To Have a First Look on Your Wedding Day or Not

On one of the most thrilling and emotionally charged days in your life, a wedding first look is a pre-arranged meeting time for you and your spouse to see each other before the day begins.

We’ve been photographing weddings for over 10 years, and we’ve seen how a first look on your wedding day can calm nerves, offer much-needed breathing room for feeling all the emotions together, and allow for alone time in a day full of activity.

Typically, no one else is present for the first look except for your photography and videography teams. It’s the most effective approach to convey your feelings without having everyone staring at you.

Your wedding photographer will select a lovely and intimate location with amazing light, create anticipation, and capture that special moment when you first encounter each other during the day.

We’ve identified five reasons for a first look before the ceremony, as well as a few situations when it isn’t ideal.

^ First Look at Royal Palms Resort & Spa, Phoenix, Arizona

THE PRO’S

A First Look on Your Wedding Day Will Set You at Ease

It’s a good reason to do a first look if being the center of attention makes you nervous, you don’t like big gatherings, or you get anxious easily.

It’s difficult to predict (until the day of) how nervous you’ll be and how you’ll feel until the day of. On wedding day, it’s usually the groom who is most anxious.

Whatever the case may be, once you’ve seen each other, the nerves will will surely settle.

You’ll both be a far more calm and ready for the ceremony than you would otherwise be.

You’ll be able to spend more time interacting and feeling the emotions together.

If the first time you see each other throughout the ceremony is during the wedding, you won’t have much chance to embrace each other or chat.

You’ll have to wait until after the ceremony to learn your spouse’s reaction and express your own sentiments. The response isn’t the same 30 minutes into the ceremony as it would have been with a first look.

During the first look, your wedding photographers will capture all of your emotions, the love love, passion, and joy, hugging, interact, and chatting. Soak in it; the rest of the day may be a whirlwind!

It’s a one-of-a-kind occasion that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. (And, trust us, the second look as you walk down the aisle will be just as heartfelt and moving.)

Spend more time with your family and friends.

The first look allows you to spend more time with your loved ones and family on your wedding day. If there is no first look, the day may begin with a few bridal party and family photographs just before you walk down the aisle if there is still time..

Normally, after the ceremony, you’d speed through photographs in order to avoid being late for the introductions, and it’s then time for the reception.

You’ll have 2 or 3 hours before the wedding to spend with your family and bridal party when you have first look. It’s similar to pre-gaming with your closest friends!

Rather than being rushed for wedding party photographs, you may take your time and have fun with your closest friends on the big day.

Couples who select a first look frequently use photographs from the sessions prior to the ceremony to create the first half of their wedding album.

^ First Look at Shenandoah Mill, Gilbert, Arizona

The Only Time Alone The Two of You Will Get is During the First Look

It’s quite likely that your wedding day will seem like a blur, and it may be tough to enjoy some quiet alone time between the two of you.

If you are wanting some alone time on your wedding day (besides the photographer), a first look will ensure you have time alone with your groom. The excitement of seeing each other for the first time on your wedding day and having a private moment to share vows, an embrace or simply chat; then a first look is the way to go.

Bride & Groom portraits are frequently rushed after the family and bridal party photographs after the ceremony if there’s no first look. As a result, it may be tough to get back into your intimate mindset you previously had, particularly with family around!

Immediately after your first look, you’ll be looking and feeling fantastic, making those romantic photographs right then is the ideal time. We capture some of our couples favorite shots of the day during that time, which leads us to the following point…

Wanting a greater variety & more images of the two of you? Then a first look on your wedding day is what you want.

Even when everything is going well, things can be delayed… traffic, bad weather, or dad forgets his shirt (yes it happened once).

The easiest approach to guarantee that you have enough time for photographs with your fiancé, family, and bridal party is to schedule a first look. Based on our experience, scheduling a first look ensures that we’ll capture approximately 40% more photos of the two of you!

These photos will soon become some of your favorites, and they’re likely the ones you’ll want to display in your home.

THE CON’S

Although there aren’t as many drawbacks as there are advantages to consider when it comes to a first look, there are still a few things to keep in mind. Here they are…

^ First Look at Villa Siena, Gilbert, Arizona

You’ve dreamt of seeing your groom as you walk down the aisle for years.

It’s everything little girls want… to hold her father’s arm as she walks down the aisle, spotting her groom in front of them. To look him in the eye as if no one else exists. Her father placed her hand in the hand of her groom, gave a hug and a kiss on the cheek then taking his seat to witness his daughter promise herself to this man.

We don’t want to take something you’ve dreamt about for a long time if you still feel strongly about it.

We will be there for you if you value that moment more than the extra time with your groom, family, and friends! We’ll make it happen for you!

We will still take some photographs of you, your bridesmaids, and your family before the wedding. In addition to your groom, his guys, and his family while keeping the two of you apart.

A First look doesn’t make sense based on the wedding day schedule.

A first look might not be the greatest option for your given schedule. Perhaps your church ceremony is scheduled for early in the morning, giving you several hours before cocktail hour begins. Maybe you wanted a sunrise wedding with a traditional evening reception. When it comes to the day’s schedule, performing all of your photographs during this time period makes perfect sense.

Make wedding photos that you’ll want to keep for a long time, memories you’ll want to remember.

We may be a little bias as wedding photographers, but we’ve seen the effect of having a first look on the wedding day. Not just for the couple to share sentiments, but also for everyone’s stress level and final collection of pictures.

Keep in mind that this is YOUR wedding day. We aren’t here to tell you what to do or pick for you; rather, we simply want to educate you on the choices so that you may make your own decisions regarding your wedding day appearance. So, regardless of whether you have a first look or no first look, we are here to help

We have more wedding tips for you to check out!