Columbus Wedding Photography | The First Look

I get excited when I talk about "The First Look"............Almost all of the brides and grooms that we meet with are choosing it,  and I think that in general 75% of couples these days are deciding to do it!  The First Look is a choice that the bride and groom make to have a private & special meeting to see each other for the first time on the day of the wedding prior to the ceremony.  He is all ready in his suit or tuxedo; and she arrives in her gorgeous wedding gown to greet him.  The bride and groom have a chance to really take it all in and revel in each other since the wedding officiant is not there to move the ceremony right along with all that his program entails.  When a bride and groom see each other for the first time on their wedding day, all kinds of emotions spill out and it is usually very intimate and beautiful;  and The First Look gives them more time to enjoy the special moment before it is gone and even to say what is on their heart. Parents and a few of the closest friends can be on the sidelines watching these precious minutes in time and sharing in the joy.  Sometimes, this is the only time that the bride and groom will get to spend alone on their wedding day......a time that is carved out just for them.

The specialness and intimacy of The First Look is the first advantage to seeing each other before the ceremony.  But there are other advantages:

The photographer and videographer have unlimited angles to capture it all because they are not concerned about blocking the view of the attending guests; so they are able to obtain touching images and amazing video of the The First Look.  And the photographer can help to choose a lovely, well lit location to make those images and video even better.

Another advantage is that all of the portraits and family images  can be done before the ceremony, so that the bride and groom can go right from the ceremony into the cocktail hour and reception without having to leave for a few hours of photography.  This allows the bride and groom to be able to spend more time with the guests, which is especially nice if guests are from out of town and have travelled a good distance to attend the wedding.  Guests don't need to wait around for hours wondering what to do with themselves and the caterer is confident in the timeline for the meal because the bride and groom do not have anywhere else to be or anything else to get done. The First Look lends to a smoother flow of the day, and it frees the family and bridal party to mingle, catch up with out of town folks, and simply enjoy the mood of the day.

Another great thing about The First Look is that it removes some of the pressure that brides feel during the photography session because there no bored guests back at the reception awaiting her return.  She knows that no one is waiting for her yet,  and she can be more relaxed and enjoy the photography session.  She will also be more calm and relaxed when the ceremony happens. And when she walks down the aisle, she will be more comfortable to look at all those around her and appreciate her parents giving her away and be in that moment as well.

Usually, right after The First Look, couples have one hour of portrait photography at locations they decided upon with the photographer. Since the bride has not been hugged by all her guests yet, her makeup and hair are still fresh. By then, the rest of the wedding party and family is ready and those people join the bride and groom for one more hour of family formal portraits.  Then, the bride and groom part ways and prepare to see each other again at the alter.

We prefer The First Look, but tell our couples to do what is right for them. More than anything, we want our brides to be happy.  Some think that there are specific rules in weddings, but we think there should be only one rule:  In your wedding, do what makes you happy!!

Here are a few first looks.......