What’s the Deal with First Looks
What is a first look? Do you need to have one? What will it mean for your timeline? So many questions that I am here to help you with.
First looks have become more and more popular over the years and for good reason. They are a great way for a couple to see each other before the ceremony. There are a lot of perks to doing a first look but they are not for everybody and that is totally okay. I am here to help you figure out if a first look is the right choice for you.
Seeing each other before the ceremony has a distinct appeal to certain couples. If you are more on the introverted side and the ceremony is making you anxious seeing each other can be a great comfort and a chance to relax and take a deep breath before the day really gets going. It can also help dispel some nervous energy that can come from anticipation (if you’re not one who enjoys that energy.) You know yourself and your partner best and I think putting your comfort high on the list for the day is a good thing. Your wedding should be enjoyable and not a source of stress for yourself.
There are also a lot of practical reasons for doing a first look. After a first look it is the perfect opportunity to transition straight into couples portraits. If you are able to get this part of the day done with beforehand then you will have more time to be with your friends and family after the ceremony. If being a part of the cocktail hour appeals to you it might be worth it to consider a first look.
Timing is a huge consideration. Depending on your timeline and when your ceremony is you have to consider lighting and what kind of lighting is going to be available during your photos. If you are getting married in December and your ceremony is at 5 you will have lost the light completely once the ceremony is over. You may want to schedule a first look to make sure you have light for your portraits.
A lot of people worry that the first look will take something away from the ceremony experience. That seeing each other beforehand will take away some of the emotion from that moment of walking down the aisle. To this, I would say you know yourself best. If you have dreamed your whole life of that aisle moment I would never want to take that away from you. Organize your timeline so the photos will fit well after the ceremony. It has though, in my experience, not taken away that moment from any of my couples. I’ve had couples do a first look and still cry as they walk down the aisle. It is a different moment with different feelings attached. I also suggest adding a bit of buffer time so you don’t go straight from photos to the ceremony. So you have a chance to breathe and potentially be away from each other directly before the big moment.
What it comes down to is organizing your day so that it works best for you. Everyone is different and has different opinions and expectations of how they want their wedding to be. In the end, the goal is to marry the love of your life and no matter what you will get a chance to do that.
