Tidbit Tuesday #2: All About First Looks
To Have a First look or To Not Have a First look - that is the big wedding day question.
What is a First Look?
A first look is a time for the bride and groom to see each other alone before the wedding ceremony. It provides time for the two of you to be together alone and without the first look timeline, there is no moment for you to have time to just be yourselves and have a moment alone and be best friends.
Did you do a First Look?
I actually did do a first look at my wedding. At the beginning, I really wanted to do a first look, and he did not. He was very traditional, and was worried that it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.
I can tell you from experience that the first look ended up being one of the best parts of my wedding day. He was worried that the first look was going to ruin the aisle moment, but it actually enhanced the aisle moment. Because you are best friends, it doesn't make sense to be separated most of the day of one of the most important days of your life.
My grooms always end up saying "I'm so glad we are doing this now instead of in front of everyone else". Guys tend to get a little nervous & anxious right before they are about to see their bride. The first look is one of the sweetest, most emotional moments because you can let your guard down when you're not in front of all of your friends and family. At the ceremony, once you're at the altar the next thing is happening - the officiant is talking and your moving along and you don't really have time to stop and soak it all in, so the first look is the time to do that.
From a photography perspective, it allows us to do some really cool things with your timeline. We get to get portraits of the two of you right after the first look when your hair and makeup is the most fresh. Bridesmaids love it because their feet don't hurt from standing in their heels all day, and the groomsmen love it because after the ceremony they get to go straight to the bar! With a first look timeline, it also gives us an opportunity to have two bride & groom portraits times. One at the beginning of the day, and one after the wedding ceremony, right before the sun sets!
Of course, it is completely up to you. If the idea of seeing your partner before the aisle is not for you - that is totally okay! No matter what you choose, you will always treasure the first moment that you see each other. And no matter if you see each other for the first time before the ceremony, or as you are walking down the aisle, you will have beautiful photographs of that moment to look back on for years to come!
