Welcome back to our RWP Process series!
In this series we’re breaking down 23 questions we recommend asking your perspective wedding photographer. : ) Remember, there are no right or wrong answers, just a look behind the scenes to learn a little bit more about RWP, our process and why we make the recommendations we do to our Watson Brides. : )
For the full list of 23 questions and links to our answers so far, click here!
Today, is all about the First Look…. In this post I’ll share…
- What the First Look is
- The 6 Secret Benefits of Sharing a First Look
- Thoughts on the First Look From Past Grooms
- When I Recommend Doing a First Look
- First Look Alternate Options
- My Recommendation with an Early Church Ceremony
- My Recommendation for Winter Weddings
- The First Look from a Real Couple’s Perspective
- The Wrap Up
That’s a lot! In all honesty, this could be 2-4 posts, but I get questions about the first look so often, I wanted to create one resource that would talk about all the most common first look questions I get, give good recommendations and alternate first look options.
I say this often, but one part of my job is to make sure you have all the information so that you can make the best choice for YOU.
With that in mind, know that Blake and I didn’t do a first look. I totally get wanting your first look to be as you walk down the aisle!
I also get wanting to have beautiful Bridal portraits on your wedding day and that takes time.
My hope is that this can be a great resource for couples curious about the first look. If that’s you, welcome! If you have a friend who has questions about this topic, please share this with them! I hope it’s helpful. : )
Now, let’s jump in!
What is the First Look?
By definition, the first look is when the Bride & Groom see each other for the first time on their wedding day. Traditionally, this is when the Bride walks down the aisle. Today, many couples will choose to see each other before their wedding ceremony.
When a couple chooses to see each other before their wedding ceremony, we create time for what’s called the, “First Look.” An intimate moment for just the two of you in a private location before your wedding ceremony.
6 Secret Benefits of the First Look
While there are many benefits to doing a first look on your wedding day, here are the 6 Secret Benefits of doing a first look…
More Photos! This is probably the #1 reason I like to recommend a first look to couples. As a photographer I want to make sure we get all the photos you’ve been dreaming about, without feeling rushed. I want you to be able to soak in each moment of your wedding day. By doing a first look you take the pressure off. You don’t have to worry about rushing back for introductions at your reception. We have created space in your wedding timeline for these photos and you’ll actually end up with up to MORE photos of the two of you! Especially, fun creative shots we may not otherwise have time for.
More Time with Your Soon-to-be Husband. When I think back to my wedding day, there was nobody I wanted to see more than Blake! By doing a first look you’ll actually get to extend the time you have with husband-to-be and bridal party by three hours! These are your people. Doing a first look allows you to celebrate together longer.
One of Your Few Chances to be Alone Together. When Blake and I got married I was surprised how little time we had alone together! Portraits are usually squeezed in right after family photos and it can be hard to switch gears from family photos to romantic portraits. However, when you do a first look it naturally flows! You’re already full of joy and excitement from your first look and you’re ready to go into photos of just the two of you.
Bonus: If you would like to share private personal vows, right after your first look is the perfect time to sneak those in!
Freely Enjoy the Moment. Possibly the best kept secret. When your husband-to-be sees you for the first time, he’s going to be stunned! He’s going to want to wrap you in his arms, tell you how beautiful you look, then spin you around and plant one on you. When you do an intimate first look beforehand he CAN do all those things! Something that isn’t quite the same after a 30-60-minute ceremony. Don’t worry, he still thinks you’re stunning, but that immediate reaction is gone. By doing a first look, your husband-to-be won’t feel the pressure of ALL your guests staring at him and he’ll be free to express himself to you.
Bonus: The ceremony will still have its own unique energy, so it will be like you got to do TWO first looks.
More Time with Friends & Loved Ones at Cocktail Hour. In the last couple of years, both of my little sisters have gotten married and, as a Bridesmaid, I was shocked by how little time I had to see all our friends and family. There just wasn’t enough time, and I only really knew half the room! As the Bride, you’re going to have tons of friends and family coming into town to celebrate YOU. By doing the first look you’ll be able to attend cocktail hour and you’ll get more time to visit with the people that mean the most to you. As your photographers, we’ll be able to get more guest shots!
Bonus: If the weather looks iffy on your wedding day, we have more opportunities to sneak in photos during clear windows.
Running outside to sneak in photos on a very rainy day. : )
Kiss Nerves Good-bye. For some couples the first look is especially freeing. You’ve likely spent a year+ planning your wedding, the day is finally here and there is so much excitement! However, sometimes couples can also feel nervous. Check out what these Grooms had to say about their first look experiences…
Kendall & Ben
See What Other Watson Grooms Are Saying…
When it came to doing a first look – my wife was all about it and I really didn’t care at the time, it made since with the timing of the day and allowing us to get all the photos we wanted. But, when it came time to the actual day I couldn’t be happier that we decided to do it. There is enough pressure throughout the day and by seeing each other before the ceremony, it gave us the chance to relax and fully enjoy the rest of the day. I was very anxious the whole morning getting ready and waiting to see her and was way more relaxed after the first look and happy that we had more time to spend together by seeing each other earlier in the day. The first look was a very intimate moment that we will always have together. It was my favorite part of the day, and something we will both cherish forever. It also gave us a chance to get some of our favorite photos of just the two of us. -Kendall & Ben
The first look was a beautiful private moment for my wife and I to share when emotions run the day. We were able to see each other before the guests arrived and the ceremony started. We were a calming force to each other on a day that is overwhelming. There are precious few moments before the ceremony you get to be alone together and, in our moment, we cried, laughed and reflected on our lives together leading up to our wedding day. We were able to appreciate how beautiful our venue looked and to admire all the final details; things we may have only been able to see together in pictures afterwards. No matter if you first see your wife during a first look, nothing will ever compare to seeing her walking down the aisle. -Angela & Scott
When I Recommend a First Look
While all of this is really helpful information, you may be thinking, but WHEN do you recommend a first look?
In general, I recommend doing a first look when your ceremony is right before your cocktail hour and reception.
When your ceremony leads right into your cocktail hour, traditionally, you’ll have 60 minutes till the start of your wedding reception. Generally, family photos take 20-30 minutes. Bridal Party Photos are 60 minutes. Then I recommend a minimum of 30 minutes for Bride/Groom photos, but 45 minutes is the sweet spot. Oh! And you’ll want to be lined up at least 5 minutes before the start of your reception. Yikes!
However, part of my job is to find solutions. If your ceremony is right before your wedding reception and you really would like to have a traditional first look down the aisle, I have some ideas…
First Look Alternatives
Extended Cocktail Hour- This can be a really great option for couples who would like to share a traditional first look. By extending your cocktail hour to 90-120 minutes, we can still get incredible images of the two of you, guests can enjoy cocktail hour and you can join them refreshed and ready for your wedding reception as soon as we wrap up photos.
Split Bridal Party Photos- By doing Bridesmaid & Groomsmen photos before your wedding ceremony, we can save a lot of time after your wedding ceremony. If you have a later wedding ceremony, this is something I always recommend to couples hoping to do a traditional first look. : )
Best First Look Alternative- Both a 90-minute cocktail hour AND Split Bridal Party photos. By doing both of these things, you can really maximize your time after your wedding ceremony without guests waiting too long. Check out the sample timeline below…
Sample Timeline
5:00 PM- Wedding Ceremony
5:30 PM- Family Photos || 90 Minute Cocktail Hour
6:00 PM- Bridal Party Photos (Whole Bridal Party. Bridesmaids & Groomsmen already done.)
6:20 PM- Bride & Groom Photos!
6:55 PM- Bridal Party Line Up
7:00 PM- Wedding Reception
We Have an Early Church Ceremony, Do We Need to do a First Look?
Such a great question to ask! If you have an earlier church ceremony then you most likely have time to do all your photos after your wedding ceremony. : )
In addition to that, depending on the time of your ceremony and travel time, you may even be able to enjoy most or all of your cocktail hour with guests! That’s really our hope for you. That you would be able to get photos your excited about and maximize time with your loved ones. : )
Sample Timeline
2:30 PM- Wedding Ceremony
3:30 PM- Family Photos
4:00 PM- Travel
4:15 PM- Bridal Party Photos (15-20 Min/Set)
-Whole Bridal Party
-Bridesmaids (Fun, Formal & Individual Photos)
-Groomsmen (Fun, Formal & Individual Photos)
5:15 PM- Bride & Groom Photos!
6:00 PM- Cocktail Hour || Bride & Groom Join Cocktail Hour
7:00 PM- Reception
We Have a Winter Wedding, Do We Need to do a First Look?
You may not have realized sunset was at 4:30 PM when you booked your wedding date. I totally get that. This one can sneak up on me sometimes!
The answer to this, it depends. What time is your ceremony at? Travel time? Are you open to doing split bridal party photos?
To get the images you love with that RWP style, we’ll need natural light. In general, I recommend at least 120 minutes from the end of your ceremony till sunset.
Sample Timeline
1:00 PM- Wedding Ceremony
2:15 PM- Family Photos
2:45 PM- Bridal Party Photos (Whole Bridal Party. Bridesmaids & Groomsmen already done.)
3:15 PM- Bride & Groom Photos!
4:30 PM- Sunset
I know this has been a lot of information so far. See what Watson Bride Libby and her husband CJ had to say about their first look experience.
The First Look from a Real Couple’s Perspective
Libby: CJ and I debated whether or not we were going to do a first look and I’m so happy we decided to do it! It was such a special moment that we were able to share with each other and I loved being able to chat with him about our mornings before we walked down the aisle. It was also important to us that we were able to attend our cocktail hour, so it was nice that we were able to take the majority of our pictures before the ceremony.
CJ: Doing a first look was definitely the move for us. I was happy to have a private moment with my soon-to-be spouse. The rest of the day we were surrounded by people, so it meant a lot to have the special moment with just the two of us.
Libby & CJ
Wrap Up
I hope this post was helpful to you! While this post was a long one, I get so many question about the first look I really wanted to create something that would be helpful to couples. A place with all the information in once place, that shares different options and ideas. Thanks for sticking with me.
Remember, in the end, it’s always up to you. : ) You’re balancing a lot as you plan your wedding, sometimes things other people may never even be aware of. My hope is this post will help you make the best choice for YOU. And remember, whatever you choose, we’re in your corner and we’re cheering you on.
Much Love,
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March 6, 2024