THE FIRST LOOK: YOUR QUINTESSENTIAL GUIDE TO INCLUDING ONE IN YOUR WEDDING
Traditionally, the groom doesn’t see the bride until she starts down the aisle during the ceremony. And for many couples, they don’t want to stray from that. Whether it’s because one partner doesn’t want to miss the face of the other seeing them for the first time, or simply because they don’t want to break tradition, many couples write off the first look altogether.
But the couples who look at all the benefits of a first look in their wedding timeline usually end up saying it was the best decision they made for their wedding!
If you’re on the fence about having a first look, or if you’re not sure what it is at all, I’m here to help. Let’s get into what a wedding first look is, the benefits of including one, and some first look ideas for your wedding day.
What Is a Wedding First Look?
A first look is a section of time in your wedding timeline so you and your partner can see each other before the ceremony.
By the time your first look rolls around, you’ll all dressed and all your beauty done. You’ll have your jewelry on and your bouquet in hand. We’ll find you and your partner a private, secluded area at your venue, your first home together, or even at your childhood elementary school where you met. And you will be able to share a beautiful, intimate moment together where you see each other for the first time.
It’ll give you and your partner the chance to take a moment and remember what you’re both celebrating -- each other!
What Are the Benefits of the First Look?
Maybe you’re on the fence about whether you want to include a first look in your wedding.
I’ve had plenty of couples who have been in those same exact shoes. They understood what a first look was, but they didn’t know what made them so great.
After we talked about the benefits of a first look, most of my previous couples decided to go for it. And they usually all came back saying it was the best decision they made for their wedding day.
So, what makes a first look at a wedding special?
A first look gives an intimate moment for you and your partner
Most people will tell you that your wedding day will go by too quickly. Between getting ready, saying your vows, and dancing the night away, your wedding day will fly by.
And you might feel as if you and your groom didn’t have enough time with just the two of you.
Including a first look is the perfect way to make sure you schedule time for you and your partner to have a moment’s peace together.
With a first look, you’ll have a block of time for just the two of you. You’ll be able to stop, take a breath, and relish in the fact that you are about to marry the love of your life. You’ll get to celebrate with the one person who truly matters on your big day.
A first look will streamline your wedding day timeline
Now, as a wedding planner in Niagara, I may be a little biased here. But I have had couples tell me time and time again that having a first look at their wedding was their saving grace when it came to getting everything done.
Everyone wants their day to be perfect. And it should be as close to perfect as possible! But couples also need to be realistic and account for a few mishaps to happen. When those do happen, you needs to be prepared with extra time on hand to handle anything that comes your way.
When you include a first look on your wedding day, you’ll streamline your timeline. And that will give you plenty of room to manage small mishaps should they arise.
Let me give you a quick example:
Let’s say you’re having an outdoor ceremony in the late spring, and you choose not to have a first look. Your ceremony starts at 4:30, but it starts to rain a bit. Your wedding planner tells you, “Don’t worry. It looks like it’ll clear up in about 30 minutes. We can just push the ceremony start time back a bit.”
You can definitely do that! But now, you’re crunched for time on the back end of the ceremony. You’ll have to scramble to make up for lost time during your portrait sessions after the ceremony. And that means you’ll miss your cocktail hour and you’ll have fewer photos since you’re behind schedule.
With a first look, you can have all of your portraits done before the ceremony begins! If something pops up, you’ll have plenty of wiggle room to move things without feeling pressed for time.
A first look will calm your nerves before the wedding ceremony
If you and your partner are not keen on the spotlight, or if either of you tend to get anxious in front of people, you should definitely consider a first look at your wedding.
Often, nerves of having people watching you clouds the excitement of seeing one another.
In fact, many couples can’t show the genuine emotion they feel towards the other because they’re too nervous!
With a first look, you get to have the initial moment of seeing each other for the first time completely to yourselves. No one (other than your photographer, should you choose to have the moment photographed) will be there to watch how you react to one another. It’ll give you a stress-free part of your day to cherish your true emotions!
Believe it or not, a first look will enhance your emotions during the ceremony
One of the biggest hesitations I hear from couples who are on the fence about including a first look at their wedding is they don’t want to lose out on the emotions of their partner during the ceremony. They love seeing the photos of their partner’s reaction as they walks down the aisle.
But from the countless weddings I’ve planned, I’ve found the opposite to be true!
From my experience, having the first look actually enhances your emotions during the ceremony. Instead of either of you feeling nervous about seeing each other for the first time, or feeling anxious about having the perfect reaction, you’ll feel relaxed knowing that part is behind you!
Nerves keep you from showing your true emotions. But we eliminate those nerves through the first look! So by the time you walk down the aisle, your partner will feel completely at ease, which will allow their genuine feelings and expressions to come through.
And a first look will allow you to be more present throughout your wedding day
Since the first look takes place before the ceremony, you won’t have to wait until afterwards to have your couple portraits, wedding party portraits, and family portraits taken.
Instead, you can have those done before the ceremony even starts!
That means you’ll get to enjoy the rest of your day without being tugged in a million different directions. You’ll actually get to mingle with your guests during cocktail hour, you’ll get to sit and eat dinner, and you won’t feel rushed or feel like you’re behind schedule.
First Look Ideas for Your Niagara Wedding
If you’re thinking that a first look sounds like the right choice for your wedding day, the next step is figuring out how you want to do it.
There are plenty of pictures for inspiration on Pinterest, full of balloons and other props. But some of the most beautiful and authentic first looks are simply just the couple allowing themselves to give in to the true emotions they have for one another.
If you’re looking for some first look ideas, let me help you with that.
Tap their shoulder
Have him face away from you. When you’re ready, you can walk up behind them and tap their shoulder to let them know it’s time to turn around. You can also cover their eyes as you walk behind them, just to make it a little more fun. When they do, they’ll be so amazed at the sight of you!
Do a “double” first look
You can have your photographer or your wedding planner help you get into position for this one. Stand back to back with each other and hold hands. Take all the time you need, and when you’re both ready, count to three before turning around to face each other. This is a great way for both of you to have a first look at each other instead of just one of you!
Read your vows together
One of my favourite weddings I planned was with a couple who wanted to keep a moment of their wedding day just for them. Instead of having the spotlight on them during the ceremony, they decided to read their vows together during their first look. It was the most beautiful moment, full of raw and genuine emotion and feelings towards one another. If you’re looking for a way to keep certain parts of your wedding day just between the two of you, this is the perfect first look idea.
While first looks have been a trend for the last several years, it’s easy to see why they’ve stuck around for so long.
They bring plenty of benefits to your wedding day and your wedding timeline. So many couples chose to do a first look and said that it was the best decision they made for their big day!
If you’re looking for a way to carve out time for you and your groom to enjoy each other and celebrate the true reason of why you’re there, a first look is the perfect way to do that.
And of course, if you need guidance when it comes to bringing your visions to life for your wedding day, I can help you!
