As wedding season is here, I get questions sent to be from brides asking me questions relating to their upcoming weddings! Recently the question was asked
“Should I do a First Look”?
Now, this blog is stating MY opinion on the subject matter! As a bride, you already have a million things on your plate to think about, and I as your photographer support any decision my clients make!
To start with, for those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, a First Look is an intimate moment between the bride and groom before the ceremony where they see each other for the first time!
Now, even though I am sitting at my computer, I can see some of you cringing and thinking the same thoughts most do!
“But I don’t want him to see me before the wedding!”
“I want him to be emotional when I come down the aisle.”
“Isn’t it bad luck?”
Remember, I was a bride just a few years ago! Let me tell you, I did not have a first look. Why? Essentially, because I didn’t know what it was! I was only doing photography back then as a hobby, and I didn’t have a photographer that even educated me on the subject matter.
Do I regret not doing a first look? Absolutely YES! I so wish I did a first look! Why? Cause as I walked down the aisle, I couldn’t even SEE his face, to see if it was sad, was there tears, nothing! Also, when I did reach him, all I wanted to do was hug him, tell him how handsome he was! I wanted to know what he thought of my dress! Did I look pretty? Those things didn’t happen till about 45 mins later, during our cocktail hour and well after the ‘moment’ had pass!
Advantages of having a First Look
I want to discuss my views on the benefits of a first look! Again, remember this is coming from a photographer and a bride point of view!
- First looks are intimate! This will be one of the ONLY times the bride and groom will be alone together during the whole day! (fyi, if my clients timeline allows, I try to schedule them 15-20 mins of alone time during the ceremony, but that doesn’t always happen.)
- Here is an important one….you get MORE SHOTS of the bride and groom when you do a first look! Let me just be the first one to tell you, your day will fly by and nothing will really go on tine! During you cocktail hour, you are really rushed to get all of those bridal party shots, family shots, and then there isn’t as much time to get your formal shots with your hubby because you are worried that cocktail hour is almost done! After the official first look, we usually take about 15-20 mins of just shots with you two! Again, as the bride, your hair and makeup will be fresh and on point!
- I believe the first look is the most emotional part!! Brides always tell me that they want to see the grooms face as she walks down, but as I mentioned above, you can’t even see his face! And you are not even guaranteed an emotional outburst from either of you! In his mind, he is probably thinking “just breath, don’t faint” and you are thinking “don’t trip, don’t trip, don’t trip!” This way, you still get to see his face, in person, and it’s captured on the camera! And believe me, he will still have a face when you walk down that aisle!
- Last, but certainly not least, you get to relax when you walk down the aisle! Brides, you have been cooped up for hours on end, getting hair and makeup done, worrying about everything that you shouldn’t be (is the cake here, did the flowers look ok?, etc) and the groom, well the groom is relaxing with his groomsman! 🙂 Chances are, after your first look, you feel more relaxed, you are not so anxious, and now all you have to do is wait a few more minutes to marry the man of your dreams!
Getting married soon? Contact me today to schedule your wedding consultation!
Vanessa Hicks Photography has been named Hawaii’s #1 Wedding Photographer for 2018 by Hawaii Magazine! Also specializes in engagements, couples, family and maternity sessions! Available for travel on all Hawaiian Islands and worldwide!
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