5 Reasons To Consider A First Look
We’re all a little guilty of that childhood wedding dream. You know, the one where our man has to pick his jaw off the floor and wipe away a mess of tears as we finally walk down the aisle to him. Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that a first look is going to go the way of a Hallmark movie! In fact, there are A LOT of eyes on your poor groom, so he might actually hold back his genuine reaction to your overwhelming beauty. That’s not his fault. He’s simply doing his best to not look ridiculous and to keep his composure in front of a crowd.
When I asked my husband what his favorite part of our wedding day was, he said it was getting to see me before anyone else. He explained it took a lot of pressure off him, for one, and he was happy that we got to spend some time together before we had to share it with everyone else.
So my point is there’s no one-size-fits-all first-look plan. You have options! No hard and fast rule says that you HAVE to stay apart until the moment you walk down the aisle. You’re going to have a wonderful wedding either way. But for fun (and for the sake of great photography), I’m going to make a case for a scheduled first look. It turns out, there are a lot of positives that come along with that plan.
1. There is less pressure on your groom, and the intimate setting allows for a genuine reaction.
A reaction that can be captured forever! If he’s overwhelmed with emotion, he’ll feel comfortable expressing himself––tears and all (no need to hold it back for an audience). And, not to worry, he’ll still be checking you out when you walk down the aisle.
2. We, the photographers, have the ability to control the lighting and location.
It’s no secret that photographers LOVE first looks. They result in some of the sweetest and most intimate photos of your day. That’s because we can control the situation. This is big! While churches and wedding venues can be beautiful, they can also be poorly lit, so a pre-planned first look allows us to capture your groom seeing you for the first time in a scenario that is quite literally picture perfect.
3. You get to spend more time together.
With a first look behind you and your partner by your side, your nerves will begin to settle AND you’ll get to spend some pretty special alone time together before your ceremony and all the exciting hustle and bustle that follows it!
4. You get more photos, plus more cocktail time.
We can get the family portraits and/or bridal party portraits out of the way, because you two will have already seen each other. The rewards of this setup are at least threefold: Your families and bridal party can enjoy themselves during cocktail hour, your makeup (and your bridesmaid’s makeup) is fresh for portraits, and it will take you less time after the ceremony for couple’s portraits, which means you two can be at your own cocktail hour!
5. You can enjoy more of your day.
Since we can accomplish a lot before the ceremony, your wedding schedule will have a little more breathing room and time for celebration. You’ll be able to spend extra moments with all the people who traveled to see you and, who knows, maybe you’ll even get in a bite of dinner!
Fairytales and wedding dreams are important. (I get it, I had them, too!) But keep in mind that you’ll cherish your fabulous first-look photos for years and years to come. Seeing each other for the first time on that big day is going to be special, no matter how you do it. My hope for you is that you to keep your options open and choose a plan that’s right for you.
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