming from all over to support the two of you! Don’t you want to spend as much time with them as possible? By doing a first look and having all of your pictures done before the ceremony, you are free to head to the cocktail hour immediately after the ceremony and spend time catching up with all those guests you haven’t seen in years!
First look: The best decision
When my husband and I were married we opted to do a first look and it was the best decision! Many of the reasons why we chose to do so are listed above. But to us, it was really important we were present at our cocktail hour. Our family and friends are important to us and we wanted to spend as much time with them as possible. Our family and friends are really important to us so we wanted to make sure we could spend as much time with them as possible. Some of our relatives came from out of state just to be there for us, support us and help us to celebrate our marriage!
By getting our portraits done before the ceremony ensured we were present at our cocktail hour and greet our guests! A first look isn’t for everyone, but if it’s something you choose to do, I guarantee you won’t regret it!
Did you and your husband do a first look? Comment below and tell me your first look story! Did you love it? Would you recommend it to others?
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