First Look?
Deciding whether or not to do a first look is sometimes a very easy decision. Some couples know right away that they want one, while others know they would rather wait until the ceremony. But for many couples, it can be one of the tougher choices while planning the day.
Truthfully, we’re not biased one way or the other. We’ve witnessed incredible reactions during first looks and we’ve also seen some truly powerful moments when couples choose to see each other for the first time during the ceremony. Both can be meaningful in their own way. The most important thing is choosing the approach that feels right for you and the kind of experience you want to have on your wedding day.
Our goal here is simply to share a little insight so you can understand what a first look is, what the day tends to look like with one, and what to expect if you decide it’s something you’d like to include.
So first, what exactly is a first look? A first look, sometimes called a reveal, is when the couple takes a private moment before the ceremony to see each other for the first time. When couples choose to do a first look, it usually also means completing most of the portraits before the ceremony. This typically includes your couple portraits, wedding party photos, and often family portraits as well.
Let’s walk through a few things that are helpful to consider as you decide whether a first look might be the right choice for your wedding day.
When will be the first time we see each other?
- With a first look, the ceremony will not be the first time you see each other. If seeing each other for the first time in the ceremony is something meaningful to you, don’t compromise and don’t do a first look.
- If you’d rather take a bit of the nervousness away or you want your first glimpse of each other to be more intimate, and the tradition of not seeing each other until the ceremony is not a factor, consider doing a first look. You’ll most likely see each other for the first time about two hours before your ceremony.
Will we be at our cocktail hour?
This depends on a few factors. If you’re having all your wedding events in one location (specifically if your ceremony will happen at your venue), without a first look there is a very good chance that you WILL NOT be at your cocktail hour. This is because in this scenario, your cocktail hour is the only time we’ll have for pictures. If your ceremony and reception are in different locations, you could technically space them out so that you have time for pictures and time to join your cocktail hour between your ceremony and reception. If you choose to do a first look and all portraits are done before the ceremony, then you’ll have your cocktail hour free to either spend with your guests or relax and unwind in your bridal suite at the venue..
When will I have to be ready?
We usually recommend that the bride get into her dress 45 to 60 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Whether you’re doing a first look or not, we would want to get you into the dress about 45 to 60 minutes before you’re scheduled to leave so that we’ve allowed enough time to capture all the images we need during the preparation part of the day while still staying on schedule for the next event.
For the guys, we would want you dressed about 30 to 45 minutes before you’re scheduled to leave for the next location. It’s very similar to the bride’s prep in that we want to capture some detail shots, some candid moments, and some individual portraits of you all before heading to the next location.
How much time will I have for portraits?
If you don’t have a first look and your ceremony and reception are in the same location, most likely you’ll be limited to 30 to 35 minutes for all portraits. This is usually during your cocktail hour and can sometimes get shortened if there are any delays earlier in the day. For example, if your ceremony starts late for any reason.
We’ll also need time to set up our lighting and photograph your reception space, which means we need to end portraits about 20 minutes before the reception begins. This may mean fewer images during the portrait section of the day.
If you’re having your ceremony in a different location, or if you choose to do a first look, you can build in more time based on your preferences and have the opportunity for more portrait images.
So Should we?
My first recommendation is that you don’t compromise what you want. If you’re set on seeing each other for the first time during your ceremony, don’t compromise that moment. Although we may not have as much time for portraits which does mean less pictures, we’ll still have an opportunity to make a few beautiful images.
My second recommendation is mainly based on the setup for the wedding day. If you’re already set on doing a first look or if you are having your ceremony and reception at different locations, you can build in as much time as you’d like for portraits. But if you’re having all events at one location, consider a first look since your portrait time will be limited. If you have specific questions while deciding if you’re doing a first look, feel free to reach out to me anytime!
