The wedding day timeline is pivoted around several key factors & one of them is deciding if you should have a “first look”. So lets get the obvious question out of the way.

What is a First Look?

A first look is when you, as a couple, make the choice to see each other privately before your wedding ceremony. It’s an extremely intimate moment between the you & your fiancé away from the dozens of guests waiting to see you two get married. So why consider this instead of the tradition where the groom sees his bride for the first when she is walking down the isle? Great Question!!

No matter what you decide, THERE IS NO WRONG CHOICE. It is your wedding day and you should do whatever you desire to do. With that being said, lets talk about the many benefits of a first look.

Benefits of a First Look

The Feelings do NOT go away – Many couple who have a first look still have those overwhelming reactions, like crying, when they spot each other on the isle

Couple can share their real emotions – On the flip side, most men have a hard time being vulnerable in front of a crowd. This can give both of you the chance to share real emotion in private! (with your photographer at a distance, but he doesn’t need to know that! SHH)

Calms the Nerves – standing in front of a group of people staring at you is terrifying (Plus no one wants to have “Ugly face” in front of everyone. I don’t know about you, but I look like I have a double chin when I try not to cry).  This fear can cause anxiety that prevents many couples from actually enjoying their wedding day. Seeing each other alone can help you refocus on each other & the reason behind the day. After all, this is all about YOU!

Better timeline for your wedding day – There are several for this point so stick with me! You & your fiancé are going to feel less stressed knowing most of their wedding photos were taken before the ceremony. Trust me, it will get more hectic the closer you get to the reception. Since there are less photos required after the ceremony, it will be a better transition to the reception. Your guests are going to love you for not making them wait 1.5-2 hours for you to take photos (Because that is how long you should add to your timeline if you decide to keep a tradition first look!) This also gets you two to the reception earlier or actually mingle with your guests during cocktail hour.

Amazing Pictures – Most couple looks back on their wedding day and wishes they spent more time on pictures. This only happens with a first look so it frees up time for the rest of the day. Plus, who doesn’t want the best pictures if you are paying ALOT for your wedding day and a professional photographer? Since a first look is early in the day, your hair & makeup is going to look ON POINT before the dancing ruins it!

With all this said, there are many reasons to make either choice – tradition vs. first look. You can’t go wrong!

Are you looking for a wedding photographer in Kingsland, St Simons Island or Sea Island Georgia?

Hi! I’m Calli, a Georgia wedding photographer specializing in candid and authentic photos that capture the love, fun and true personalities of each couple. I am happy to serve couples along the coast line of Georgia, from Savannah Georgia to Jacksonville Florida. You ready to have an amazing time together on your wedding day? Message me today!