First Look?

I like the idea of the first look. It not only makes the moment more private and intimate in what can be a day centered around a big group, but it also saves time after the ceremony because you can take pictures before with the group.

I’ve been torn as well, but I asked my Fiancé and he doesn’t want to see me till the church. I’m actually thinking of doing something similar to first look with my dad, but still not 100% sure about that either.

I’m not planning on doing a first look. I want him to see me for the first time as I’m walking down the isle. I do want to do a first look with my dad though

View Quoted Comment

SO cute, Allison

I've decided to go with doing a first look, that way all of our pictures are done before the ceremony and cocktail hour. I want my bridal party, fiance and i to enjoy the cocktail hour that we are paying for. I also want to use the cocktail hour as our social hour, rather than greeting everyone at the reception.

View Quoted Comment Thank you!

I will be wearing a veil, the traditional way, and the first time he sees me will be at the altar when he pulls back the veil. So romantic!

Throwing a wild card/unpopular opinion out here, but for any other nontraditional brides — we're not doing a first look OR having the first time he sees me all gussied up be the ceremony. We're getting ready together so he'll see me the whole time.

We are doing "he will wait and see me come down the aisle". He did not want to the first look and I agreed to it because I want to see his first look as I walk down the aisle. It will be the element of surprise for the both of us.

You could always do a couple pictures before wedding without him seeing you. He could wear a bandana or a mask to hide his eyes. Or hold hands around a corner. I want some pre wedding pictures but want to make him wait to see me until I walk down the aisle.

Waiting for the aisle ! Im very traditional

I'm waiting to walk down the aisle!
I know one of the big pros to a first look is to spend less time taking pictures after. I think to help with that, we're gonna do individual family pictures before the wedding, then both of us with the families after the ceremony.

I’m torn on this as well...this is my FH first marriage and he’s 46 so I don’t want him to miss out on anything it’s really important to me bc he’s so excited and his big thing is wanting to see me come down the aisle BUT we are also doing an evening wedding so I’m thinking abt the logic of having a “first” look and having pics done

We are having an early wedding and so while I want to capture his reaction for the “first look” I think that if it happens walking down the aisle, that is super. I’m just excited for his reaction! I don’t want pictures to take too long so that way I can enjoy the reception, like you said!

We are not doing a FL! My dress is actually a complete surprise to everyone including my FH, so I’m hoping we’ll get some amazing shot of all genuine reactions! I don’t pay much mind to most traditions, but I’ve always just envisioned the first time he sees me as being when I’m walking down the aisle so that’s what we’re going with! But at the end of the day, it’s all about your preference. I do kind of wish we’d have the intimate photos that can come from a FL but ultimately we’ve decided it’s not for us.

I’m doing a first look because I want sunset photos

We will not be doing a first look, partly because it needs to be pre- arranged with our venue, depending upon other events going on and partly because I just really want the first “look” to be when I’m walking down the aisle. It all depends on your preference!

Well we are definitely having a first look bc we are having an exclusive photo shoot at our venue tht is a giraffe conservation w the giraffes 🦒 I’m beyond excited 😊 and part of the proceeds go back to the conservation and research EEK I’m so excited 😆 it’s definitely worth doing the first look!!!

It really depends on the wedding day timing.

So almost every photographer we've spoken too has pushed for a first look - it depends on how you're doing your wedding. Our wedding is gonna be at one location - getting ready, ceremony and reception. Making it super convenient and no long breaks in between (something we both really hate); that also means that after our ceremony ends, our cocktail hour immediately begins meaning....no first look means we cut into our cocktail hour and our cocktail hour is something we are REALLY looking forward to with stations and h'orderves etc.

My FH is super adamant about not doing the first look so we're not gonna, i personally didn't care. Unlike some of the other photographers we spoke to, the photographer we chose wants to work with us and said what we can do is this: prior to our ceremony they'll pull FH and his boys and family for their photos, then after they hide him away again, they'll do me and my bridesmaids and family, then after the ceremony it's just total wedding party and a few bride and groom shots. I honestly am looking forward to cutting a few of my family's kids in line at the stations ;P lol. We also are potentially going to extend our cocktail hour by 1/2 hr so we don't miss it.

If you don't want to do a first look and you have a window between the ceremony and the reception its not really an issue, but if you're like us and you don't have the break and you don't want to cut into your party time - then first looks are great and produce just as great of a reaction as if down the aisle.

View Quoted Comment

I've seen some amazing romantic shots from people doing these!!