3 reasons why you should do a first look at your wedding
Whenever I begin working with a new couple, one of my first questions about their wedding is always “Are you doing a first look?” Sometimes the answer is a quick and easy yes, other times it’s a solid no. But if a couple is interested in learning more about first looks and all of the benefits that come along with doing one, I can go on and on forever!
As someone who has been involved in a lot of weddings over the years, doing a first look is my number one tip to improve your wedding day. This is not to say that weddings that skip doing a first look prior to the ceremony are absolute disasters, because they’re not! But my couples who have opted to do one are the same newlyweds who look the most relaxed and have the most fun.
Why you should consider doing a first look at your wedding
Why? Well, a lot of it weighs on improved logistics, but there are also some really sweet and intimate benefits you might not have considered before! Here are my 3 top reasons why:
You get to enjoy more of your cocktail hour
First and foremost, it can significantly improve your wedding day timeline—and ultimately allow you to ENJOY your cocktail hour!!
That sounds crazy right? Who actually gets to enjoy their cocktail hour on their wedding day? But it’s totally possible! By doing a first look, you’re giving yourself almost two full hours before your ceremony to get wedding party and family formal photos out of the way. This is great for two reasons. First, you don’t have to do them after your ceremony, and you can go straight to your cocktail hour! Second, you don’t have to search for and drag any of your wedding party or family away from the cocktail hour! By letting everyone know in advance when and were to be, and by working with your photographer to have a list of family formals ready to go, you can easily and quickly knock out those formal photos and really focus on being present and enjoying your day.
It’s an intimate moment between you and your love
First looks are also amazing because it gives you and your love a moment to be alone and really appreciate your time together. Plus, you get an intimate moment to see each other without a hundred other eyes watching! Your wedding day is going to be busy, and you’re going to be surrounded by friends and family who all want to congratulate you two—which is great! But it’s truly one of the few moments during your wedding day that you will get to yourselves.
As a bonus, you can make this moment extra special by exchanging private vows, gifts, and other sweet tokens of your love.
It doesn’t take away from walking down the aisle
I know it might not seem like it, but I promise first looks do not take away from the special moment of seeing your love walk down the aisle. That moment cannot be changed by anything! Both are incredibly special in their own ways. First looks are intimate and for you two, whereas walking down the aisle, you get to see your love surrounded by all of your friends and family. They’re two completely different moments, and I promise, both will make you all emotional and gooey inside!!
It’s your wedding day
At the end of the day, it’s your wedding day! You two should absolutely do what you want to do. When it comes to wedding planning, everyone has an opinion and they’re going to want to share it with you. Don’t lose sight of what means the most to you two! But, if you’re open to it, I cannot recommend doing a first look enough. It truly gives you and your friends and family so much more time to be present in your day and to get all of the formalities out of the way before the real party begins!
