Over the past couple years the age-old rule of seeing your groom at the altar for the first time has become a thing of the past. A private “First Look” or "Reveal" before the wedding ceremony has been increasing in popularity. What is a First Look? It’s the moment the bride and groom see each other for the first time in a private location. They share a special moment while the photographer captures every hug and kiss. From having extra time with your significant other to being able to enjoy spending more time with guests after the ceremony, there are so many reasons why a First Look is beneficial on your wedding day. Here are my top 10 reasons and advice...
- IT IS NOT BAD LUCK!
This is the least of your worries on your wedding day.
- Achieve the Dream First Impression
Why wait to make that first impression when you’re walking down the aisle? Walking down the aisle in front of your guests is one of the most nerve-wracking things a bride and groom will ever need to do. There are so many thoughts running through a bride’s mind as she makes that walk towards her man with a captive audience. “Is my veil on straight?” “Am I holding the bouquet at a good height?” “What if my train get’s stuck?” “Oh, cousin Farrah made it.” “Smile for the camera!” “Wait, I haven’t made eye contact with the groom yet!!!” By the time you’ve reached the altar, the 10 seconds of walking down the aisle towards the rest of your life have simply passed and without a special moment between you and your spouse to be. The moment of a First Look allows you to control the scenario. It can be as intimate as just the bride and groom with the photographer in the background capturing the moment, or a fun group event with your whole bridal party watching. It all depends on the mood and emotion you envision.
- Allow Your Photographer Creative Freedom
Traditionally wedding day bridal portraits are taken during cocktail hour, allowing your photographer only 45 minutes to capture family portraits, bride and groom portraits and reception decor. When it comes to photography there are different factors to think about - if you are looking into having creative and romantic photos, the First Look will allow you the time to capture the super intimate moments you’ll treasure for a lifetime.
- Benefits of Daylight Photos
Since the ‘first look’ photos take place early in the day’s events, the lighting is perfect! Natural light does not require a fancy set up or flashes. A photographer has the ability to play with the light and create the ideal setting. During the day, photographs show the colors and textures of nature's beauty, which makes your memories look bright and vibrant as opposed to dark. However, if nighttime photos portraits are what you want, an earlier ‘first look’ session will allow you to have the best of all worlds.
- Rest and Relaxation Time Before the “I Dos”
When built into your wedding day schedule, the ‘first look’ photographs allow time between photos and ceremony to freshen up and re-apply makeup if needed. During the reveal, the couple can even take a few minutes to sit and relax and take in the beauty of their special day before walking down the aisle.
- Make It Worth Your While
In some cultures the bride and groom must see each other before hand to sign the marriage license together. Why not get the most out of it and see each other earlier to get amazing photos?
- Extra Time With The One You Love
In a traditional wedding scenario, the bride and groom only spend the ceremony and reception together, a total of up to 5 hours. A ‘first look’ allows a couple extra (private) hours to enjoy together on your big day.
- Dream Venue
Have the choice of taking your portraits at a different location than the venue or hotel where you’re getting ready. If the picture spot of your dreams is out of budget or time frame, then a ‘first look’ is the way to go. 100% of our New York City brides want portraits in Central Park, which is usually not a possibility unless they do a ‘first look’.
- Bridal Party Worthy of a Magazine
Dedicate ample time for your wedding, family and bridal party photos. When group photos are taken during the “first look” time, it is more organized than if it is done after the ceremony. This gives you the ability to inform family and bridal party members when and where to meet. It also gives you time with your bridal party for some fun and creative photos. After the ceremony, the area is busy with guests mingling and walking around. It can be distracting for the family members who need to be in photos, which then leads to a delay of gathering everyone together.
- Be A Part of Your Cocktail Hour
If the above reason’s weren’t enough to convince you to indulge and request a ‘first look’ session, enjoying the cocktail party in your honor should seal the deal! Not only does a First Look allow you extra time for photos with your significant other, but immediate family portraits can be done during that time as well. With these out of the way, the bride and groom can spend cocktail hour mingling with guests and thanking them for joining in the wedding celebration. Usually, thanking guests takes place during the reception where the bride and groom spend almost all their time going from table to table. Joining cocktail hour not only allows you to eat, drink and relax but also allows you to fully enjoy the reception with your new spouse.
At the end of the day, it is all about enjoying time together as newlyweds and enjoying a day that goes by too quickly. Squeeze every fun second out of it and consider a ‘First Look’ a step in that direction.
CREDITS
Article written by Alain Martinez
Alain Martinez is an international lifestyle and wedding photographer, instructor and author. His efforts with Aroos Joon have extended his portfolio into the world of Bridal Fashion photography. Alain’s work is featured all over the United States in multiple print publications and media outlets. He owns the largest non-commercial studio in Florida, one of the largest in the United States. Alain mentors photographers around the world and in his studio; an honor he believes keeps him sharp at his craft and innovative while teaching those who wish to elevate their technique.