Over the past couple of years the age old rule of seeing your groom at the altar for the first time has become a thing of the past. A private “First Look” or “Reveal” before the wedding ceremony has been around for many years. What is a First Look? This is the moment where the bride and groom see each other for the first time in a private location. They share a special moment while the photographer captures every hug and kiss. From having extra time with your significant other to being able to enjoy spending more time with guests after the ceremony, there are so many reasons why a First Look is beneficial on your wedding day. Here are my top 10… 

 

1) IT IS NOT BAD LUCK! This is the least of your worries on your wedding day.

2) Get that First Impression you’ve always dreamed of: Walking down the aisle in front of all your guest is one of the most nerve wracking things a bride and groom will ever have to do. There are so many things a bride is thinking about while walking. Is the veil on straight? “Am I holding the bouquet at a good height?” “Oh, cousin Beth made it.”  “Smile for the camera!” “Wait, I haven’t made eye contact with the groom yet.” By the time you’ve reached the altar, the 10 seconds of walking down the aisle towards the rest of your life have simply passed. The moment of a First Look allows you to control the scenario. It can be as intimate as just the bride and groom with the photographer in the background capturing the moment, or as fun and exciting with your whole bridal party watching. It all depends on the mood and emotion you are envisioning.  

 

 

3) Allow your photographer creative freedom: Traditionally, portraits are taken during cocktail hour. That gives your photographer only 45 minutes to capture family portraits, bride and groom portraits and reception decor. When it comes to photography there are different factors to think about – if you are looking into having creative and romantic photos, the First Look will allow you the time to capture everything you have always dreamed of. 

 

4) Additional time to enjoy the benefits of daylight photos: Natural light does not require a fancy set up or flashes. A photographer has the ability to play with the light and create the perfect setting. During the day, the photographs show the colors and textures of nature’s beauty which makes your memories look bright and vibrant as apposed to dark.  However if night time photos is what you like having a first look will allow you to have the best of all worlds.   

5) Time to relax before the ceremony: Allows time between photos and ceremony to freshen up and re-apply makeup if necessary. The reveal also adds time to your day by allowing a few minutes of freshening up and relaxing before walking down the aisle. 

6) Make it worth your while: In some cultures, the bride and groom have to see each other before hand anyway to sign the marriage license together. So why not get the most out of it and see each other earlier to get amazing photos. 

 

7) Extra time with your significant other: In a traditional wedding scenario, the bride and groom only spend the ceremony and reception together. Totalling up to 5 hours together. A First Look allows you a couple of extra hours together to enjoy on your big day.

8) The venue of your dreams: Have the choice of taking your portraits at a different location than the venue or hotel where you’re getting ready. If the picture spot of your dreams is out of budget or time frame, then a first look is the way to go. 100% of our New York City brides want portraits in Central Park which is usually not possible unless they do a first look. 

 

9) Be the FUN Bridal party you see in magazines: Dedicate ample time for just your photos, family and bridal party photos. When group photos are taken during the “First look” time, it is more organized than if it is done after ceremony. This gives you the ability to inform family and bridal party members when and where to meet. It also gives you time with your bridal party for some fun and creative photos. After the ceremony, the area is busy with guests mingling and walking around. It can be distracting for the family members who need to be in photos which then leads to a delay of gathering everyone together. 

 

10) Enjoy your cocktail hour: Not only does a First Look allow you extra time for photos with your significant other, but immediate family portraits can be done during that time as well. This way, the bride and groom can spend cocktail hour mingling with guests and thanking them for joining your wedding celebration. Usually, thanking guests takes place during the reception where the bride and groom spend almost all their time going from table to table. Joining cocktail hour not only allows you to eat, drink and relax but also allows you to fully enjoy the reception with your new spouse. 

 

At the end of the day, it is all about enjoying time together as newlyweds and enjoying a day that goes by so quickly.  Squeeze every fun second out of it and a First Look is definitely a step in that direction.