Need more reasons for taking first look photos? Ask and you shall receive. (And many thanks to The Things We Would Blog for helping me with this list).
- You still get the impact of seeing each other for the first time on your wedding day. Sometimes couples are concerned that they'll be losing the "wow" factor of seeing each other for the first time as the bride walks down the aisle. But you're still about to get married. The moment is HUGE.
- The two of you can experience that moment in private and really relish it with each other. A bride I'm working with, whose wedding is coming up in the fall, said she'd much rather do some first look photos because otherwise she'll feel awkward once she gets to the altar to marry her man, because she'll want to chat with him in the excitement of the moment. You can't really do that with your guests looking on as the ceremony begins. You can do it with first look photos!
- You'll get to your party faster (as I mentioned earlier), and thus feel less rushed and less stressed. The photos you have to take during the cocktail hour will diminish significantly if you can take bridal portraits as well as bridal party photos before the ceremony instead of trying to squeeze them in with all your post-ceremony family portraits.
- Perhaps a smaller reason in terms of the big picture of the day, but your hair and makeup look fresher if you do portraits before the ceremony instead of after!
Here are some of my favorite first look shots; my ultimate favorites are the ones with tears involved (what can I say? I'm a sucker for an emotional groom).
And, if you still really, really want to wait for the ceremony to see each other for the first time, you can still take first look photos. There is no shortage of cute ideas for taking photographs together without actually seeing each other.
What is your opinion on first look photos? Will you be doing them for your wedding (or did you do them at your wedding)? Why or why not?
I didn't do first look pics at my wedding 7.5 years ago, but seeing these makes me wish I did. =) These are gorgeous photos and it looks like these weddings were really amazing.
ReplyDeleteI didn't do first look photos for my wedding because my family was extremely traditional about the whole thing and frankly, I didn't even consider them! But if I were to do a vow renewal, I would definitely do the first look photos! So beautiful! :)
ReplyDeleteThose photos are beautiful! I SO wish we would have done them at our wedding! I was too concerned with "keeping tradition" and regret not taking first look photos. Seems so special!
ReplyDeleteI love these!! I will definitely suggest to the brides-to-be that I know!!
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are priceless. The emotion is so beautifully captured. Awww.... SWEET!
ReplyDeletehttp://shannonhearts.blogspot.com/
I always love when a couple does a first look. I did one at my own wedding, and walking down the aisle was still really emotional for me. I think that seeing each other should be private, and that you should have time to appreciate the moment with each other rather than share it with everyone at your wedding. Love this photos Emily, especially that one on the porch with the bride in the short dress. So cute!
ReplyDeleteI definitely want a first look photo!! We want more time with our guests (most who are in from out of town) so we need to get 1/2 of our pictures done with before the ceremony! It works with timing...and I love the pictures! :)
ReplyDeletewww.jaxandmarbles.blogspot.com
Beyond gorgeous, and they do what these photos should do-- they will help the couple relive the emotion of the day!
ReplyDeleteI've actually never heard of this until just now! I'm getting married this fall and need to remember to incorporate a first look photo :)
ReplyDeleteI looove this!!! Gives me all sorts of warm fuzzies :) When we figure out how to go back in time can I hire you to shoot our wedding? thx.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos! Hubs and I did a first look and had our photographers capture it - it was such a special moment memorialized!
ReplyDeleteM.
i was raised on traditional, but i'm really thinking to do the first look pictures. my bff did hers in front of the congregation and that was actually emotional too, i was teasing the groom (my best friend as well) big time as he started to have tears in his eyes.
ReplyDeletei really like the idea of having that PRIVATE time to yourself before you hit the party. aw yea.
I actually hope my guy cries when he sees me for the first time. hahaha
ReplyDeleteBut I'm not doing the first look, too traditional for that. In fact, I'm moving out two weeks before the wedding, so he won't be seeing me until the wedding day.
The first picture totally makes me want to cry, like right now! I've said time and time again, I'm not really into first look photos but you're REALLY making me re-think it. Sigh...
ReplyDeleteI'm totally tearing up looking at some of those photos!
ReplyDeleteThis is so emotional, I am tearing! This is lovely.
ReplyDeleteOlive xox
The one where the guy sees his bride on the stoop and you can TOTALLY tell he's going "Woohoo" is awesome! It made me tear up!!!!
ReplyDeleteI want to do to the blindfold one some day...=)
Ergo - Blog
Oh I love the ones where you don't actually see each other, that is so brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI almost cried...so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI almost cried...so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteomg, this is such an adorable idea! my wedding isn't anywhere near me at the moment, but I want to remember this idea :)
ReplyDeleteI am DYING! These are so sweet... I wish beyond wish that Eric and I had done something like this. *tears*
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