By Kate Cohen

When it comes to weddings, no moment is quite as special as when a couple sets eyes on each other for the first time that day. Traditionally, it’s a moment shared at the beginning of the ceremony when walking down the aisle. 

More recently, however, couples have been reimagining the “First Look” as a private, more intimate moment that happens prior to the ceremony. 

Today, a First Look refers to an arranged meeting between the couple (and, typically, their photographer) before the wedding ceremony.

While it’s a popular option for contemporary couples, it may not be the right choice for every wedding. If you’re still deciding whether it’s the right option for you, then this list of First Look pros and cons might help.  

PROS 

More Time with Your Photographers Means More Photos 

One of the biggest pros about doing a First Look is that you’ll be able to dedicate more time to taking portraits of you and your partner, family shots, and full-wedding-party photos prior to the ceremony.

If you wait to see each other at the altar, you’ll likely be squeezing all those prized pictures into the span of a cocktail hour, giving you a more limited album.  

Additionally, a First Look prior to your ceremony offers more daylight for beautiful photos.  

Privacy in the Moment  

That pivotal moment when a groom (or bride) sees their bride (or groom) walking down the aisle can be really special for your guests to experience with you. However, if you or your partner tend to be more introverted, it can be a moment built up with pressure and nerves.  

A First Look allows you to share an unforgettable moment with just the two of you, helping to diminish fears and expectations that could otherwise cloud a perfect moment. 

You Basically Get Two First Look Moments 

Most married couples who opted to do a First Look will tell you that seeing each other before walking down the aisle didn’t make that first moment at the altar any less special. 

 Sometimes, it’s even more emotional because you’ve already spent time getting excited and ready for the big moment together.

Seeing your partner standing at the end of the aisle or walking down it is an incredible experience regardless of whether you’ve already seen each other that day. Plus, you get to see their reaction twice!.  

You’ll Get to Spend More Time Together 

It’s amazing how little time you traditionally spend with your partner on your wedding day. Realistically, if your wedding is held in the evening, you’ll only end up with each other for the last few hours of the day.

Choosing to have a First Look means you’ll get extra time to spend with your favorite person – and isn’t that what your wedding day should be about?  

It also offers you coveted alone time before you jump into your celebrations with friends and family for the rest of the day.  

Spend More Time with Your Guests

If you’ve had the chance to take most of your photos prior to your ceremony, then you could be free to mingle with your guests during cocktail hour.  

After all, your favorite people have gathered to celebrate you and your partner, and there’s a pretty good chance they won’t all be together in the same room again. Having extra time to enjoy their company and soak it all in can be really special.  

CONS 

You Lose the Tradition of the First Look Moment Walking Down the Aisle  

The moment a couple first lays eyes upon each other on their wedding day is a highly anticipated highlight of a wedding.

Some couples prefer to honor the tradition by waiting to see one another until walking down the aisle, simply to savor the magic of a moment they’ve been dreaming about their entire lives.  

You’ll Need to Wake Up and Be Ready Earlier  

To prepare for a First Look prior to your ceremony, you’ll need to make sure you are picture-perfect earlier in the day.  

That can mean a significantly earlier wake up call for you and your wedding party to get a jumpstart on hair, makeup, and other preparations.

You may be lying awake or up early with excitement anyway, but serious night owls may want to take an early rise into consideration.  

You May Not Get to Include Friends/Family in the Special Moment  

If you’ve ever attended a wedding, you know that being able to share in the moment when a couple sees each other at either end of the aisle is one of the best parts of the day.

If you opt to do a First Look, you’ll have more privacy in that moment, but your guests won’t be a part of the true first look.  

If the idea of not having family and close friends included doesn’t sit right with you, you can always invite them to come along (or ask that they watch from a distance, so you still have the moment to yourselves.)  

Consider Vendor Time Constraints 

When you’re on an earlier timeline, that means everyone else needs to be, too.  

Your hair and makeup team will need to arrive earlier, as will your florist, photographer, and wedding coordinator. Be transparent about your timeline with your vendors early on so everyone is on the same page and has realistic expectations.

Keep in mind that, if you have a larger wedding party, your hair and makeup team may need to be onsite extra early and could charge an early arrival fee.  

You Won’t Actually Be Married in Your Portraits

For some couples, knowing they aren’t officially married yet in their portraits doesn’t faze them, but others may find it bothersome.

If the authenticity of the moment captured in a photo matters to you, you may want to forgo a First Look and save the pictures until after you’ve said, “I do.” 

Let Rosen Weddings Help You Host the Perfect Wedding 

Regardless of whether you ultimately decide to do a First Look or honor tradition and wait to see one another until your ceremony, the first moment you lay eyes on each other on your wedding day will be nothing short of magic.  

After all, your wedding is ultimately about the two of you and everything you dream your special day to be. A list of First Look pros and cons can help you decide more confidently, but ultimately, how your day is organized is entirely up to you!. 

At Rosen Weddings, we are ready to help you make your wedding dreams come true. We’ll help you honor your vision so every detail you’ve been dreaming of becomes a reality.

Our four wedding venues are the perfect settings for weddings that are elegant, memorable, and an authentic reflection of you and your partner.