Should I Do A First Look At My Wedding? YES & Here’s Why!

You may have noticed the trend over the past several years where more and more couples are choosing to see each other before they walk down aisle and I have to admit that I love it! There are so many amazing benefits, both logistically and personally, to doing a first look at your wedding.

This post is going to lay everything out and help answer any and all first look questions you might have! 

Before I dive too far into this I do need to say that this is a personal decision and ultimately YOU need to be the one making it. I’m sure your mom, grandmother, best friend, and photographer will all have their own thoughts on the matter, but at the end of the day you have to decide what is best for you and your fiancé. If you’re adamant that a first look is not right for you then your photographer should 100 percent respect that decision.

However, if you’re at all on the fence about doing a first look and would like a little insight into why so many brides and grooms are choosing to buck tradition and see each other ahead of time than you’re in the right place! 

“Seeing each other for the first time on that day is such a special moment. The reactions are so authentic and sweet and just bursting with love. The photos are priceless.” – Michelle

Here are 4 benefits to doing a first look! 

1. More Time Spent Together

I’m always an advocate for having my couples spend as much time together as possible! As everyone will tell you— your wedding day will fly by! Scheduling in more private moments with your partner will help slow down the day and allow you to soak it in. After all, you’ve been planning this day for so long you might as well spend as much time enjoying it together as you can! Also, I love seeing couples breathe a sigh of relief as their nerves settle during a first look. Brides and grooms always seem to calm down and really start appreciating the day once they’re together.  

2. More Photos and Less Stress

When a first look is scheduled you will have the opportunity to start taking photos earlier in the day and on your own schedule. So, naturally you will end up with more photos! Often times ceremonies take place in the evening, a few hours before sunset. If you don’t do a first look then chances are you will be pressed for time, racing against the setting sun to get all of your wedding party photos, family formals, and portraits taken after you say “I Do.”  

Scheduling a first look maximizes your time with your photographer, allowing you to capture the majority of your photos ahead of time leaving you time to relax and enjoy the experience. And don’t worry—you can always sneak away during golden hour to capture those gorgeous sunset portraits too!

3. Portraits When Your Hair And Makeup Are Fresh

Yet another perk to doing a first look is having the majority of your photos taken when your hair and makeup are the most polished. As soon as your hair and makeup are finished you will slip into your outfits and head out the door to your first look location. Keep in mind that there is always time before the ceremony to do any last minute touch ups if necessary too. 

4. Attend Cocktail Hour

Ok, so if none of these other benefits have convinced you then I’m pretty certain this one will do the trick! Who wouldn’t want to attend their own cocktail hour and enjoy all the delicious appetizers they’ve selected for the day? If you do a first look you can get most of your photos out of the way, leaving you extra time post-ceremony to go visit with your guests and mingle. Rather than feeling obligated to go table to table during your reception you can be sure to meet and greet with your friends and family while sipping your signature wedding drink. It’s a win win if you ask me! 

What Starling Studio couples say about their first look

I asked a few of my past clients to share about their experience with doing a first look and really they explain it best! After all, they've been through it! There responses warmed my heart to read and I'm so thrilled to share them! 

“The reactions are so authentic and sweet and just bursting with love.”

"My first look with Andy was one of my favorite parts of our entire day. I'm so happy we did it! Things are so stressful and hectic in the months leading up to your wedding and, especially that week, I was out of my mind worrying about everything from the weather to the guests to the music at the reception. It really is so easy to lose sight of the real reason you're throwing this huge party to begin with. That's why I loved the first look. Being able to take a step back from it all and see Andy, my love, the man who I would be so fortunate to marry in just a few hours, in a private moment that was just the two of us was such a treat. And, it totally calmed me down! I had butterflies in my stomach all morning long and I was buzzing with nerves and anticipation, but when I saw him all of that disappeared and what I was left with was pure excitement and joy.

There are very few moments on your wedding day that you'll be able to spend alone with the person you're marrying, and this is one of them. (Of course, Tessa was there to capture the moment for us, so, technically, we weren't alone. But it sure felt that way!)

Seeing each other for the first time on that day is such a special moment. The reactions are so authentic and sweet and just bursting with love. The photos are priceless." -- Michelle

"It is definitely a balance between capturing the day and being in the moment and I felt like the first look was the perfect way to do both."

"A first look was important to me initially because I really wanted to make sure we weren't so wrapped up in documenting our day that we didn't have time to enjoy it. I love cocktail hours of weddings, and I didn't want to miss my own! But having gone through it and looking back on it I think the best part was that I got to hang out with Mason throughout the day. I felt like we still had a special build up to seeing each other, and I was so excited for him to see me in my dress!

I also had a lot of fun taking pictures together and I don't think I would have been able to enjoy and have fun with that knowing that all our guests (a lot from out of town) were there hanging out at our wedding and we were missing that part! It is definitely a balance between capturing the day and being in the moment and I felt like the first look was the perfect way to do both and maximize the hours spent having fun together at our wedding." --Kristi

" I was nervous walking up to Adam but the second he turned around it was pure happiness."

"At first Adam and I really wanted the first time we saw each other on our wedding day to be when I was walking down the aisle. We soon realized that because of the time of year and time of day that our wedding was it just wasn’t feasible. After talking to you we were comforted in knowing that the first look would help the timeline of the day run smoother and, hopefully, calm our nerves. In the end, we were actually really happy we did the first look! (The first look pictures are some of my favorites!)

When the time arrived to do our first look we were both anxious and ready to finally see one another. It was a very emotional, happy and exciting experience. I was nervous walking up to Adam but the second he turned around it was pure happiness. We loved that it was just us and how intimate it was. It gave us some time to soak in the moment.

I would recommend anyone to do a first look because it helps to calm your nerves and makes for a smoother timeline. Because Adam and I did a first look and were able to get most of our pictures done prior to the wedding we were able to spend most of the cocktail hour visiting with family and friends. That was an added bonus! The wedding day goes by so quickly and to get that extra hour with family and friends was wonderful." -- Sarah