There are many reasons to do a first look with your significant other before your ceremony. I am an Orlando wedding photographer and about 70% of my couples opt to do a first look. I’m going to give you 3 reasons why you should do a First Look.
Emotion is a big theme on a wedding day and your first look is no exception. Some of my favorite photos are from first looks, and I’m not going to lie to you, I’ve definitely cried at a couple of them. It’s all of the emotion from your relationship built up to an epic and beautiful moment. A moment you’ll remember for the rest of your lives. Imagine it, you are walking up to your fiance after a long time of planning, and you whisper a cute inside joke in his ear that only you and your significant other understand. They turn around and Insert a fantastic reaction here. I’m crying just thinking about it. This shit gets heavy! As a wedding photographer who’s been at this for years and has chosen to do a first look at his own wedding, the emotional aspect is not lost when your love comes down the aisle.
“I loved having a first look because it gave me and my husband some time to relax before the ceremony. It was such a special moment together. We had time to take pictures together beforehand so after the ceremony we could get to the party as soon as possible. ”
Time is another reason I always recommend doing a first look. As much as we all wish this special day would last forever, it moves by pretty quickly. The first look allows more time for family photos, bridal and groom portraits, as well as the two of you together. Time also helps with relaxing and taking some breathers during the day, the more time we have, the more you both get to enjoy the special moments. I try to give my couples a little bit of time after the first look to just enjoy each other’s company.
“I got a reaction that I never imagined. I was shocked when he turned around, happily shouted, and acted like a giddy little kid. It was the best feeling, seeing that kind of excitement. We would have missed out on such a genuine, fun reaction had we waited until the ceremony. The first look took a lot of nerves and stress away from the wedding itself. It was such a fun and raw moment that we had no idea we needed.”
The third reason you should do a First Look is for your cocktail hour! You paid a lot of hard-earned money to be able to enjoy your wedding day to the fullest, believe me, cocktail hour has some amazing hors d'oeuvres that you do not want to miss. Being able to take all of the family photos and your portraits beforehand allows you the time to enjoy your guests and those delicious. Also, your guests love you and want to be able to see and congratulate you on this momentous occasion.
Bonus Reason! Calming the nerves. From experience, I felt a sense of relief and overall warmth when I saw my bride during our First Look. Damn did she look stunning!
I hope these reasons are able to help you on your planning journey. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Happy Planning!
