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Why do a first look?
Why do a first look?
Hey there! I’m here to share with you my “five" reasons to have a first look and to help you decide if you should incorporate it into your wedding day. In wedding terms, a "first look" refers to a private moment where the bride and groom see each other for the first time on their wedding day, before the ceremony, often for photos and a special, intimate moment.
It is completely up to the bride & groom if they’d like to do first looks.. or not. It is basically seeing your gorgeous bride in her wedding dress while I, as a photographer, capture the moments. It also gives you both intimate moments rather in public. On the other hand, you don’t want to do the first looks and wait to see your bride walking down the aisle in her gorgeous wedding dress. Your family & friends get to witness it to especially see you wipe a tear in awe. First looks doesn’t have to be with your significant other, it can be with your father and/or bridesmaids in different settings.
More time to do portraits
Having first looks with your significant other also gives us time to do romantic portraits to do before the ceremony, also private. Couples often do a first look, and then portraits with their wedding party and/or immediate family before the ceremony to get those photos out of the way. If you have a large family and need a lot of different combinations of family photos, it would be beneficial to do immediate family photos before the ceremony to get them out of the way. If you don't do a first look and have a lot of portraits you want done, I would recommend having an extended cocktail hour, around 1.5 hours instead.
Even it’s blind first looks
If you want to save the reveal look for the ceremony, you still do a blind first look. It allows a couple to share a private, emotional moment before the ceremony without seeing each other, often opting for a "big reveal" during the aisle walk. This can involve holding hands, exchanging notes, or simply connecting without visual contact.
It helps with the nerves
It’s normal to have nerves on your wedding day, in fact, the majority of couples do. The countdown the day of the wedding could be nerve wrecking. I have had brides and grooms who were calm and relaxed, and others were nervous. The first look allows couples to see each other in a private, intimate setting before the public ceremony, which can help ease pre-wedding jitters and create a sense of calm and anticipation.
Cocktail hour
If you choose not to have a first looks, then the romantic portraits would be right after ceremony along with the bridal party and family. It’s usually 30-45 minutes for bridal party and family along with 30-60 minutes for romantic portraits. But if you choose to do first looks, along with bridal party and family before the ceremony, it allows the couples to enjoy the cocktail hour with their guests and have more time for portraits without rushing the day.
The Father of the bride first look: A must have moment
A "father of the bride" first look, capturing the father's emotional reaction to seeing his daughter as a bride, is a cherished and powerful wedding moment, offering a unique opportunity for a private, tender, and memorable experience. I’m a daddy’s girl myself. There’s always a special moment other than daddy/daughter dance is this first looks, as if you’re looking in her eyes as you’re having flash backs to your little girl.
Seasonal Weddings
For seasonal weddings, consider a first look to maximize natural light and avoid potential issues with unpredictable weather or early sunsets, especially during colder months. This allows for relaxed portraits and ensures you capture beautiful images regardless of the weather or time of day.
Seasonal Considerations:
Spring/Fall Weddings. These seasons offer more temperate weather, but it's still good to be prepared for potential rain or changes in weather.
Summer Weddings. Summer can be hot, so a first look can help you avoid the hottest part of the day for portraits.
Winter Weddings. Sunsets are earlier in winter, so a first look is even more crucial to ensure you have enough daylight for portraits.
But it is totally up to you and the groom whether or not if you’d like to do first looks or not. Either way is absolutely fine and your wedding will still be breath-taking, so in love vibes all day.
Check out more of my tips for wedding planning below!
My favorite engagement session locations: read it here!
3 Things to Do Before Hiring a Wedding Photographer: read it here!
Skincare routine before the wedding day: read it here!
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