Top 5 Reasons To Do A First Look On Your Wedding Day!

Raleigh Wedding Photographer Answers Top Wedding Questions From Real Couples: First Look vs. Traditional Look

Should I Do a First Look? ​Benefits Of A First Look On Wedding Day! 

1. Calms Your Wedding Day Nerves
​So much build up and planning has gone into your celebration, it’s always understandable that there’s some anxiety and stress on wedding day. So getting to see your love before the ceremony is the perfect way to reassure yourself that everything will work out perfectly. Drew and I always love to see that stress and weight lifted off shoulders after a first look and the rest of the day is a breeze!

2. Time to Be With Your Loved One
​Wedding days can be packed and fly by as you try to balance time with family and friends. First look actually provides you a protected time to have possibly the only alone time with your loved one all day. You can laugh about the day, check each other out, say a prayer, and just be present in each other’s embrace. Drew and I always step away to give you two a moment to breathe together :D

3. More Time for Photos and Not Worrying About Light
​With a first look before the ceremony, we can not only take a majority of couple portraits but also wedding party pictures and maybe a few family! This way, we don’t have to worry about a 5pm ceremony and a 5:30pm sunset so your photos aren’t all in the dark taken with a  flash. All we have to do after the ceremony is a few family photos and maybe a few more sunset pictures together!

4. Get to Enjoy Your Own Cocktail Hour
​With a first look, you can structure the day and ceremony time however you want! Most of the time, the entire cocktail hour is spent taking photos. But with a  first look you can go start hugging family and friends and go enjoy that special drink you took time to create for your guests!

5. It Doesn’t Take Away From Walk Down The Aisle Look!
​Drew and I promise you that a first look does not take away from the epicness of walking down the aisle! The music is playing, guests are turning to look at you, your parents are walking with you, you turn the corner or the doors open and bam! It’s still so so special to see your loved one’s reaction and we still capture both in awe expressions :D

*Look how happy our couple is above for their first look and below for ceremony time!!!!* 

First Look vs. Traditional Down The Aisle Look

Q: What if we want a traditional first look on wedding day?
A: That's ok too! BUT, here are 3 very important questions for you:

1. What time is sunset on your wedding day?
2. What time will your ceremony end?
3. Do you want to enjoy your cocktail hour?

After the ceremony, we typically ask family members to please stay seated so we can roll right into family photos. I like to do this so older family members can have a place to sit. Another plus, is we don't have to chase down family members. Drew and I do not know what your family members look like, so this way we don't have to send a parent or sibling to go wrangle while we just wait. Then, after family photos, if we did not do a first look, we have combined wedding party photos. Finally, we can take pictures of you and your love. All of this takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on size of family and wedding party meaning you will also miss your cocktail hour.

SO that means we need your ceremony to end 60-90 minutes before sunset. 

If your ceremony ends at sunset, all photos will need to be taken with a flash. And that's ok, we've done that before and they look beautiful! Flash just has a little different of a look vs. natural sunset light. If you actually want time away from your guests and you're cool with missing cocktail hour, we get that too! Everyone needs a break! Just something to consider when you and your fiancé think things through.

If you're still undecided, ask married friends who have done both and see what they say! 

I'm always here to help answer any questions about your wedding day timeline and flow too! :D 

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