Help me understand the ins and outs of a first look!

We got ready at the wedding venue, which was a country club/golf course (ceremony and reception in the same place). We did the 1st look in a pretty outdoor courtyard on the grounds of the country club. The only people present were my husband, the photographer and his 2nd shooter, and 1 of my bridesmaids because she helped me with my train to keep it from getting dirty. After we did the 1st look, we did pictures with all the bridal party and family to get as much of those formal shots out of the way before the ceremony as we could so we could enjoy our cocktail hour. We did the 1st look maybe 2 hours before the ceremony, if I remember correctly. When it was time for the ceremony to start, my husband and the groomsmen all went to the altar area (my husband did not want to walk down the aisle), and everyone in the processional lined up as previously rehearsed.


I think some couples choose to do it in an offsite location. There aren't really any strict rules. It's whatever you want. One of my friends and her husband did a first touch, where they were separated on either side of the door, so they didn't see each other but they could reach out and talk to each other. They got some beautiful photos of that. Some people do first looks with parents only. It's really whatever you want.

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FH and I will be getting ready in different locations and our original plan was to each travel with our families to the ceremony. I think I’m a bit perplexed by it because I don’t know whether we have our bridal party with us there so we can all take our photos together (but then they’ll have to linger around while we take our couple shots) and how we all get to the ceremony afterward since we will need my parents with me to walk me down the aisle + our bridal party etc. I guess it is the logistics of it that is confusing me!

View Quoted Comment I would talk to your photographer. They should be able to work out the logistics. For us it was very easy because everyone was already in the same building, so it was just a matter of gathering.

Both my husband and I got ready in different suites at the hotel for our hotel block, and we had our first look in the hotel lobby because it was a nice location for photos (grand staircase, giant chandeliers, etc). Originally we were going to do it in the outdoor courtyard garden of the hotel but it was raining. It was just us and the photographers, as well as my MOH because she helped with my dress train. After the first look we took some couple's shots and the rest of the bridal party joined us. Then after that, we rented a trolley to transport the wedding party, photographers, and DOC to a different location for an hour of photos with the bridal party, and finally after that our parents joined us at our venue for the family photos. After the family photos were finished and we took some more formal couple's photos at the venue, we began the pre-ceremony stuff (we had a Jewish wedding and the rabbi wanted my husband and I to be separated for 30 minutes, then a bunch of ritual stuff before the ceremony began that took another 30 minutes). The bridal party had no problem lingering around while we took our couples shots because we stocked the bridal suite at our venue with plenty of snacks and drinks. This was just my timeline (which I will admit sounds complicated) but there are a million ways to do it!

Where does the first look take place? In either place where the B + G are getting married or some photogenic location? We got married at a hotel so our ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, and after party were all held within the hotel. For our first look, we took photos at different locations within the hotel. We had talked about doing photos at a local park, but it was about 100 degrees on our wedding day so we nixed the idea because it was way too hot. It is really up to you as to where you want to do your first look, but I would keep the distance you are traveling in mind.

Who is present? Do the bridal party join in (for photos after)? I.e. I’m not sure if my parents (walking me down the aisle) should be there as well or if it is strictly us two. Aside from my husband and I, only our photographers and videographers were present during our first look. We did separate bridal party photos prior to our first look and I did a first look with my dad prior to our first look as well. We did full bridal party and family photos after the ceremony. Normally, the first look is a private moment between you and your fiancé so I wouldn’t want a bunch of people there during that time.

How soon before the ceremony should we do this? Our first look was about 1.5 hours before the ceremony started. We did our first look from 3:00 – 3:45 since we did photos of us as a couple after the first look then I was hidden before guests started arriving. The ceremony started at 4:30. Our photographer created our photography timeline.

Do you then leave separately for the ceremony or did you travel together but walk into the ceremony separately? We didn’t have to worry about this, but I think it is a personal decision.

Since my fiance and I will both be getting ready onsite (though in two different rooms), we'll do our first look somewhere scenic onsite (there are a LOT of options). You can do the first look wherever you like! I would do the first look either somewhere in the area of where you are also taking your wedding party photos so you don't have to spend a lot of time traveling between locations, or somewhere near where you are getting ready.

As far as who is present, you can have whoever you want there! I personally want it to be a moment alone with my fiance, so it'll be just him and I, plus our photographers and videographers in the area to capture it as well. However, you can bring your parents if you want, or just your MOH, or all wedding party. Totally up to you. If doing the first look offsite, you can always send transportation back to pick up your wedding party for photos if you don't want them at the first look.

For timing, check with your photographer. If you're also doing all your other photos before the ceremony, you'll probably want to do the first look 2-3 hours before the ceremony. Your photographer should have a better idea of how long everything will take, and can help set the timeline from there.

My fiancé & I are getting ready at different locations (we’ll be at our parent’s houses). I’m still on the fence on doing a 1st look- he wants the first time he sees me, walking down the aisle.