5 reasons why you need to do a first look at your wedding
If you are wondering whether a first look is right for you, you are not alone. One of the most common questions I get from my wedding couples is whether a first look is right for them. And while it’s a totally personal decision, there are quite a few benefits to adding a first look at your wedding. In this article I will give you some wedding insight in why a first look might be right for you!
What is a first look?
A first look is a private moment where the bride and groom sees each other before the wedding ceremony. Just the two of you (And your photo + video team of course!). It’s normally staged in a quiet and beautiful spot, that gives the couple the chance to connect, share your excitement, and shake some of those pre-ceremony nerves.
This is not the big aisle moment in front of all your guest. It’s more personal, more relaxed, and often more emotional. My couples often say, that it was one of the most meaningful parts of their wedding day.
1. A quiet and intimate moment together
Your wedding day is a busy whirlwind – In the best way possible. But finding even 5 minutes together between all the people who want to celebrate and congratulate you, can be difficult. A first look gives you that rare pocket of time, where it’s just the two of you. Sharing a intimate and meaningful moment. This is the moment to take a deep breath, hold each other, laugh and tell your spouse to be, what he/her mean to you.
2. More time with guests during cocktail hour.
The cocktail hour is meant to be a cosy time after the ceremony, where you can greet and talk with all your guest, enjoy the canapés and have a well deserved drink after the ceremony. But if you wait to see each other at the ceremony, you might miss most of it.
In a traditional timeline, the bride and groom will do their portraits during the cocktail hour, but if you have opted for a first look, we can take care of the portraits before the ceremony. That means more time enjoying the cocktail hour with all the people you want to see.
3. More portraits.
When we do a first look at your wedding, it opens up to some flexibility for the photography schedule in your timeline. After the intimate time together, we can now do the portraits of the bride and groom together, but we can also arrange for wedding party shots, and even some family photos. The more we do before the ceremony, the less we have to do during the cocktail hour.
In general this gives me the opportunity to create more creative shots, because we have more time. It also adds the benefit, that we get to shoot at different times of the day, and therefor get completely different looks for your wedding album.
4. Look your best - Fresh faces and fresh clothes.
Let’s talk a bit of logistics. At the beginning of the day, your hair is still perfectly styled, your makeup is fresh, your dress or suit is crips and flawless. This makes for the perfect moment to capture photos.
By doing a first look early in the wedding day, you make sure to look your absolute best for your portraits. And you can even arrange with your Makeup artist to stay and make a quick touchup before the ceremony.
*Side tip: The weather is warm in Spain, and if you don’t invest in a good makeup artist, your makeup might melt off during the wedding day.
5. A story telling moment for your photos and videos.
I love doing first looks – And for a good reason. They’re emotional, genuine and packed with storytelling potential.
That moment your parter turns around and sees you for the first time? The reaction on his face, when he sees his beautiful wife to be in her dress. It’s one of those moments you would want to see again and again.
A great detail, that I often ask my couples to consider, is to write each other a little letter, to read out in front of each other. It never fails to create a intimate and genuine moment between two people who love each other.
It adds depth to your wedding film, and becomes a highlight in your wedding album.
Final thoughts
At the end of the day, a first look is’t a must-do-it’s just an option. If you’ve always dreamed of that traditional walk-down-the-isle-moment being the big reveal then absolutely go for it. There is something incredibly romantic about that too. I will say this though: Even if you do a first look, I strongly believe that you are going to feel exited and emotional, when walking down that isle.
Whether you go for the traditional route, or opt for a private first look. The most important thing is that you both feel comfortable with your decision. But now you’ve got all the info to make an informed choice.
