Planning a wedding can be totally overwhelming. There are so many facets of the day to consider: venue, caterer, music, photographer, timeline, etc. As the photographer (AKA “memory preservation specialist”) I want to ensure each of my couples gets the most out of their day and their photographic coverage.  Prior to every wedding, I review the timeline for the day with my couple. I try to make sure we review what to expect from the day, start to finish. We talk about hair appointments, ceremony timing, the first dance and more, including whether or not my bride and groom wants a “First Look”.

“What’s a First Look?”, you ask? It may not be a custom you are familiar with, depending on where you live. A First Look is exactly what it sounds like: the bride and groom see each other for the first time in wedding attire. The First Look occurs right after the couple is dressed and ready to go, prior to the ceremony. (Timing can be a bit arbitrary – some are hours prior, some only 30 minutes or so.) Traditionally, the bride and groom see each other for the first time when she begins her trip down the aisle, so you may be wondering why a couple might opt for a First Look. Well, that is why I am here!

There are many advantages to having a First Look. The most important, in my opinion, is that you can make it as private or public a moment as you wish. I have photographed weddings where the First Look consisted of only the bride and groom, as well as weddings where the entire bridal party and/or families were present. That’s the cool thing about a First Look – you can make it completely personal. In a traditional ceremony, the groom (or even the bride) may inadvertently “hold back” emotions when in front of so many family and friends, resulting in some rather interesting (but not always attractive or desired) facial expressions. When I ask brides what the single most important photograph of their day will be, the answer is almost always “when he sees me for the first time.” So why not take control of the situation, make it about you, and take a lot of the pressure off? Nearly every time a couple opts for a first look, the resulting images are perfect captures of the moment.

Speaking of taking the pressure off – it doesn’t just relax the couple for that moment. I find that after a First Look, the rest of the wedding day flows much more easily. It feels like the hard part is over, and the couple can just enjoy the rest of the day. Not to mention, it also eliminates the need to keep sneaking them around to avoid seeing each other! And from a photographic standpoint, after the First Look, we can build in some time to capture portraits of the couple alone, or even the whole bridal party or family formals, which certainly makes the rest of the day feel less pressured and rushed. For every wedding I have photographed or assisted that included a first look, it enhanced the overall experience rather than detracted from it!

One more important advantage to capturing a First Look and not waiting for the formal ceremony: it can be difficult to get the groom’s expression (or the bride’s). Some churches have restrictions on where your photographer(s) can stand. Others have high decorations on pews. In nearly all ceremonies, the guests stand when the bride enters, which can block the photographer’s view of the groom (especially when guests start jumping out in the aisle with their smartphones and iPads!) There are many factors that are slightly unpredictable and certainly beyond the control of the photographer.  If it were up to me, I’d rather not take that chance at capturing that once-in-a-lifetime moment!

There are, of course, more reasons why a couple may wish to incorporate a First Look on their wedding day. I certainly recommend that every couple at least considers the pros and cons. It’s OK if you decide a traditional route is more “you”. At the end of that fabulous day, you will be married, more in love than ever, and blissfully exhausted after celebrating with your family and friends, and as your photographer, I will capture each of those moments and emotions to be handed down for generations.