If you follow us on social media, then you know that one of our favourite moments of a wedding day, if the couple chooses to do so, is the first look. Not every couple chooses to do one so you may be sitting there wondering what a first look is and why you should consider adding it to your wedding day timeline!
A first look is a special moment for the couple to see eachother for the first time on their wedding day however it takes place before the ceremony. It is a private moment for the couple, either away from the eyes of family and friends or with their immediate family and/or bridal party.
Why are so many couples ditching the traditional first look at each other while walking down the aisle, and doing a private first look before the ceremony? We will fill you in!
1. It can help releive any stress and anxiety you may feel.
Does the idea of being the centre of attention make you anxious? Maybe you anticipate being nervous the day of, after all the many months of planning? It is common for couples to be nervous on the day of their wedding, and this private moment together beforehand really can help settle the nerves. You get the chance to have a special moment with your partner in a private setting before the party gets started!
2. Allows you some time to enjoy your cocktail hour.
After the ceremony your guests would typically go and enjoy some food and drinks at cocktail hour. While your guests are doing that, you will be taking family photos, bridal party photos, and then the couple photos. More often than not, the photos last the whole duration of the cocktail hour, and this would mean you don’t get to enjoy that time with your friends and family, not to mention you’d miss out on the food and drinks! By doing a first look you have the ability to do all of your bridal party photos and couple photos before the ceremony even begins. This would then only leave family photos to do after the ceremony, so once those are complete you can head in and enjoy the remainder of the cocktail hour with your guests.
3. Gives you a buffer in the timeline for the unexpected.
By doing a first look and taking advantage of getting the photos done before the ceremony. You are opening up space in the timeline for things to go wrong and run behind, allowing a buffer. Things can and do go wrong. Traffic can cause guests to run behind schedule, rings can be misplaced, the flower girl may need a nap, and hair may need a touch up. If you have the photos done before hand, delays won’t throw the rest of the timeline off schedule.
4. Special quality time together.
Picture this: You didn’t do a first look, you are making your way to the ceremony. The music starts, your guests stand to get a good look at you and your 6’5” Uncle Bob is leaning into the aisle to get a photo of you, now blocking the only view you and your partner had to see eachother. You finally are able to catch a quick glimpse of your fiance, but are now being kissed by your parents and handed off to him or her. Neither of you got the chance to see eachother and stare in awe as you walk down the aisle. That moment is completely gone! With a first look, it can be JUST the two of you and the photographer. No distractions, no view obstructions, just you and your partner and those special first look moments. Not to mention, the quality time together before the all of the wedding day festivities really start. As we like to call it, the calm before the beautiful storm!
5. Greater opportunity for photos.
After many years of marriage, you will eventually rely on the photos from that day in order to relive it. Doing a first look will allow for more time to do photos, including getting some with guests during cocktail hour that you otherwise would’ve missed out on. You get the best of both worlds in that case. The photographer would be able to capture all of the posed family and group photos, the special moments, and some candids of all the special moments in-between!
6. Look your best.
I know, I know, we said we had 5 reasons but here we are with another. This one is a extra one though! With the first look happening before the ceremony, and right after you are both done getting ready, you will look your best! You will be freshly dressed, fresh hair and makeup so the photos you get will be flawless! You can get in those beautiful bridal party shots and couple photos before being hugged and kissed by everyone, crying, sweating if it’s hot out or from your nerves getting the best of you.
Now, we want you to know that whether you do a first look, or wait for the aisle, the first time you see each other will be magical. Don’t worry about it being less special if you pick one way over the other. We have had a fair share of our couples decide a first look was something they’d like to do, and not one of them were disappointed or felt that it made walking down the aisle less special. We have actually found that the emotion is shown more during a first look as opposed to during the ceremony because of how private the first look is. Just another point to consider!
