If you’re a southern bride like me, you’ve likely wrestled with this question while you’re on your wedding planning journey. There are SO many opinions out there, that’s it’s hard to gauge what you really want when it comes to whether or not to do a first look. Making this choice is an extremely personal decision! Luckily, I’m here to help! My goal is to educate you on the matter of whether you stay traditional or go for a first look! From past experiences from my own wedding day, as well as what I have learned from a photographer’s standpoint, I have a lot of advice to share!

 

What is a first look?

 

A first look is a time for the bride and groom to see one another before their wedding ceremony. For my own JA Couples it is an especially intimate time as there is no one else around. It’s a time for the two of you to soak in the fact that it’s FINALLY your wedding day! First looks have become tremendously more popular over the past few years, and I know exactly why. Below are some helpful takeaways to better understand why a first look might be the right fit for you, and why they are so popular now in the wedding world!

 

Alone at last!

 

First off, I believe very strongly in having this moment be very intimate for the two of you. More often than not there will be curious family members who want to see the reaction of the bride and groom. While I don’t blame them in the least bit, I explain to them that this is an intimate time for JUST the bride and groom. That way you can be ALONE! Something that just isn’t nearly as possible with a traditional timeline. When a groom waits to see his bride until the ceremony, usually portraits and a reception immediately follow after. There is virtually NO time for the two of you to soak in your wedding day together.

 

Double the Portraits

As a photographer this reason is so crucial to bring up to JA Couples as Bride and Groom Portraits are one of the main reasons that you’re hiring a photographer to begin with! When you share a first look you’re able to have so many more portraits of the two of you together. Again, for my own JA Couples I make sure to include time for portraits immediately after the first look and right before sunset as well.

 

With a traditional timeline, I still ALWAYS encourage sunset portraits. However, the caveat there is that 9 times out of 10, by the time we get to the sunset portraits on a wedding day with a traditional timeline, my couples are much more tired from having just taken their wedding party, and family portraits. Keep in mind that the photos of the two of you are what will one day hang in your living room. Having more photographs to choose from as well as remembering whether or not you felt rushed when you took them, is a HUGE part of making this decision.

 

Just In Case

Even if you don’t live in Nashville, Tennessee like I do, odds are you live in a place where it does occasionally rain from time to time. Of course, everyone dreams of a beautiful sunny day for the biggest day of their life, but what happens if that’s not the case? There have been weddings in the past where outdoor portraits just weren’t possible after the ceremony but thankfully since a first look was done, my couples were able to still have portraits that they adored. A first look is so special on its own but when thought of as a backup plan for portraits, it’s even more of a valuable aspect to your wedding.

 

Party Time!

This is probably one of the most popular reasons my JA Grooms decide a first look is right for them after all! When a bride and groom decide to do a first look, that also means that the wedding party and family portraits can be taken care of the ceremony as well. What does this mean? You get to enjoy your reception longer! If you do end up deciding to do a first look, you get to enjoy celebrating more time with your friends and family! Isn’t that one of the main factors in having a wedding day celebration to begin with??

 

 

 

No matter which path you decide works best for you, I hope that you’re able to make an informed decision on when you see the love of your life on your wedding day for the first time. Either way, you’re going to end up married at the end of the day, and THAT is the most important thing to keep in mind while you’re in this season of planning!