Pros & Cons on a First Look

Personally I don’t like the idea of a first look. I feel like it takes away from that shock. I’m more traditional though so that may be why. Lol

I've asked my FH and he is positive he doesn't want to see me in my dress until I'm walking down the isle.

I’m doing a first look and I’m not telling my mother. She will freak! For us, that will be a quite intimate moment between the both of us and probably the only one we will get all day.

I'm doing a first touch, I like the tradition of not seeing each other and waiting for the surprise. That could be an option for you.

My husband and I were married in a judge's office with only our parents as witnesses. On our first wedding anniversary we had photos done and our "first look" photos are my favorite photos of that day. I know our situation is different but it was really important to me to capture that moment and our genuine reaction. We kind of forgot the photographer was there. She put together this snapshot of that moment.

We are doing a first look. I don’t believe in the bad luck superstition. Plus - we’re paying a good amount for our cocktail hour, we want to be there! Our appetizers are really good! 😁

FH has seen my dress, we’re staying in our hotel room together the night before - we aren’t following the traditions very well, lol. We would get ready together except for the fact that our package includes a bridal suite and I know my mom, MOH, and flower girls want to all get ready together.

I don’t believe in the “bad luck”, but I did want the full reaction to each other when I appeared to walk down the aisle. It was the thing I was most looking forward to. My husband when I asked him about first look first said what? Lol. Then after I explained he was like ehhh. And I said okay cool I don’t want one either!

My FH doesnt want to do the first look but I want too...so we are at a crossroad here..I want to do that picture where the bride and groom are separated by a wall and they are holding hands in prayer so I might be able to convince him of that but we'll see...

FH doesn't want the first look, he thinks its super weird to have a photographer there with us waiting for his reaction. I do understand why people do it and I find their pictures so pretty, it's just not a battle I want to attempt with FH. I think if we did do it, his reaction would be forced.

We're doing a first look because we want to be present the whole night. I have HORRIBLE anxiety and he's essentially the only thing that calms me down, so seeing him beforehand will help a lot too.

We did a first look and it was hands down the best part of the day. It’s a private, super emotional moment just between the two of you (and your photographer). It’s the surprise, emotion, and anticipation of seeing each other at the aisle but amplified since you can hug, kiss, touch, and talk to one another. Keep in mind if you wait for the aisle you can’t do any of those things at first sight since you’re going straight into the ceremony. My husband burst into tears when he saw me and the photos we have of us hugging and kissing with tears streaming down his face are priceless. Again, you wouldn’t have that opportunity at the aisle shots. We were still extremely emotional during the ceremony and my husband cried (again), so it didn’t take anything away, only enhanced the experience. On top of that, when I walked down the aisle everyone stood up and completely blocked my view of my husband and I couldn’t see him until I got to the very end and stood beside him, so if we had waited until then I would have totally missed out on his reaction.

I think this is one of those things that you can’t make the wrong decision. We didn’t do a first look, and the same way as people that have had a first look for me when he turned around, saw me and I walked towards him was my favorite part of the day. I still cry every time I see the video. It was so emotional and special, we were both crying, our guests were crying.. it was an amazing moment. I am one of those people that once I start crying I can’t stop, so this way it was perfect, I would have walked down the aisle in hysteria if I would have done a first look.

If you decide to not do a first look, I definitely recommend him standing facing the officiant until you are closer down the aisle. That is the way that we did it (we had a long aisle), after I was near the end of the aisle our officiant signaled him, it was just perfect!

My fiancé and I want to before the wedding so him and I can share that moment. Plus we’re both cry babies lol. So he wants it before the ceremony

For the record, the shock factor is no less for a first look than it is for in the aisle. Believe me.

For those of you who are doing a first look who are you planning to have all there? We’re dojng it for logistics but also because we’ve had friends who have done it and all loved it. I’m slightly sceptical since he traditional side of
me is weird about it but we shall see!

I want to do one but my fmil and my mother say no. If we don’t do a first look I want to do one where we can’t see each other but the photographer takes a picture of us standing side by side but next to a door. He calms my nerves so I’d like that option

I'm doing a first look with my dad. I want the first time my FH sees me to be when I walk down the aisle. That's a look and feeling that will only happen once.

View Quoted Comment Hey Alyssa - IMHO, I think that if they’re paying then they can make decisions about how the money is spent but not necessarily about something like this. If they told you not to kiss after the ceremony, would you listen? To me, it’s a similar situation: an emotional moment that you’ll remember and treasure as husband and wife.

Personally I don’t like the idea of the first look happening before the actual wedding day. My fiancé and I get married this Saturday and we are having our first look and hour and a half before we get sealed- that way we are able to keep the excitement to the wedding day just my personal thoughts 😊

My FH and I are planning on doing a first look and there are a few reasons for it:

- We aren't doing a ceremony so our first look will be before the reception and will be our time together before we start hosting and celebrating

- We aren't doing a traditional wedding style so we aren't keeping many of the traditional expectations

- We wanted a low-key, low-stress celebration and a first look allows us the surprise of seeing each other all dolled up but without a lot hype and stress attached to it

- We will be seeing each other throughout the day before the reception anyway