What is a first look? A “first look” is when a couple sees each other on their wedding day before their wedding ceremony. It is a private moment for the couple, most of the time away from the eyes of family and friends.

So, should you do a First Look? Let’s explore.

In some cultures, the First Look is a foregone conclusion. At Jewish weddings, the Ketubah is signed by both bride and groom before the guests arrive. We take this time to get family portraits out of the way too, so a documented First Look is an obvious moment to capture as you are already there and in picture-taking mode.

In other religions, the First Look is completely optional. When marrying in a picturesque Christian church, the First Look will be dramatized as the bride makes her way down the aisle to her groom-to-be.

As far as photography goes, what makes the most sense?

Because weddings follow a tight timeline, setting aside time for a First Look allows couples to do portraits and all the necessary family pictures beforehand. This is particularly advantageous if the wedding is during the fall and winter months when the cocktail hour is scheduled after the sun has set. Natural light is one of the biggest assets a photographer could have, so we try to take advantage of sunlight as much as possible.

The decision is yours and we will work with your planning and event teams to ensure everything runs smoothly while getting the best possible shots for your wedding album.