To First Look or Not To First Look For Your Wedding Day
One of the most iconic moments in a wedding is when the bride walks down the aisle to meet her groom at the altar. We see it in every wedding movie, pay special attention to it as wedding guests, and make sure there are plenty of photos of the moment. But what about the tradition of the groom not seeing the bride before this pivotal wedding moment? Where did it come from and how do you know if it's right for you?
The origins of this wedding tradition go way back. Arranged marriages were the norm, and the couple wouldn't even meet each other until they were at the altar. This was to prevent one of them from backing out of the arrangement before the marriage was official.
Things have changed since then, of course. Now the tradition of the groom not seeing his bride before the wedding ceremony is viewed as a symbol of good luck for the marriage. It also makes the moment when those doors open at the back of the church and the bride makes her way down the aisle that much more emotional for both bride and groom.
This tradition is one that many couples still hold dear today. They want that emotional moment as they see each other from opposite ends of the wedding aisle. They've dreamed of the moment for years and it's an important element of their picture-perfect wedding. They can't imagine doing the ceremony any other way! If that's you and your fiancé, then that's wonderful! Stick with tradition and have that iconic moment the way you want to have it.
But if that doesn't sound like you and you're not big on traditions, you may want to consider a first look.
What's a first look?
“First look” is the name that has been given to what we consider a newer tradition in weddings-- where the bride and groom opt to see each other on their wedding day before their ceremony. And yes, both bride and groom are fully dressed in their wedding clothes when they do!
When you do a first look, your photographer helps you set aside a pocket of time where you meet your groom in a private location and capture all of the emotion and reactions of seeing each other for the first time that day. You still get a version of that moment that so many couples dream of, just in a more intimate setting and earlier in the day.
So how do you know if a first look is for you? We've gathered together some reasons you might want to do a first look on your wedding day.
---
01 | You want to calm your nerves and have your emotional reactions
in a private setting.
If you find the idea of having eyes on you as you see each other for the first time on your wedding day intimidating, a first look can help! It's a great way to take some of that pressure off when you walk down the aisle. You'll have already seen and spent time with each other to help calm your nerves, and your initial emotional reactions have been done in a private, intimate way. If you're worried about crying on your way down the aisle or you're an introvert wanting something that feels more you, a first look is a great choice!
02 | You want to spend some dedicated, quiet time together.
Talk to anyone who's been married and they'll tell you the same thing: your wedding day goes by fast! With so many details to take care of and a schedule to keep, actually having the opportunity to spend some special time together – without onlookers – is hard to come by. Planning a first look into your timeline is a great way to make sure you get a few minutes to be alone and bask in the excitement of what you're about to do. It will also allow you to take the formal group photos before your ceremony, which would open up some time for you and your groom to sneak away after the ceremony for some time alone before joining everyone at your reception.
03 | You have an off-site location you really want to use for your portraits.
We've already mentioned that wedding day timelines can be tight. If you have your heart set on portraits at a specific location other than your venue, a first look can help you make space for those photos to happen. You can meet at the location earlier in the day, do your first look there, and then take some romantic portraits. You could even potentially use that same off-site location for more of the group portraits with your bridal party and family if you wanted to-- just have them meet you there after your first look is complete!
04 | Your ceremony is going to happen around sunset and there's not much time available between your ceremony and reception.
A wedding ceremony around sunset can be super dreamy and romantic! It can also make having enough light for post-ceremony portraits tricky. If you want to make sure that you have enough light for formal group portraits, a first look can help you do so. It will give you the time you need to take those group portraits earlier in the day, so that after the “I do”s you can relax or take a few sunset portraits as newlyweds!
05 | You want to enjoy your cocktail hour with your guests.
Typically those who don't do a first look aren't able to enjoy much – if any – of their cocktail hour. They spend that time taking the more formal group portraits with family and the wedding party. If the cocktail hour is important to you and you want to enjoy that time with your guests, then a first look is a good option for you. You'll be able to get those photos done earlier in the day so you can go straight into cocktail hour with everyone else.
--
If one or more of these reasons resonates with you, a first look is probably a good idea! If not, it's best to pass and stick to seeing each other for the first time when you make your way down the aisle. Remember, there's no wrong choice here! Whether you do a first look or not, you're going to have an amazing wedding that fits you as a couple– and that's the whole point.