FIRST LOOK

Your First Look is an amazing part of your wedding day! If you aren't sure about this tradition, the next few pages explain whey it could be a romantic addition to your wedding day celebration that not only adds to your experience but also reduces stress.

We are big fans of the "First Look". But at the end of the day, it's not our wedding day. It is your wedding day! So if doing a first look doesn't feel right for you, then you probably shouldn't do it. But as your hired professionals, we would like to give you some of the reasons for doing a First Look on your wedding day so that you can make an informed decision.

First, Looks have a lot of benefits; however, not everyone is aware of just how many there are because they get caught up in how "untraditional" it is, and they immediately write it off. As an example, if you want your guests to enjoy your drinks reception, then you may want to consider a First Look. You spent so much time and money planning this gorgeous wedding, you should be able to enjoy it!

From our experience, we have come to the following conclusion. Some brides love "traditions"... but what a bride wants when it comes to her groom seeing her for the first time is a reaction. Those that are not interested in a First Look usually think that by seeing each other beforehand, they will lose part of that reaction. They also assume that it will not be as emotional or intimate as it would be if they were walking down the aisle.

What we have found is this: Everyone knows those wedding days are a bit stressful for the bride and groom. The whole day is focused on them, they need to look their best, they need to be on time, the groom has no idea what side the boutonniere is supposed to go on, and little by little the tension grows.

It's before the ceremony and the gravity of what's about to happen sinks in and the groom, calm and collected a few hours ago, is now starting to feel a little anxious! So what happens next? The groom gets his cue to take his place ready for the arrival of his bride. With clammy hands, he takes his place at the front of the room, ready for the ceremony to get underway. It seems like it's taking forever! Then he turns and faces the room, filled with up to 300 people, and where are they looking? They're all looking right at him because everyone has expectations and anticipation about his first reaction. This is the furthest thing from a private, intimate moment. Of course, it's so powerful and so wonderful. We already mentioned that walking down the aisle is one of the best parts of your whole wedding day!! It's magical!!

True emotions are free to be expressed. If we were to condense these two pages, grooms normally become incredibly nervous on wedding days, even if they seem cool and collected. For most grooms, the nerves kick in before they see their bride because when they see her, everything becomes very real!

So when the nerves start creeping up, instead of keeping the groom waiting anxiously under the gaze of everybody, what if you took him to a private place no people, no onlookers, no distractions and you let his beautiful bride, the love of his life, walk up to him and gently tap his shoulder? He would turn around to finally get his first look at his stunning bride, and not only would he get to see her, but he could also embrace her cry with her kiss her and enjoy that moment with her for as long as they wanted. As she shows him her dress, twirls a few times and asks him what he thinks his nerves start to diminish. After all, she's the one that can make him most comfortable anyway.

Because they aren't on a time crunch, they casually move into their romantic portraits. No-one is around, a coordinator isn't announcing "15 minutes left", and there is no pressure. It's just the two of them and their photographer capturing the joy and excitement of their wedding day. This is their time to be TOGETHER... and to be alone. When does that happen on a wedding day? Without a First Look, it doesn't.

After their romantic portraits are done, they meet up with their best friends. Their bridal party joins them, and because they still have plenty of time to spare, the bride touches up makeup while the boys act like boys. After a few minutes, the bridal party portraits begin, and they're fun. They're fun because there is time to make them fun. There aren't any guests waiting impatiently at the cocktail bar, and there isn't a DJ coming to find the wedding photographer for a time check. It's wonderful!

After portraits are done, the girls and guys separate and prepare for the ceremony. The guests begin to arrive, and the ushers are in place. Pretty soon, it's time for the processional music to begin, and one by one, the bridesmaids make their way down to the front of the ceremony. As the groom clasps his hands, they aren't clasped out of nervousness, but excitement! The music builds, the mother of the bride stands, and all of the guests follow her lead. The groom looks up, and he comes to the bride!! His best friend, his companion, his sweetheart she's stunning absolutely stunning. The closer she gets, the bigger he smiles.

Now let me put a disclaimer on here before we continue our couples are not required to do a First Look by any means! However, we have seen the benefits of a First Look, and we only share this because we want the best for our couples. It's completely okay if couples choose not to share a First Look. It's just my preference to do one for many reasons; keep reading to find out more of the benefits of sharing your First Look privately!

For brides not interested in a First Look, let's start chatting soon to work out how we will create a special timeline to fit everything in!

DID WE MENTION FIRST LOOK?

You're investing a lot in your wedding photography. With a First Look, you'll receive 40% more portraits of the two of you, and those are the images that you'll want to be displayed in your home and your album. With a First Look, you make the most out of your investment and get the most for your money.

You get intimate time on your wedding day with your man. Most brides don't realize that when you come down the aisle, and he sees how completely amazing you look, he doesn't even get the chance to tell you. He can't touch you, embrace you, or even speak to you. You have to wait until up to an hour later when the ceremony is over for him to react and tell you how amazing you look. And after an hour of the ceremony, the reaction isn't the same as the initial first glance.

First Looks allow you to extend your wedding day. Normally the wedding day would start when you walk down the aisle; then the ceremony would end, you would rush through portraits and formals so that you're not late for introductions, and then it's reception time. With a First Look, your wedding day is extended by almost three hours! Instead of being rushed for your bridal party portraits. You get to enjoy them and have fun hanging out with your best friends on your wedding day. The whole first half of our client's wedding albums are filled with images from this time before the ceremony.

WHY FIRST LOOK IS WORTH IT

First, Looks allow you to be together and alone on your wedding day. When the two of you see each other, not only will it be intimate, it will be your only time to be alone the whole day! You may cry and laugh and cry some more, and that will put you in the perfect mood for your romantic portraits. Normally portraits are a little rushed after the family formals, and it can be hard to get back Into that "lovey-dovey" mode... especially with family around!! When you have just shared your First Look, you're ready to love each other, and I always capture some very sweet images during these moments!

You get rid of the nerves. I'd say with around half of my couples that have done a First Look, the grooms were not a fan of the idea at first, however, because they had never experienced their wedding day before they didn't realize how nerve-wracking it can be. Trust us, grooms are so much more relaxed after a First Look and are so much more ready for the ceremony.

Brides, if you have never seen your man cry or get emotional, you can't expect him to be overly emotional on your wedding day.

Some men just embrace their brides and never cry, and that's completely okay. Some men show very little emotion when their bride is walking down the aisle, and that's okay too. Just try to enjoy this amazing day and try not to put any expectations onto him :)