Talk about a topic with a ton of opinions! Some people might be a little less conventional, and LOVE first looks, other people might be a bit more traditional and HATE them! Some folks just want the best photos and a stress-free wedding, so they’re on the fence and want to get a photographer’s perspective before making the decision. If that’s you – you’re in the right place. I’ve got a pro’s & con’s list for you, along with my bottomline and professional advice.

If you just want my summary, scroll on down to the bottom of this page! If you want to schedule a personalized timeline meeting, or talk about booking us for your wedding, contact us right away! 2020 is booking up FAST!

So, let’s talk about all the good things that come along with a properly prepared FIRST LOOK.

PRO’s:

1. So I mentioned a ‘properly prepared’ first look. And truthfully, I love when a first look has been planned, prepared, and all of the hair and make up was timed perfectly. The other side of that, is when a first look is planned, but the ‘getting ready’ phase of the day takes WAY too long, or goes over schedule. If you choose to have a first look, make sure your hair and make up artists are aware, and plan appropriately. When planned appropriately, having a first look can help you stay on schedule and keep an effective timeline.
2. A good first look can help you get rid of some anxiety. Let’s face it, you’re marrying your partner for a reason. You love them. They love you. They’re probably the best person in the world to help you kick the anxiety, and the earlier you see them, the less anxious you’ll be. You just want to give her the biggest bear hug, or you want to see him looking dapper in his suit – and the earlier the better. 
3. More time for the two of you. Let’s face it: wedding days can be a BLUR. Taking a few extra moments in the day for just the two of you is priceless and you’ll love having a moment to just be together, and talk to one another, without a friend, cousin, aunt, or mom right over your shoulder! I can’t tell you how many sweet and tender ‘first look’ moments also were a great opportunity for my couples to vent about a crazy parent or a drunk groomsman together!!
4. A first look is also a great way to guarantee time for your couple’s portraits. Especially if there’s chance for bad weather, it’s nice to have two photo sessions for your portraits. Building your timeline with a first look in mind, guarantees more time for couple’s portraits. 
5. Guaranteed couple’s portraits pre-ceremony also means you can have a shorter photo session post-ceremony. This is more important for couples with big families, or large wedding parties. Also for the couple who really wants to make some of their cocktail hour (which is more popular than you might think!). If you’re trying to shorten the post-ceremony portrait sessions, a first look is a great way to do it.
6. It’s better to be a little late to your first look, than your ceremony time. I’ve seen is dozens and dozens of times. Hair and make up took longer than expected, or an important button fell off the wedding dress, or the groom left his shoes in the airport – there are a ton of things that can go wrong before the ceremony, that you might not realize until ten minutes before go-time. Having a first look is almost like a really special dress rehearsal. You have to be 100% ready, and before the ceremony. It’s better to recognize a problem and be late to (or even miss) your first look, than be late to your ceremony!
7. If you’re scheduling a first look, you can very likely schedule some wedding party or family formals pre-ceremony as well. Again, cutting time down post-ceremony, allowing for a less-stress situation, getting some of the formals finished, giving you more time to relax and enjoy your day on your terms!

So that’s just a few of the great reasons first looks are getting more and more popular these days.

Now, let’s talk about how a first look might not be for you!

CON’s:

1. Sometimes rushing to get to your first look can cause more stress than an extended ‘getting ready’ time. Think about this: If your ceremony is at 5pm, you’ll want to make sure you’re hidden and in position before guests arrive, that means your back in your dressing room, or back room by 4:30. Maybe it takes you ten minutes to walk back from the first look location, that’s 4:20. You had a great session, but maybe had to walk around a little bit, maybe that took 40 minutes, so that’s 3:40. It took you about ten minutes to walk to the first-look location, that’s 3:30. You’ll want a little wiggle room, so let’s put 3:15 in case hair and make up goes a little long (they always go a little long, lol). So your ’stress-free’ first look is making you be 100% ready almost one hour and forty five minutes before your ceremony. And we haven’t even talked about wedding party or family formals. It can get a little stressful! 
2. What takes ten minutes post-ceremony takes thirty minutes pre-ceremony. After the ceremony, everyone is there. Everyone is present. Parents are dressed, grandparents don’t have to be walked anywhere, your wedding party is dressed and present. It only takes ten minutes to get everyone’s attention, in a line, and start the formal-photography process. If we tried to do the same thing PRE-ceremony, inevitably there’s someone not dressed or ready. There’s always one groomsman or bridesmaid running a last minute errand or chore. And what could have taken ten minutes after the ceremony, requires an extra ten minute walk before the ceremony. All the things you think you can get pre-ceremony because of a first look, can really cause undue stress if rushed before the ceremony.
3. If you schedule your first look too early, the sunlight just might be plain bad. I call these ‘high noon’ portraits. When the sun is almost directly over you, and everyone has those dark eyes and you can’t see anyone’s pupils. If you’ve looked at my work, some of my favorite and best photos are generally taken in and around sunset. Taking the photos early in the day aren’t impossible – and we’re really lucky to live in such a beautiful place like Savannah, where even the ‘high noon’ sunlight is still dappled through gorgeous live oak trees and Spanish moss. So honestly, it’s not the end of the world, you’ll get beautiful, well-lit portraits – you just might get even better ones after the ceremony instead of before!
4. Even if the portrait session goes perfectly pre-ceremony, you’ll still love that golden light post-ceremony so this session doesn’t replace the couple’s session after the ceremony, you’ll still want SOME photos done after. That’s a lot of rush and stress, and you’re still very likely going to have a portrait session post-ceremony.
5. If it’s hot and everyone gets sweaty – or if you both happen to be a little emotional (I LOVE a sweet, tender, and tear-jerking first look!) you’re going to want some time to touch up hair and make up. Which is another variable you’ll have to think of when you’re scheduling your timeline! But unfortunately, by this time, the hair and make up team is very likely to have left, leaving only yourself or your bridesmaids to help touch up or even reapply make up after the sweet and sentimental first look. It’s obviously not a deal-breaker, but I’ve seen several brides get a little stressed when they realize their make up isn’t waterproof and they have to completely reapply their make up between the first look and the ceremony. 

None of these issues are deal breakers. And each of them can be prepared for! And just because there are seven pros and only five cons – doesn’t necessarily mean one decision is better than the other. You’ll really have to weigh these pros and cons out for yourself, and surround yourself with wedding professionals who can help you make the best decision for you as a couple, with the venue, family, and wedding party all being very real variables in the decision!

The bottom line and my professional advice:

I admit I’m biased. I’m really traditional (sometimes too traditional) and just love it when the groom sees the bride for the first time during that epic processional. At every wedding I’m instantly flashed back to Sarah’s and my wedding – seeing my princess for the first time gliding down the aisle, with the most perfect smile on her face. (I might be getting a little sappy and teary eyed writing this right now) But I’ve asked my grooms in the past, ‘did seeing your bride before the ceremony take away from seeing her walk down the aisle?’ And every time I’m given a resounding ’NO! She was still stunning, gorgeous, special-‘ all those amazing descriptors by their husbands. Having a first look didn’t detract from that at all.

So, even trying to balance my bias – I still feel like NOT having a first look is the better and more efficient way to schedule your wedding day. 

I’ve heard all of the reasons from planners, ‘you’ll have more time for photos. You’ll be able to get wedding party photos done. You’ll be able to …’ I really don’t think it saves you any time to have that first look. Unless your willing to REALLY give me the time I need (maybe your venue is near an epic waterfall, and we’re planning for an hour’s photo shoot or something), I think you’re going to be a LOT less stressed, and get the best photos, if you just wait to see each other during that gorgeous ceremonial processional. 

BUT

What’s more important than my advice, my opinion, my stack of pros vs cons – what’s infinitely more important than all that – is your opinion and thoughts. This is your wedding day, NOT your photographers. Not your caterers, not your planners, not your DJ’s, not your moms, not your wedding party’s – this day belongs to you two. And if you want a first look – we’re going to schedule the most epic first look imaginable. If you don’t want a first look – we’re going to schedule the absolute best couple’s portrait session post-ceremony and you’re going to be thrilled with your decision. 

All in all – there is no wrong answer. If you want a first look – don’t think twice. Stick to your guns, and let me help you build the best timeline for it. If you don’t really want a first look, and you want that amazing and surreal processional moment – let’s keep that tradition and do something sentimental and gorgeous. There is no right answer. There is nothing more important than starting YOUR relationship with something special, instead of following SOMEONE else’s rules or suggestions.

If you made it this far and read this MASSIVE blog post – I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below. Do you want to share your advice or suggestions? Write them below and let future brides and grooms know your thoughts! At least contact me and let me know what you think about first looks! If you want to schedule a meeting to talk about wedding day timelines, or to book your wedding with us, contact us here!!