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Mrs. Cohen
Super October 2018

First Look: Yes or No?

Mrs. Cohen, on February 19, 2018 at 4:08 PM

Posted in Planning 69

The biggest debate my fiancé and I have encountered in this whole wedding planning process is, should we do a "first look" on our big day or keep it traditional with him seeing me for the first time as I walk down the aisle? Myself as well as our wedding photographer, both think a "first look" would...

The biggest debate my fiancé and I have encountered in this whole wedding planning process is, should we do a "first look" on our big day or keep it traditional with him seeing me for the first time as I walk down the aisle?

Myself as well as our wedding photographer, both think a "first look" would be ideal. And these are the reasons why I want the first look:

* I have an anxiety disorder, so I think seeing him before the big walk down the aisle would help calm my nerves.

* As our photographer pointed out, a first look would give my fiancé and I some good moments of being alone together. Once I walk down that aisle, we won't get another moment of being totally alone until the wedding is over and we drive off into the night.

* This would maximize time by allowing us to do the majority of our couple photos, photos with the bridal & grooms party, and even most of the family photos. This would give us more time to actually enjoy the entire wedding instead of being ushered around for photos between the ceremony, cocktails, dinner, and dancing.

* If happy tears do happen during the first look and photos, there is still time to freshen up before the ceremony commences.


My fiancé, however, really wants to keep things traditional, by my walking down the aisle being the first time he sees me on the wedding day. He says this is the only part of our wedding he dreams of, is seeing me walk down that aisle and that's why he wants to do things that way.


I think it's incredibly romantic that he wants that traditional experience, but I think the day will flow much more easily and we'll have a more relaxed experienced by getting the first look and majority of photos done first thing.


So, I ask... what are your thoughts on this? Smiley ring

69 Comments

  • Mrs. Cohen
    Super October 2018
    Mrs. Cohen ·
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    Thank you for this suggestion! I've definitely seen some photos of this on Pinterest, but always seem to forget it's an option lol This might be a good compromise Smiley smile

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  • NVV2B
    VIP January 2019
    NVV2B ·
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    I am doing a first look for many of the reasons you stated above - however, I do not think you should do one if your FH is really looking forward to seeing you walking down the aisle first.


    Maybe you could read a letter to each other by a slightly cracked door and y'all can hold hands and just chat for a bit without actually seeing each other. This might help calm your nerves before the ceremony.

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  • M
    Dedicated May 2018
    Melissa ·
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    I feel like this sounds like a great compromise to this dilemma.
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  • J
    Expert May 2018
    J ·
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    We are planning on doing a first look. There are several advantages to having one which have already been mentioned in this thread, whereas the only advantage that I am aware of for not doing it is having some type of magical moment when the bride walks down the aisle. Well, I think the moment my FH sees me when we do the first look will also be magical and I’d actually rather have that special moment be between the two of us, rather than in front of everyone and also I will get to see his reaction up close rather than way down the aisle.
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  • JerseyGirl
    Master May 2017
    JerseyGirl ·
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    We did a spontaneous first touch. We weren’t going to do either. Then in the moment after I got dressed she asked if we could. So glad we did. After our ceremony we had specific directions from our photog to walk down the aisle and back to the bridal suite so that we had a few minutes together after the ceremony. Our DOC brought some food from the cocktail hour and we spent about tens mins just the two of us before we did pics.

    First Look: Yes or No? 1
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  • O
    Master October 2017
    O ·
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    My husband and I didn't separate our entire wedding day-he even put my veil in my hair 😂. I have social anxiety, and I still got anxious with only 42 guests-mostly family, too! . I didn't, and do not, have any friends that could have been with me throughout the day, and help me be calm, my H was the only person I wanted by my side.
    Can your SO compromise with a first touch, or one where he is blindfolded? Another thing is to get the bridal party photos done beforehand so that doesn't take away time after the ceremony. My H and I took all photos, wedding party photos (1 person in the WP), and family photos before the ceremony and that took 3.5 hours. That was something I didn't want to rush, and wrangling tired and hungry kids after the ceremony would've been a disaster. So something to think about if you have young kids in the WP, kids, nieces/nephews.
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  • Mrs. Cohen
    Super October 2018
    Mrs. Cohen ·
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    I actually really love what you shared about you and your H going to the bridal suite after the ceremony to have a few minutes alone while also enjoying some food from the cocktail hour. This is a terrific idea!

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  • Mrs. Cohen
    Super October 2018
    Mrs. Cohen ·
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    I think my FH will absolutely compromise on the whole blindfolded thing Smiley smile might be the perfect way to calm my anxiety while also preserving his dream of seeing me for the first time at the ceremony.

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  • Bianca
    Super August 2019
    Bianca ·
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    We’re doing a “first look” just for the sake of timing. I don’t want a huge gap between our ceremony and our reception, therefore we’re opting to do a “first look” and all of our posed photos before the ceremony.
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  • SoKatiiee
    Devoted June 2018
    SoKatiiee ·
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    We are doing a first look because 1.) it fits the schedule of the day really well and 2.) my FH and I really want to get a picture of us praying together before the ceremony (we are both pastors- so religion is a huge part of our life). I don't really care for the between a door picture of a couple praying so I told him if this is important for us, I think this will be the best way to do it.

    After sitting and talking with him about it for hours, he finally agreed it would be best.

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  • Amanda
    Savvy October 2019
    Amanda ·
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    I wasn't even thinking about a first look shot until I talked with our photographer. I'm thinking I want to do it now... For the reasons you stated, and also I think it will be a more intimate time to see each other for the first time (instead of in front of everyone). Nothing about us or our wedding is traditional so that doesn't really matter to us. But what I've been hearing over and over again.... "Its your day, do what you want" You know what you really want in your heart. ❤
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  • MelisM
    Expert January 2019
    MelisM ·
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    We're not doing one. We are having a traditional ceremony. We want the "first look" to be when I'm walking down the aisle.
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  • Tiffany
    Devoted April 2018
    Tiffany ·
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    We are doing first looks for the reasons you mentioned. I think the first time he sees you if it's walking down the isle or at first looks will be special either way.
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  • A
    Just Said Yes February 2018
    Amelia ·
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    We’re doing the first look Photography. I also have an anxiety disorder & my fiancé helps me keep calm so I want to see him as much as possible that day, especially before we walk down the aisle. Neither of us are super traditional so we don’t care about that. The only important/romantic part of that tradition is capturing the look on his face when he sees you for the first time in full wedding attire. The first look photo session accomplishes that.
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  • Denise
    Expert June 2018
    Denise ·
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    We are not doing a first look. I really wanted the first time FH sees me to be when I walk down the aisle arm in arm with my father. That being said, if FH wanted a first look, I would have agreed to it because I want to make him happy. But he actually feels the same way I do and even stronger! He does not want to see me at all before I walk down the aisle. He won't even consider a first look, which I am totally fine with, because I don't want one either lol. Everyone has their reasons on why they do want one or don't want one. I just personally don't. And there's nothing wrong with it either way.
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  • FutureMrs.M
    Dedicated March 2019
    FutureMrs.M ·
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    We are not doing the first look, a lot of our venders (mostly our photographer) suggested it to make the day flow easier but my FH asked for three things out of the whole wedding planning process. 1.he could wear a bow tie 2.he could have a truck on his cake (he has a restored 1985 Chevy K10) 3. & that he see me walking down the aisle for the first time he sees my dress. My FH is a very sensitive guy and is very proud of that side of him so everyone is prepared for the water works.
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  • Daria
    VIP January 2019
    Daria ·
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    I really really really hope we get to do one! I haven't brought it up to him yet, but I'm trying to be prepared to be ok with it if he doesn't want to.

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  • FutureMrs.V
    Super June 2018
    FutureMrs.V ·
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    We are doing one. I really want that romantic moment with just him (plus videographer/photographer). We are also able to get most of our pictures out of the way.
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  • Adrianna
    Expert June 2018
    Adrianna ·
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    We are doing a first look
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  • JerseyGirl
    Master May 2017
    JerseyGirl ·
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    Definitely do it! Was another awesome suggestion from our photographer.
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