All Things First Look: Should We Do a First Look?

One of the most common questions we get is, “Should we do a first look?” If you’re new to wedding planning, you might be unfamiliar with this term. Here’s a quick explanation: A first look is a private moment before the ceremony where you and your partner see each other. It can be a traditional "tap and turnaround," or it can be customized to fit your style, such as coming through a door or down a set of stairs. Now, let's dive into the reasons why couples choose to do a first look on their wedding day.

Benefits of Doing a First Look

1. Settle Your Nerves Before the Ceremony Your wedding day will be filled with a rollercoaster of emotions—excitement, nervousness, and anticipation. Seeing your partner beforehand can help calm those nerves. Taking 5-10 minutes together to chat and share your excitement can be incredibly grounding. This moment is particularly beneficial for those who don’t love being the center of attention, allowing you to feel your emotions privately and share a few happy tears.

2. Wrap Up Your Wedding Photos Earlier Opting for a first look allows you to take many of your photos before the ceremony. This includes couple’s portraits, wedding party photos, and some family formals, which means less time needed for photos after the ceremony and more time to enjoy the celebration.

3. An Opportunity to Get Even More Photos If you want to maximize the number of photos from your wedding day, a first look provides an additional photo-worthy moment. This can create a more dynamic and comprehensive wedding gallery to look back on.

4. Makes Logistics Easier If your wedding involves multiple locations, a first look simplifies logistics. Since you’ve already seen each other, you can travel together, making the day less stressful and more enjoyable.

5. Join Your Cocktail Hour With many formal photos already taken, you’ll have more free time after the ceremony to join your own cocktail hour. This means you can sip on your signature cocktails and mingle with your guests before the reception begins.

6. Or Take Some Alone Time During Cocktail Hour Alternatively, have your coordinator set aside drinks and appetizers in a private room for you and your partner to enjoy some quiet moments alone during cocktail hour. This allows you to recharge and savor the day together.

How to Pull Off a Perfect First Look Moment

1. Keep It Private While parents, wedding party, and other guests might want to watch, we recommend keeping the first look private between the two of you (and your photo/video team). Extra onlookers can be distracting and take you out of the moment.

2. Trust Your Photographer/Videographer Let your photographer or videographer choose the location for your first look. We seek out areas with low foot traffic, quiet surroundings, and picturesque backdrops to ensure the moment is perfect.

3. Center Yourself Emotionally Before seeing your partner, take a moment to breathe deeply and center yourself. Think about your favorite moments with your partner and recognize the specialness of this moment.

4. Remember It’s Not Just About the Photos While you’ll get amazing photos from your first look, the most important thing is to enjoy the moment. Don’t worry about the cameras—focus on each other. Your photographer will guide you initially, but once you see each other, it’s all about your genuine interaction.

5. Add a Sweet Touch Enhance your first look by exchanging gifts or letters. Some couples also choose to share private vows during this time if they prefer to keep those sentiments between the two of them.

A first look can be a beautiful and intimate addition to your wedding day, offering a moment of calm and connection before the whirlwind of the ceremony and reception. At Wild Society Weddings, we’re here to capture these special moments and help you decide what works best for your unique love story.

For more tips and inspiration, visit our blog at wildsocietyweddings.com. We can’t wait to be a part of your unforgettable journey.

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Little Moments to Include on Your Wedding Day