Tradition says that the bride and groom won’t see each other until the doors swing open and the bride steps down that center aisle toward her soon-to-be husband. Until recent years, it was simply assumed that the bride and groom must be carefully kept separate until that special moment. These days, it’s not uncommon for couples to opt for a “first look” before the ceremony. There’s no right or wrong; whether you have a first look or keep it traditional is entirely between you and your fiancè. We’ve listed some factors to take into consideration when making this decision.
Why should you have a first look?
1.It eases your nerves. There is a tremendous amount of pressure around the wedding day as a whole. Anyone who has been involved in the wedding of a close family member would probably agree that the whole event goes by in a whirlwind. For those who tend to be anxious, a first look can relieve the pressure faced by both bride and groom when everyone’s eyes are on them.
2. You can enjoy a moment of intimate privacy with your spouse-to-be during a day where there is scarcely any alone time until the festivities conclude. For some, it may also generate a more genuine reaction than when the couple has possibly hundreds of family members and friends watching and expecting a certain response.
3. From a logistical standpoint, you can save time between the ceremony and reception by taking the photos of you and your fiancè beforehand. That way, you can spend more time with your guests at the reception.
Why shouldn’t you have a first look?
1.You get to share that emotional moment along with your guests. After all, you invited them because you wanted to be able to experience such joy with the people you love.
2. When you have your “first photos together” after the ceremony, it will be as a married couple rather than an engaged couple. Both of you will be wearing wedding bands, and you’ll be rejoicing in the fact that you are actually married. The emotional high you’ll be experiencing after the ceremony is a one-time feeling, and wouldn’t be the same if you took the photos beforehand.
3. Although having a first look may shake out some of the nerves, you miss out on having each other’s unfiltered reactions when you meet at the end of the aisle. You miss out on having that element of surprise and anticipation as part of the ceremony itself.
Of course, there are other alternatives that allow you to share a moment with your spouse before the ceremony without physically seeing them. Some couples reserve a time to pray together, or simply talk and calm one another down before the ceremony. They stand around a corner to avoid seeing one another.
Despite what history and tradition say, to have a first look or not is simply heads or tails. There is no right or wrong way to go about it. When it comes down to it, what you and your fiancè decide to do is entirely up to you.
Pure7 strives to interact with its clients in the most unobtrusive way possible. Specializing in wedding photography, we know how to shoot each wedding uniquely while using our experience to help your day flow as smoothly as possible. Contact us at info@pure7studios.com or 850-654-6523.
I love a first look. Get all the family pictures out of the way early so you don’t miss your party!
First looks do allow the couple to do most if not all of the photos prior to the cocktail hour and reception. I will still take the couple for sunset photos, but that does not take very long at all. I know the families love to do the photos prior to everything as well.
Great information! It’s definitely a tough decision but I loved the intimacy of the first look with my husband and glad I decided to do it:)
It really is a tough decision. And as a photographer, I respect whatever the couple decides to do. First looks can surely be a very special moment.