Your first look is an amazing part of your wedding day!  If you aren’t sure about this new tradition, this page will explain why it would be a romantic addition to your wedding day celebration. It not only adds to the experience but also reduces stress.

When I asked one of my brides, Lindsay, what her favorite wedding day memory was this is what she told me:

“My absolute favorite wedding day memory was walking up to Eric for our first look. I saw him standing there, facing away from me, and at that very moment I began to choke up. I gently rubbed his back and asked if he was excited, then turned him around, wrapped my arms around his shoulders and sobbed. I will never forget that moment.”

THE FIRST LOOK EXPLAINED

In a nutshell….they’re AWESOME.  However, not everyone is aware of how awesome they are. Some couples get caught up in how un-traditional it is and immediately write it off.  I can talk about those brides because I was almost one of them. I wanted a reaction. I wanted Scott to be so surprised and overcome with joy when I walked down the aisle. We instead decided to share an intimate First Look moment on our wedding day. Even with the First Look, walking down the aisle on my wedding day still remains a moment that I absolutely treasure!!

After experiencing my own wedding and shooting over 100 others I’ve come to this conclusion:  Some brides love traditions. But what a bride REALLY wants when it comes to her groom seeing her for the first time is a REACTION.  A First Look actually adds more emotion to your day instead of taking it away!                      

When the nerves start creeping up, instead of keeping the Groom hidden away from his Bride, we allow him to get his first look at his stunning bride in a private moment. Not only would he get to see her, he could embrace her, cry with her, kiss her and ENJOY that moment with her for as long as they wanted. The nerves start to diminish and true emotion is displayed. After all, she’s the one that can make him most comfortable anyway. Because we aren’t on a time crunch, we casually move into romantic portraits.  No one is around, the coordinator isn’t announcing “15 minutes left”, and there is no pressure.

Now let me put a disclaimer on here before we continue. My couples are not required to do a First Look! I used to feel bad for sharing this option with couples who were against it because I didn’t want to push anything on them. However, I’ve seen the benefits of a first look over and over again and so I only share this because I want the BEST for my couples! It’s totally OK if couples choose not to share a First Look.  It’s just my preference to do one for many reasons. Keep reading to find out more of the benefits of sharing your first look privately. For brides not interested in a First Look, lets start chatting soon about how we’ll create a special timeline to fit everything in. 

• You’re  investing a lot into your wedding photography. With a First Look, you’ll receive 30% MORE portraits of the two of you. Those are the images you will decorate your home with!
• You actually get to have intimate time on your wedding day with your man. Most brides don’t realize that when you come down the aisle he can’t even tell you how amazing you look.  He can’t embrace you or even SPEAK to you. You have to wait until 30 minutes later when the ceremony is over and the reaction isn’t the same as the initial first glance.
• First Looks allow you to extend your wedding day for a more relaxed feel.  Normally the wedding day would start when you come down the aisle, then the ceremony would end, you would rush through portraits so that you’re not late for the introductions and then it’s reception time.  With a First Look, instead of being rushed for your bridal party portraits, you actually get to enjoy them and have fun hanging out with your best friends on your wedding day.  Practically the first half my client’s wedding albums are filled with just images from this cherished time together before the ceremony.
• First Looks allow you to be alone with one another on your wedding day. When Scott and I saw each other, not only was it intimate, it was our only time to be alone the whole day! We held one another tight and laughed. That put us in the perfect mood for our romantic portraits. Normally portraits are a little rushed after the family formals and it can be hard to really get back into that loving mode…especially with family around. When you have just shared your First Look, you’re ready to love on each other and I always capture some super sweet images during those moments!
• You get rid of the nerves!  I’d say, 1/2 of my couples who have done a First Look, the Grooms were not fans of the idea at first. However, because they have never experienced their wedding day before, they didn’t know how nerve racking it can be. Those grooms that initially didn’t like the idea of doing a First Look, afterwards admitted to being SO much more relaxed and ready for the ceremony!