Let me start by saying this. If you are unsure about doing a first look, you are not alone. About half of my grooms are hesitant at first, and a lot of brides worry it will take away from the moment of walking down the aisle. I get it. This is a big decision, and it deserves real explanation, not pressure.
After photographing many weddings, I can confidently say this. A first look is one of the best gifts you can give yourselves on your wedding day.
Here’s why.
It Calms the Nerves in the Best Way
Wedding days are emotional. Even the calmest couples feel the nerves creep in. Most grooms do not realize how nerve racking the day will be until they are standing there waiting, wondering when they will finally see their person.
A first look changes everything.
The moment you see each other, the nerves melt away. You get to breathe. You get to laugh, hug, cry, and say all the things you are feeling instead of holding them in. I have watched shoulders physically drop and smiles soften because they finally get to be together. That calm carries through the rest of the day in the most beautiful way.
You Get So Many More Portraits (And a Safety Net)
You are investing a lot into your wedding photography, and your portraits together are the images you will frame, hang, and look back on for decades. With a first look, you receive about forty percent more portraits of the two of you.
That is huge.
It also acts as a built in backup plan. Weather is unpredictable. If a storm rolls in after the ceremony and you did not do a first look, your portrait time disappears. If you did a first look, the majority of your portraits are already done. Rain or shine, you are covered.
Less stress. More beautiful images. That is always a win.
It Is Often the Only Time You Are Truly Alone
Your wedding day is full of people you love, but it is busy. Very busy. A first look is often the only time the two of you are completely alone together.
No audience. No expectations. Just you.
This is when couples cry, laugh, hug tightly, and talk. Those moments put you in the perfect emotional space for romantic portraits. After the ceremony, portraits can feel rushed and it can be harder to sink back into that intimate headspace with family waiting nearby. After a first look, you are already there.
And it shows in your photos.
You Get to Enjoy the Surprise Freely
This is one of the biggest things brides do not realize. When you walk down the aisle, your partner cannot react the way they want to. They cannot touch you, hug you, whisper how incredible you look, or even really speak. They are holding it all in.
With a first look, you get the full reaction. The real reaction. The words, the tears, the hugs, the awe. Nothing is held back. And while the aisle moment is still incredibly emotional, that first private reaction is something entirely different and deeply special.
Final Thoughts
A first look is not about breaking tradition. It is about being intentional. It is about choosing calm over chaos, connection over rushing, and presence over pressure.
At the end of the day, there is no wrong choice. But if you are looking for more time, more portraits, less stress, and more meaningful moments together, a first look is absolutely worth considering.
And if you want help deciding what works best for your day, I am always here to talk it through with you. That is part of the experience I care so deeply about creating.
Hugs!!!
