5 REASONS YOU SHOULD HAVE A FIRST LOOK

There seems to be mixed feelings about first looks amongst brides and grooms. Some say it's because they love “traditions”.... but what a bride REALLY wants when it comes to her groom seeing her for the first time, is a REACTION. Those who are not interested in a first look usually think that by seeing each other beforehand, they will lose part of that reaction. They also assume that it will not be as emotional or as intimate as it would be if they were coming down the aisle.  As a general rule, I think you should do what you want to do on your wedding day, BUT I am also here to tell you my thoughts on why you SHOULD do a first look. Without further ado, here are my five reasons why you should consider a first look for your wedding day!

5 REASONS A FIRST LOOK IS WORTH IT

REASON #1 | 40% MORE PORTRAITS

You’re investing a lot into your wedding photography. With a first look, you’ll receive 40% MORE portraits of the two of you... and those are the images you will decorate your first home with! (Believe me, our house is PACKED full of our portraits!) With a first look, you make the most out of this large investment and get the most for your money.

REASON #2 | ENJOY THE SURPRISE FREELY

You actually get to have intimate time on your wedding day with your man. Most brides don’t realize that when you come down the aisle and totally SHOCK him with your gorgeous-ness... he can’t even tell you how amazing you look. He can’t touch you, embrace you or even SPEAK to you. You have to wait until 30 minutes later when the ceremony is over for him to react and tell you how amazing you look. And after 30 minutes of the ceremony, the reaction isn’t the same as the initial first glance.

REASON #3 | EXTEND YOUR DAY BY 3 HOURS

First Looks allow you to extend your wedding day. Normally the wedding day would start when you come down the aisle, then the ceremony would end, you would rush through portraits so that you’re not late for the introductions and then it’s reception time. With a first look, your wedding day is extended by almost 3 hours! Instead of being rushed for your 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.

REASON #4 | YOUR ONLY ALONE TIME

First Looks allow you to be TOGETHER and alone on your wedding day. Not only is it intimate, it might be your only time to be alone the whole day! You’ll cry and laugh and cry some more... that will put you in the PERFECT mood for your romantic portraits. 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!

REASON #5 | DIMINISHES NERVES

You get rid of your nerves! I’d say, literally 1/2 of my couples who have decided to do a first look, the grooms were not fans of it at first. However, because they have never experienced their wedding day before, they didn’t know how nerve racking it can be. I have testimonials from so many grooms who initially weren’t a fan of the first look... but afterwards they admitted to being SO much more relaxed and ready for the ceremony! 

ADAM'S + MY FIRST LOOK

When Adam and I got married in 2018, we decided to have a first look. It was something neither of us originally planned on, but our wedding coordinator made a good case for it. I'm so glad we did! It provided a sweet moment before everything got crazy where we paused in a quiet moment, just him and I.

I can still remember that moment he looked at me for the first time. His eyes and face lit up when he saw me and a breathless "wow" was all he could keep uttering. There was something so calming and precious about that moment; we prayed together over our day and over our life together that was about to begin.

And what I really loved is how it created TWO special moments for us that day. Because the moment I walked down the aisle was still just as special, if not more so. Adam totally cried as I walked toward him (although he still insists that someone must have been cutting onions nearby).

Whether or not you have a first look has to be your decision. But I know that for me, I'm very thankful that we made a first look a part of our wedding day!