Why You Should Consider Doing The First Look?

WHAT IS A ‘FIRST LOOK’, YOU MIGHT BE ASKING YOURSELF?

Nothing compares to seeing the love of your life for the first time on your wedding day! Whether you are doing a first look or seeing each other for the first time at the altar, it’s always such an intimate and emotional moment, and by far one of my favorite moments to capture as a photographer! If you know me, you know that I am a HUGE fan of first looks! They’re amazing! However, not everyone is aware of how amazing they are, because they get caught up in how “non-traditional” it is and they immediately write it off. Even though I do not require my couples to do a first look, I always recommend it because there are SO many benefits! Keep reading for just a few of the many benefits that come with doing a first look!

HOW DO WE DO A FIRST LOOK AT OUR WEDDING?

What is so amazing about it is that it is a private moment between the bride and groom.  There are several ways a couple can do a first look.  As the bride walks up, she can tap the groom on the shoulder and he turns around to see her or she ask him to turn around once she gets close by.

YOU GET MORE PORTRAITS

This is usually something couple’s don’t even think about!  A ‘First Look’ means MORE images of the bride and groom together! You have the advantage of TIME if you do a First Look! You won’t feel rushed to get all your portraits done during the short cocktail period, nor will you inconvenience your guests by having a large break between the ceremony and reception. With a first look, you’ll receive 40% MORE portraits of the two of you… and those are the images that you will want to print and cherish forever. I find that wedding days with first looks are so much more relaxed 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!

YOUR ONLY ALONE TIME TOGETHER

This is THE perfect time to take a couple of minutes on your wedding day for JUST the two of you!  This is your one, private moment to tell each other how amazing each of you looks, what you love about the dress, read a letter to each other or practice reading vows to each other. Normally portraits are a little rushed after the family formals, and it can be hard to really get back into that “lovey dovey” mode…. especially with family around! When you have just shared your first look, you’re READY to love on each other, and I always capture some super sweet images during those moments!

First Looks allow you to extend the amount of time you spend together on your wedding day. Instead of spending the majority of the day hiding from each other until you come down the aisle, you actually get to spend several hours together before the ceremony starts! With a first look, your time together on the wedding day is extended by almost 3 hours! Instead of being rushed for your bride & groom and 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 client’s wedding albums are filled with images just from this time together before the ceremony.

FRESH HAIR MAKEUP AND FLORALS

A ‘First Look’ is  typically done on wedding day right after the getting ready photos.  This means the hair, makeup and florals are all fresh and perfect!

Weather conditions such as high heat, humidity, rain, etc. can take its toll on hair and floral bouquets and boutonnieres.

If no first look takes place, then your hair and makeup have to survive the ceremony tears, all of the hugs, family formal photos, and bridal party photos before getting to your bride and groom portraits.

LESS WEDDING DAY STRESS

If there is no other reason other than you are looking for THE MOST stress-free way to do your wedding, THIS is the MAIN reason right here!

Often times, couple’s don’t think about ‘how many’ photos there are to complete during the cocktail hour, if no First Look is done!

If no First Look takes place, here is how you can expect your wedding day to flow…

After you’ve already been been standing up at the ceremony, it has ended and its now time to dive into family formal photos.  Not just for your side but your fiance’s side too!

By the time family formal photos are completed and you have just been smiling for 30 minutes, it is time for your bridal party photos!   Now you are really tired of smiling…but no rest just yet!

You are now feeling ‘pictured out’ but you can’t sit down and have a rest just yet!  Next up is your bride and groom wedding portraits!  But you are already tired and not showing a very relaxing smile.

If a First Look DOES take place, your Bride and Groom Portraits and Bridal Party Photos are all completed prior to the ceremony!!

Once the ceremony ends, all you have left is family formal photos and that’s it!  Perhaps just a couple ‘just married’ photos and you can either enjoy cocktail hour with your guests or relax and enjoy a cocktail with your bridal party!

EASES THE NERVES

Often times, bride’s are thinking as they come down the aisle, they are going to see dramatic crying from the groom, just as you would see in a Hollywood movie!  This is actually rarely the case.

Many times, anxiousness takes over and the groom appears emotionless.  But why does this happen?  If we think about how the groom may be feeling in the minutes before the bride walks down the aisle, when there is no First Look, the music is playing and what is everyone doing?  Staring directly at the groom…waiting to see his reaction.  This can cause the groom to tense up, appear frozen and as a result, have no reaction.

So if you are looking for a more emotional response, in my experience, I’ve seen many more groom’s have a stronger emotional connection and reaction when the first look is in an intimate, private setting with no pressure being placed on them.

Both the bride and groom’s nerves are eased and they can be ‘in the moment’ and present during the ceremony.  ‘First Looks’ often result in the day’s most romantic and emotion filled imagery!

MORE TIME TO ENJOY WITH YOUR GUESTS

This is a big one! When you do a first look, almost all of your portraits are completed before the ceremony. Typically, the only portraits that need to be taken after the ceremony are the family formals. 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. This is 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!

GIVES YOU THE ADVANTAGE OF DAYLIGHT

If you’re getting married sometime between November and March, it’s likely that a first look is necessary in order to get any photos outside in natural light. As a photographer who thrives while shooting in natural light, I strongly encourage my couples who get married during this timeframe to do a first look. With an early sunset time and most ceremonies not starting until at least 3pm, a first look might be your only option for natural light portraits.