Not sure whether to do a first look or not? Not even sure what a first look is?
A first look (or reveal) is where the couple see each other (and then do all their wedding party and couple/portrait photographs) before the ceremony
The good thing about a first look, is that we can get all the photos done and out of the way before any guests arrive at your wedding, meaning that after the ceremony, you don’t have to go away for photos i.e. you don’t have to leave your guests. Traditionally, a couple would have their ceremony, then do family/group photos, disappear for an hour or more for photographs, then arrive back to the wedding - and all the guests have already started having a few drinks and snacks.
The obvious thing with a first look though, is that come ceremony time, you would have seen each other already. Some people say that this takes the excitement away. Some people disagree with that. I’ve done first looks where a groom still cries while watching his bride walk down the aisle, even after they’ve spent 2 hours with each other just before their ceremony. Some couples prefer seeing each other for the first time while alone, rather than in front of 100 guests - all staring at them. There is no right or wrong way, and if you’re considering it or unsure what to do, I’ve listed some of the pros and cons below which will hopefully make your decision easier:
Pros / Advantages :
Eliminates the time needed for wedding party & portrait photos between ceremony and reception. This means that you don’t have to be away from guests between ceremony and reception (i.e. don’t have to leave your guests)
Makeup, hair, flowers etc are all fresh for photos, as they would have just been completed/ready
Maximises photo time. Usually we’re rushing for time (or frantically catching it up) between ceremony and reception, meaning we often have to cut photo time shorter
Time to take a moment and connect alone (something which doesn’t happen a lot on a wedding day)
There is time to be creative with the first look, and get some cool photos
Include close family members or kids if you want to, making it special for them too
Cons / Disadvantages :
Usually not the best time of day for lighting as sun is higher, meaning direct sunlight & harsh shadows
Dress/clothes might get dirty before the ceremony, which could effect where you choose to do your photos
Might get hot and sweaty before the ceremony (especially in Summer), so you’ll need some time to freshen up
Might not feel relaxed due to nerves for the ceremony (which could show in photos)
Emotional response during ceremony could be higher if seeing each other for the first time at ceremony time
Requires the need to reshuffle the day and start things (like hair and makeup) earlier, along with bringing the photo session earlier. So while it might seem like a first look can save time, it could end up taking up more time in other parts of the day
Remember that it’s your day and you can do whatever you want (or don’t want) to do :)
