First look

I personally want to do a first look because I know that day I will be so nervous until the knot is tied so a first look with a few pictures would be great! And I want to talk with him a little before the ceremony!

We are doing the first look. This way we can ensure we have ample time to do photos and wouldn’t have to rush through it during cocktail hour.

At first I was completely opposed to the idea. I was watching an Episode of Four weddings(totally addicted to this show-..lol) and loved the first look. I like the idea of a moment alone. Due to the timing we are doing the first look at some pics before hand. We only have about 30mins in between the wedding and the reception. We are doing our pics at the venue it has such beautiful if scenery

We plan on doing one because our ceremony is at 5:00 and sunset is at 6:22. I worry about pictures and we spent a great deal of our budget on photography. If it’s an overcast day, we may lose even more time!

I think the first look is a great idea. And will cut down your picture time at the reception. There’s also the corner one I’m not sure the name of it when he’s on one side of the wall you’re on one side of the wall and your fingers connect

This really depends on your personal preference. i dont want one because i know i want a genuine, first-hand reaction when i walk down the isle that my photographer can catch. however, first look photos make for some excellent photos as well and allow the photographer to focus on YOU rather than your husband as you walk down the isle. without a first look, the photographer will struggle to focus on both getting a first look photo and you walking down the isle. definitely something to think about. consider your preferences and make your decision based on that!

If you're torn, would you consider doing not-quite-first-look pictures? For example, with you both dressed up but standing back to back, or blindfolded holding hands?

There's so much you can consider when it comes to a first look!

1. Does your FH feel a strong sense one way or the other? (I was neutral but my husband didn't want to do one, so that made the decision easy!)

2. When is your wedding? If it's a winter evening, sometimes a first look is logistically easier for the photographers to get any outdoor couple portraits with an earlier sunset/limited light

3. Consider the morning of - if you choose a first look, it'll be quick, but if you do a first look and all couple photos then you'll need to start getting ready about an hour earlier, but will have more time after the ceremony to either take additional photos with the wedding party/family, or attend your cocktail hour and mingle!

4. Are either of you particularly worried/stressed about the ceremony? Worried you'll be too emotional to get the vows out? A first look could be a good chance to take the edge off

5. Do you believe the tradition that it's bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony? Do you feel a pull towards "traditional" wedding ideas?

6. Since we chose not to do a first look, I did a first look with my dad and it was MAGICAL!!

It was both our second marriage as well but he still insisted on waiting to see me until I walked down the aisle. I definitely do not regret us not doing it.

DON'T DO IT. I got married on Jan 5th, 2020 and was debating about this. Well while it was beautiful, I wouldn't do it again. You really take away from walking down the isle emotions. He even said that he was way less emotional since he had seen me already. So speaking from experience, I wish I had not done the first look. This new trend is just to take more pictures, I wish I would of stayed more in tradition.

I am not doing one. I know its all the trend right now, but my hubby wants to see me for the first time walking down the aisle. He wants that experience. And that settle it for me.

I do however want to do a first look w/ my pop and the groomsmen. I want my hubby and son (who is also my officiant) to see me when i walk down

I am doing a first look, but it'll be with my dad instead of my FH. I find it more meaningful to let my dad be the first man to see me ready for my wedding just as he was the first to see me when I was born. It's my way of honoring him and thanking him for helping me grow into the woman I am today.

I was really torn on what to do, but my brother told me that doing the first look was a fantastic decision. He said it took sooo much added stress and pressure off the day because they had more time to get in pictures with all of their family and the wedding party before hand so they could spend the cocktail hour doing more personal and romantic shots. It's also an extra little bit of time to have alone with your fiance which will be hard to get during the rest of the day.

DONT DO IT!!! But ask your FH how he feels about it. we arent doing it bc my hubby wants to have his moment when seeing me for the first time that day

I'm totally doing a first look, no question! Everyone's different but I KNOW I will be way less stressed if I can just see him before the ceremony. Plus we will get be able to get tons of pictures done before everything starts which also = less stress But that's me!

I want to do one with my dad but my fiance doesn't want a first look. He wants to see me when I walk down the aisle so I will not be having that experience.

However I have seen the first look and it seems to be a very nice add to the day. A very nice private moment for bride and groom without the guests etc. I am sad I wont be having one but it'll be fine. Gotta compromise sometimes!

We did one. I'm happy we did so we could share that special moment together. but also so we could do all of our family and bridal party photos before the ceremony. that way we could fully enjoy cocktail hour with our friends and family.

first look with sister and step daughter in the window

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Thank you Gen!

I've seen so many posts about how great first looks are and I'm still not sure its for us yet. I think you made a lot of good points, and its so good to hear from a bride that felt that you didn't miss out on any time together or photos by not doing a first look beforehand.

For the OP, we still haven't decided but I like the idea of seeing each other for the first time when we are at the ceremony. The logistics of a first look and your ceremony site are something to consider as well. Our ceremony is on a hillside (that everyone walks to) so I'm not sure if I will be able to sneak up there and have him not really "see me" until I can see him and we are at our ceremony. Also do you have thoughts about whether or not you want your rings on your hands in your wedding photos and if you want to wear them before you say "I do"? For me I like the idea of not putting our rings on until after we say our vows, and I want my wedding photos to have us wearing our rings, so that kinda defeats the purpose of doing photos beforehand. Also time of day is definitely a factor as well. Our wedding is at 4pm in May in New Hampshire, so the days are really long, so I'd rather do photos after the ceremony because the sun will be lower in the sky and the light will be a little better at 4:30pm then it will be at 3pm. If you are having a fall wedding when days are short, it might make sense to do photos beforehand if you have a later ceremony. Also, if you are getting ready, having your ceremony, and having your reception in all different places (vs all at one site) the logistics of a first look might be easier or more complicated than doing photos after the ceremony.

I'd definitely recommend discussing whether or not to do a first look with your photographer and your wedding planner (and possibly your venue) as they may have good insight about pros/cons as they relate to the specific details of your wedding.

View Quoted Comment Oh yeah for sure, you make some really good points! Of course it’s a really personal decision and based on individual situations it may make more sense to do one or not. But like, not doing one was SO important to us that we basically made it so the situation worked out so that it would make the most sense to not do one 😂 I also feel like it’s more common than not to do a first look nowadays so I always like to share my positive experience of not doing one just for another perspective since soo many people are pro-first-look 🤷🏻‍♀️

View Quoted Comment I love this & plan on doing it with my dad also!