Happy Monday! For today’s Monday Moment we are taking about one of my favorite moments of a wedding day; the first look. A first look is when a bride and groom see each other for the first time before the ceremony and share private moments together. Matt and I are in the background discreetly capturing this sweet time and allowing them to just soak in the day.

We are often asked if we shared a first look on our wedding day, and unfortunately the answer is no. 6 years ago the first look was just starting to gain popularity and it really wasn’t something people around me were doing, so I knew very little about what it was or the reason behind it. As we look back now it is something that we wished we would have done for us as our day felt like a whirlwind and we barely had any time together. As I walked down the aisle of the church and we saw each other for the first time, I barely remember his reaction and once I reached the end we exchanged glances, a quick “You look great” and then continued on with the ceremony. We shared a lot of looks through out the ceremony, but what we really wanted to do was hug each other and say how much we loved one another. We did have a brief moment after the ceremony but the stress of getting to the reception was laid on us and we really didn’t have time together until we left our reception. Now, a first look isn’t for everyone and that is perfectly ok! There is something to be said of the moment you see each other down the aisle for the first time. I always want to make sure to explain to our couples what a first look is so that they can make the decision on what works best for them.

I wanted to break down some benefits of having a first look and why I love it so much.

The special moment: Having a private time together away from everyone and being able to enjoy seeing each other for the first time is priceless. You are able to laugh, cry, embrace, kiss and just be all before the timeline is kicked into full gear.

Timeline: Having a first look provides you with a little more relaxed time for photos before the ceremony and you will feel less rushed. Matt and I will give our couples about 10-15 minutes for their first look and then move into their portraits. We’ll then have the wedding party join us and we can even do some of the family formals before the ceremony to trim back on what’s done after. Then after the ceremony we’ll photograph more family formals and depending on the time of year either send our couple off to enjoy cocktail hour and pull them out again at sunset for a few golden light portraits, or photograph a few more portraits and then have them announced at their reception.

Calming: Your wedding day is full of so many emotions and more often than not there are some nerves. Seeing your best friend before the ceremony an help calm some of those nerves and help you to be able to feel the excitement of getting married over nervousness. One of our recent brides was dealing with a little anxiety and stress trying to get ready but as soon as they saw one another all of that melted away and she was completely calm and overjoyed.

I hope that helps a little to understand the first look a bit more. Here are a few of our client’s experiences with a first look. Enjoy!