Check out this quick video to help get you thinking about whether a first look is best for your wedding day or if a more traditional timeline is better.
Let's talk about having a first look on your wedding day.
It's tradition to not see each other until you are walking down the aisle, but there are a few reasons why you might want to have a first look prior to your wedding ceremony.
First, and most importantly, it simplifies the timeline by allowing us to take family and bridal party photos before the ceremony so that you can head straight to your cocktail hour afterward. This allows you to spend more time partying with your friends and family and creates an opportunity for more fun candid moments at the same time.
Second, it creates another awesome opportunity for some photos together! What better opportunity to see each other for the first time, than when you are both looking as fresh as can be?
Third, they are a great opportunity to take a breath, and recenter yourself. I hear this from my clients all the time. The closer they get to the ceremony, the more butterflies they have, but, once they see each other all those feelings just fade away.
Ultimately, Do what feels right to you and your fiance.
You might want to skip the first look if:
If you prefer to keep it more traditional, or if you are a little superstitious. You might want to skip the first look and save that first sweet moment of seeing each other until the ceremony. In addition, tradition holds that it’s bad luck to see each other beforehand!
If you anticipate that family formals will be some of the most important images in your gallery. It’s important to remember that photography is heavily influenced by light, and typically, the closer to sunset we get the better the light is.
Ultimately, I am here to help make your wedding day exactly what you are dreaming about. That means prioritizing what’s most important to both of you. So think it over and see how it fits into your day. Does a first look get you closer to the wedding of your dreams, or does a more traditional timeline help create the day you have in your mind’s eye?
Hi, my name is Zak and just last season I helped nearly two dozen couples create the timeline for their wedding days. As far as the breakdown of who included a first look and who didn’t, it was decently even. However, in the end, a few more weddings did end up including a first look compared to the more traditional route.
If you have any questions about the first look or building out your wedding day timeline, feel free to fill out a contact form.
Talk to you soon!
