One of the bigger decisions that you and your fiance need to make in the days and weeks leading up to your wedding day is whether you want to do a first look or not. Although there's no right or wrong answer when it comes to this, it is something that can have an impact on how your wedding day plays out.

What is a first Look? 

So what exactly is the first look? Simply put, it's when you spend some time before the ceremony (yes, before) in a private moment where we get to capture the intimacy of you and your honey seeing each other for the first time on your wedding day. Typically we'll help you find a place that is removed, romantic, and away from all of your wedding guests, family, and wedding party. Not only does this make for some amazing memories and pictures, but you also get to share in a private moment just between the two of you before the chaos of your wedding day starts!

First Look Pros: 

1. You don't have to spend your day avoiding your fiance and instead can spend your entire day celebrating together.

2. Many past couples have mentioned that seeing each other prior to the ceremony helps calm nerves as well. 

3. From the photography side of things, you'll have much more time for your wedding party and couple pictures. 

4. The time between the ceremony and reception doesn't have to drag out to allow enough time for photos. Since most of the photos are completed before your ceremony, your reception can start much quicker.

First Look Cons: 

1. Wedding days typically start a little earlier. Due to most of the pictures being before your ceremony, everyone has to get ready a little bit earlier in the day. 

2. Quality of light might not be as good. First off, this can totally depend on weather and the season of your wedding. Shooting as close to sunrise or sunset is the ideal situation. However, we can still always pull you out for sunset photos later in the day.

3. Tradition. Many couples want to follow standard wedding traditions, and that's okay! If a first look is always what you dreamed of, then do it! If it isn’t something that you want to do, then skip it! It's your wedding day and your decision to make.

One worry that we often hear when couples are trying to make the decision about whether to do a first look or not has to do with the "realness" of the moment when you see each other for the first time. And we completely understand - you want your fiance to have the best, most real reaction that you can. And if we're being honest? This is more likely to happen when it's just the two of you. That being said, your walk down the aisle will still be oh-so special. And, we've heard from previous couples that they were able to live in the moment and experience all of the feelings so much more because they had already gotten their nerves out of the way by seeing each other beforehand.

So is a first look right for you? You two are the only ones that can answer that question. We're just here to help you make an informed decision. 🙂