What is a first look?

A first look is when the bride and groom see each other before the wedding ceremony. This is done alone in private with no other guests around.

There are many benefits to a first look and I wanted to share the good ones:

This small moment is HUGE! Being able to see each other dressed for marriage without guests watching is such a special and intimate moment. The bride and groom can laugh/cry/hug/kiss without feeling the need to hold back. This is one of my favorite documented moments on a wedding day.

Timing. When a bride and groom choose to do a first look, we are able to get the majority of wedding images out of the way before the ceremony. This creates a wedding timeline where the guests are not waiting 2 hours to see you, hug you and congratulate you. It also allows everyone to eat together without feeling rushed through his or her reception.

Cocktail Hour. This goes along with timing and can create a lot of opportunities when it comes to the images we take during your wedding day. Having a first look usually means the bride and groom get to enjoy some of the cocktail hour to socialize with guests before the reception really starts.

Calm and Collected. I have noticed that brides can be a little nervous before walking down the isle. Not all, but sometimes. This moment helps to calm those nerves. Even with a groom it can help. Some couples just really love having this special moment documented during their wedding day.

An addition to your wedding portfolio. Not only will you have the images from your wedding day, but you will also have a sentimental collection of images from your first look. I think that this set of images adds something special {for those who choose to} to your wedding portfolio.

I would never ask my couples to do a first look. It is always the brides option and I think whichever way a bride decides to go is perfect! We all have our own vision when we are about to get married and my goal isn’t to veer you off course, it’s just to inform and educate my brides so that they have all the info they could ask for before making these kinds of decisions.

I decided along with this written post to share a first look between Joe and Lori who tied the knot in New Harmony on May of 2014! They chose to have a first look and it was amazing!