With every new wedding season I get asked, What is a first look? A first look has become sort of a new tradition in the wedding world, and has come about to help add intimacy to wedding days between a couple.

Wait what? But you are already getting married?! Isn’t that intimate enough?!

Yes and no! A first look is meant to be just the bride and groom, a shared moment for just the two of them and not the other 200 people you invited! The bride still gets her big reveal moment, but in a much more intimate way. It is a way to remove all the other people and distractions of your wedding day to really remind you that this day is a celebration for the two of you.

You get to share the moment.

All that nervous energy gets changed into reassurance, into love and care. You get to hug each other and comfort one another with tears and smiles. Helping your nervousness start to disappear.

There are a couple of weddings that stand out to me as examples that first looks are so important! I got to photograph the wedding of some of my good friends who chose not to have a first look. I hate to say it, but it wasn’t until after the entire ceremony, signing their wedding license, and family pictures that they finally got a moment together alone. This is when the groom realized his bride had flowers in her hair. Whoops…

For the grooms a first look is just as special. I will never forget one, where the husband was so excited! When he saw his bride I almost cried too! It was truly a beautiful moment! For this one the couple invited their parents to be apart of their first look, which made it an extra special moment!

YOUR Wedding Day

It’s not just about having the opportunity to show off your dress details and hair to your husband, but it’s a short amount of time you get to spend together to breath and take the time to really be present in the moment. Wedding days go EXTREMELY fast! There is always family to go talk to, a grandma to hug, or a kid who wants your attention! This is the time set aside for just the two of you.

Nervousness

The next best thing about first looks is that it can help get the jitters out! If you, or your groom are a lil bit on the nervous side or even camera shy, this is a great moment to be able to share. When you walk down the isle you will still have butterflies no doubt, but you have the reassurance from earlier, of a hug or a kiss, or even 5 min to talk!

Timing

The other really nice thing about first looks is now that you have seen each other before the ceremony we can get some pictures done! We can use this time for portraits and for the whole wedding party! Now you get to enjoy your cocktail hour, which gives you more time to party and to see the friends and family you invited!

So what if a first look isn’t for you?

That is perfectly fine! There are lots of different things you can do that are still special to connect with your groom! OR maybe you are hooked on the magic of a first look, but you still really want him to see you for the first time as you walk down the isle! There are all sorts of first looks, and special moments you can have with loved ones!

• First look with dad

• First look with grandmas’

• First look with bridesmaids’

• Sharing hand written letters with each other