A First Look: Seeing each other before the ceremony. Should you?
There are many pros and cons to doing a first look. Here are some to consider and how they impact your day on the photo front.
PROS: Why you should do a first look.
- You see each other for more time on your wedding day (about 2 more hours than if you don't do a first look).
- You can do some of your couples photos together earlier in the day.
- You can do your wedding party and family photos earlier in the day.
- You get to go to cocktail hour (YAY!!) because all of the above photos were done beforehand.
- You will feel less nerves. Every couple I've seen do a first look has said, 'oh IÂ feel so much better now', after seeing their partner.
- Family group photos and wedding party photos are much faster when you're not competing with cocktail hour simultaneously happening.
CONS: Why you might want to skip a first look.
- You won't have that initial visual of each other as one of you comes down the aisle.
- Friends and family would see your outfits before the ceremony (during group photos)Â so it wouldn't be a full-on surprise to everyone.
MEETINGÂ INÂ THEÂ MIDDLE:
- AÂ FIRSTÂ TOUCH: A few past couples have opted to just join hands for a moment pre-ceremony. This can offer some reassurance and a bit of privacy while you come together for the first time on the day of your wedding vs at the front of the aisle in front of 100+ guests.
- PRIVATEÂ VOWS: Another option, is meeting back to back and sharing your vows privately (not during the ceremony). This can be a very emotional and intimate moment to share, yet still maintain that surprise when you walk down the aisle.
- ANÂ AISLEÂ SURPRISE: I've had a few couples do a first look without a veil on and then add it for the ceremony so there's still a surprise and your partner gets a different view of you coming down the aisle. I've had one that had a removable skirt as part of her dress and did the first look without it, but put it on for the ceremony. For suits, a different tie, no jacket for the first look, but adding it for the ceremony, could be ways swap up the look for an aisle surprise.
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A few more first look moments because I'm admittedly biased in favor of them after seeing 100's of weddings and how much a first look calms nerves, improves the logistics of the day and allows you to enjoy cocktail hour WITH your guests!
