The First Look: Why or Why Not
MAY 25, 2023
One of the many questions a couple asks themselves as they plan their wedding is "should we have a first look?" And I'm here to tell you that the answer is a resounding YES! 100%. Hands Down! YES!!!
Absolutely NOTHING compares to seeing the love of your life for the very first time on your Wedding Day! NOTHING! It is such an intimate and personal moment between the two of you; and to be honest, it's one of my favorite moments to capture! If you know me, then you know I'm a HUGE fan of First Looks! They are AMAZING!
When it comes to planning your wedding, I understand how easy it is to get tangled up in the idea of keeping things traditional. But it's OK! It’s a new age, so it's no longer considered bad luck to see each other before the wedding. Plus, there are some pretty BIG advantages to having a first look!
You get the BEST reactions.
Trust me when I say this, you get the absolute best reactions from each other. Not only are they the best, but they're real & uncensored! I find that most couples are able to let their guard down more in an intimate setting. Most brides don’t realize that when they come down the aisle and totally shock their groom with their beauty & grace, he can’t even tell you how amazing you look. He can’t embrace you or even take a moment to take to process your gorgeousness. You have to wait nearly 30 minutes later, when the ceremony is over, for him to really react and tell you how amazing you look. And even then, you're both overwhelmed as family gather around you for your family formals. Having a First Look means you'll get to see each other's real emotions up close & personal. It's a moment you'll want captured for sure! And YES, your groom will still have the same reaction when he sees you walking down the aisle! Tears will still shed.
You Get Your Only Alone Time!
Having a First Look gives you two a chance to be alone together before everyone arrives. And it will be the only time you two will have alone together on your Wedding Day. These private moments, before you start taking your more formally posed portraits, are often the most special for the couple. You are able to say a prayer together, exchange meaningful gifts, relax and think about the moments to come. This time also serves as a break to calm your nerves. It helps to create a smooth, steady flow through the day’s events.
You Get MORE TIME to Enjoy Your Day.
This is a BIG one! It's the most convincing reason to have a First Look. You get more time to enjoy your day with your guests! After you've gotten a few moments to yourselves, we'll get your formal portrait of just you two done! Then, we'll get your formal Bridal Party Portraits done. Typically, your Family photos are done right after the ceremony. Then it's portraits of you & your wedding party. And lastly, portraits of just you two. The whole ordeal can take up to 1.5 hours depending on the amount of people. Getting your Wedding Formals out of the way, early, frees up the rest of your time to spend with your guests!
This means that as soon as family photos are done, you get to spend almost your entire cocktail hour mingling with your guests! Your wedding day goes by so quickly and you will find you are constantly being pulled in different directions. Having the extra time means the perfect opportunity for you to get to say hello and hug those friends and family members that you don’t get to see often! Plus, you get to enjoy your food that much quicker!
You Get More Portraits!
Having a first look gives you so much more time on your wedding day, which in turn makes the entire day run much more smoothly! You won’t feel rushed to get all your portraits done during the short cocktail hour, and this also means that you won’t need to inconvenience your guests with a long break in between the ceremony and the start of cocktail hour. I find that wedding days with first looks are so much more relaxed and enjoyable because we aren’t rushing to get all of the photos done in the short window of time between your ceremony and reception. We can take our time and you two can simply enjoy being together on your happiest day! With a first look, you’ll receive 40% MORE portraits of you two… and those are the photos that you will want to print and cherish forever!
Your Hair & Makeup is Fresh.
Not only are you in top form, but so is your bridal party! With the humidity here, sweat alone can ruin your makeup and cause a mess of your hair. With your hair & makeup fresh, you can get your formal portraits done before the heat really gets to you. And those in tuxes are still OK with being in them, especially in this Midwest Summer heat. Getting all of your formals done early will relieve any stress of making sure everyone's hair, makeup & tuxes stay in top form all day whilst waiting for formal portraits to be taken. You & your whole wedding party will be able to relax & have fun for the rest of the day!
Plus, if you want, it gives you two a chance to sneak away for some sunset portraits later on!
Have the First Look! You won't regret it!