What Kind of First Looks Are Perfect For Your Wedding Day

A prevalent trend in the wedding industry is doing a “First Look” on your wedding day! What is a first look, you ask? Well, it’s when the bride and groom see each other (or someone else that is important to them) on the wedding day for the first time after they’ve put on their wedding dress or suit!

I understand that some couples are 100% decided against doing a first look at all, and that’s OK. This blog post doesn’t intend to pressure you but rather to inform you about what kind of First Looks are out there. Maybe there’s a different first look that I’ll mention that might actually interest you instead!

Below, I will outline and give examples of the 4 Types of First Looks I typically see on a wedding day.

BRIDE AND GROOM FIRST LOOK

The most popular type of First Look I see is the Bride and Groom First Look, and for a good reason. The anticipation, the suspense, the emotion. I’m obsessed with all the giggles and tears every first look brings! There are many benefits to doing a first look with your significant other! It can calm nerves, provide authentic reactions and emotions within a private moment to soak in the day, and ease into portrait time without feeling rushed. However, some couples will not want a first look because they prefer a traditional first look when the groom sees his bride for the first time walking down the aisle. While I’m not here to sway you from your vision, couples I’ve worked with who are on the fence about doing a First Look never regret it! I’ve done many variations of this first look with couples in various settings. It will depend on your specific venue or portrait location for how I set you up for this moment. Typically the groom will be turned away from the bride, and the bride will walk up to him and call out his name or tap him on the shoulder, giving him his cue to turn around. The rest that follows is totally up to them! I never interrupt their moment together so it can remain authentically them! If I’m filming this moment, having a mic on the groom will allow me to film this moment and capture the words they candidly share.

BRIDE AND DAD FIRST LOOK

The first time the bride’s father sees his daughter in her wedding dress is another popular type of First Look. This first look can provide an emotional or humorous response and is overall a sweet part of the day. Typically, I’ll time this moment immediately after the bride gets into her dress. Sometimes I get the bride set up in the room and bring dad to her, and sometimes it’s reversed, and I bring dad into the room, and the bride walks up to him. It will depend on the space.

BRIDE AND BRIDESMAIDS FIRST LOOK

This first look between a bride and her bridesmaids is usually the most cheerful first look! If you have a good hype crew, the first look with your bridesmaids might be the perfect way to give you all the positive energy you need on your wedding day! A little extra planning during the bridal prep moment is all it takes to make this moment happen. Typically the bridesmaids will get dressed first (ideally in a separate room from the bride), while the bride and her mom (or sister) help her into her wedding dress. Once the bride is dressed, I’ll either tuck the bride away and bring all bridesmaids into the room with the best lighting. I’ll then ask them to either close their eyes or turn around on the count of 1..2..3. What usually follows is a lot of excited screaming and emotional responses from your girls.

OTHER FIRST LOOKS; GROOM’S PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, ETC.

Some other combinations I’ve seen in my time photographing and filming weddings are first looks with the Groom’s Mom and/or Dad with Groom, Groomsmen with Bride, Bride or Groom with Siblings, and Bride/Groom with Grandparents! The possibilities for first looks are endless! Think of relationships close to you that don’t fall into the three categories above, and see if there’s a way you can have a memorable first look moment with them!

I hope that reading through these types of first looks will give you an idea of what might be best for you! The possibilities are endless!