Fun Fact: The tradition of not seeing each other before the ceremony isn’t overly romantic! It stems from arranged marriages - it was thought that if a couple saw each other before the wedding ceremony, they’d be more likely to call it off!

Let me start by saying I’m a huge believer in your wedding day happening your own way - I would never pressure my awesome couples into anything! If you’re feeling unsure as to whether you should have a first look, hopefully this will help you see some brilliant points about it so you can make an informed choice. There’s a reason why people choose to do it!

What is a First Look?

Traditionally, weddings begin with the ceremony, and with you seeing your partner for the first time as one of you walks down the aisle. A “first look”, however, begins with a private moment between the two of you before your guests even arrive. It gives you a moment to really take each other in and enjoy each other’s company at the very beginning of your marriage adventure.

I have confessed my love for first looks numerous times, and with good reason - they’re bloody awesome! However, they are pretty “non-traditional” and can be overlooked. It all boils down to how much you care about tradition. Some couples love tradition and want to be able to share that moment with everyone. Others don’t mind so much and want their partner’s reaction to be theirs alone!

What’s it like?

I’ve heard couples worrying that the moment when they first see each other won’t be as emotional if it’s before the ceremony. But I can confirm that a first look is actually way more intimate and provokes an even bigger reaction!

During a first look, you’d see your stunning spouse-to-be and have BIG hugs, maybe even a little cry. Most importantly, you’d enjoy the moment however and for as long as you want. Share what you think about your outfits with each other and Simply take a breather together? This is perfect for people who are way too overwhelmed with the idea of not hanging out with your other half before one of the scariest things ever.

The only other soul there will be your photographer capturing all those intense and beautiful moments for you to treasure.

You could even use the first look as a way to switch up the whole order of your day, but more on that later! Let’s look at some of the key benefits of having a first look:

(If you choose to go for a first look, make sure you let your photographer know and schedule it into your day.)

More Photos

You’re investing a lot in your wedding photography. With a first look, you’ll get around 40% more portraits of you two lovebirds! Not only will you have more to choose from when displaying them, they’ll be full of emotion and bring back those gorgeous memories of your amazing wedding day!

Less Nerves

Nerves are a very real thing when it comes to weddings (I’ve heard they can be a wee bit stressful...) and for most couples it starts to ramp up just before they see each other on the big day. So what if, instead of keeping yourselves secluded and separated, you take your love to a private place with no on-lookers, no distractions, no other people, and share a stress-free, authentic moment together.

You may not realise that when you walk down the aisle, you can’t speak, embrace or even touch each other! You have to wait until the whole ceremony is over for a smooch - torture! After all that time your reaction may not be the same.

Some couples who, initially, weren’t huge fans of a first look admitted afterwards to being so much more relaxed and ready for their ceremony!

Extend Your Day

That’s right - by up to two hours!

Normally, your wedding begins with the ceremony, followed by portraits, quick drinks before the food is served and before you know it it’s reception time! With a first look you can extend your day by having a magical moment before the ceremony, spending more time with your loved ones and even getting your group photos in then, giving you more time to enjoy each other’s company after the ceremony! The whole first half of some of my clients’ wedding albums are filled with photos just from this time together.

You get to be in your ultimate comfort zone

A first look allows you to be alone together on your wedding day. Couple photos can feel rushed after family photos (although I do have a post about making these as painless as possible) and it can be hard to be fully present and embrace everything with so many distractions around! When you have your first look, you’re in your ultimate comfort zone, ready to love on each other without prying eyes. I always capture super sweet photos during these beautiful moments.

Your Day, Your Own Way

There’s no specific way to do a first look. Each one is a wonderful variation on the theme of seeing your love for the very first time, but this can be done in so many ways! Kat and Gareth (pictured below) waited on either side of a door before opening it together to see each other. A gorgeous moment, isn’t it?

For Natalie and Ash (pictured and mentioned below), Ash turned away with his eyes closed while Natalie embraced him, before turning to her and opening his eyes. Beautiful!

Natalie and Ashley’s First Look

I had the absolute honour of photographing Natalie and Ashley’s wedding, which included a stunning first look. I asked Natalie why they chose to include it:

“In a day that was going to be so fast paced and filled with beautiful chaos, I wanted to make sure that there was scheduled time for just me and Ashley. Time where we could be in a bubble of just the two of us. Not only that, isn't the best part of the wedding the moment the groom sees the bride for the first time? This magnified how beautiful that moment is. There was no room filled with other eyes or other cameras. It was just simply and purely, the groom seeing his bride. And without having to move straight onto the vows, there's time to appreciate both each other and that moment.”

Telling me how it made her feel and the effect it had on their day, she continued, “Words can’t explain it. It’s not a feeling you ever forget. It’s perfectly blissful. It was the highlight of our day. I can’t imagine not having had it!”

And finally, speaking on whether she had any advice for others who may be on the fence, she simply said, “I don’t really think I have any advice on this. It’s not for everybody, but it is such a special moment. It’s calm and peaceful and it was the other part of the day where I felt like my world stopped still so that we could appreciate each other and the moment.”

So, after reading my ramblings, would you consider extending your day with a moment just for the two of you to enjoy each other’s company before the ceremony?

If you are one of my couples, are you planning a first look? Drop me a message and let me know - I’d love to chat about your ideas!

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