Bride and Groom First Look
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The First Look
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Ohh, the classic first-look photos/videos. We’ve all seen them. The bride sneaking up behind the groom (like the one above!) The groom standing anxiously, with a smile of sheer anticipation. The look on the groom’s face as he sees his bride for the first time in her wedding dress. Everyone knows that first looks can be truly magical and especially intimate, Filled with raw emotion and heartwarming embraces that make for the best “photographic” moments.
However, for many couples, seeing their hubby or bride-to-be before the ceremony is still a big no-no! Citing old traditions of bad luck, or simply wanting to save the surprise for the walk down the aisle. If you’re a bride-to-be, you’ve probably asked yourself if a first look is worth the pre-ceremony photo ops, or if it will spoil the surprise of meeting your fiancé at the altar. Whichever you decide, we will be there to capture the first moments you and your Groom lay eyes on each other for the first time!
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Video compilation of Brides who said “YES” to the First Look, and the Brides who decided to save it for the altar. Either way, we love the reactions we were able to capture!
Reasons you should say “YES” to a First Look:
1.) You won’t waste your wedding day hiding from one another. No, seriously, I won’t have to hold up a sheet to hide you when you need to use the restroom. We won’t shove your groom into a coat closet to avoid seeing you and you won’t waste precious hours of your wedding day avoiding the person you’re about to spend the rest of your life with. Oh, you think I’m kidding? I have literally done all of those things in an attempt to keep the suspense for that aisle moment. Why would you want to spend so many hours avoiding each other? Your wedding day is fleeting. Don’t wait until 5pm to get the party started! If you do a first look, you’ll get to spend more precious moments together and you won’t have to hide in a coat closet (that’s reason enough, if you ask me!)
2.) This might be your only chance to be alone together all day. What? You think you’ll get oodles of alone time to bask in the fact that your wedding day is here? Think again. You are going to be documented, surrounded, and consumed with guests, wedding party, vendors, and everyone in between. When will you be able to pull away and just bask in the fact that you are a bride and he is a groom and today you are saying “I do.” When we capture first looks, we set things up to help the film opportunities look amazing, then we step back and give you a few minutes alone. Whether you talk about what you ate for lunch, cry tears of joy, and make sure your fiancé brushed his teeth, is up to you but doesn’t a few minutes alone sound pretty amazing? I think so, too!
3.) It takes the pressure off. Let’s be honest, men are visual but they could care less about what designer made your dress. Chances are, you are swearing you won’t be nervous on your wedding day. I’m here to call your bluff. It doesn’t mean you are nervous about the actual marriage, it just means you are anxious about making sure the day goes smoothly. Let me tell you this secret: nothing, I mean nothing, will ever take away from the moment when you are walking down the aisle. Your husband won’t be inspecting if you have French or English lace. They won’t care if you went mermaid or trumpet on your dress. They won’t be complimenting the perfect peony arrangement. They will be staring into your eyes.
I promise you this, we have never had a first look take away from that moment. If anything, it enhances it because your fiance isn’t trying to take in every little detail you’ve been talking about for the last year. He is just basking in the fact that you are his and he is yours. Seeing one another before the ceremony takes the pressure off, gives you time to react, spin, laugh, cry, and hug without a few hundred people watching it happen. Seriously, just think about that.
4.) More film coverage on your wedding day! Traditions hold a place in your wedding day, but are you really superstitious? I think the reason most people are afraid of first looks is the fear that they will lose the reaction. We think of all of our girlfriends swooning from the pews as our groom gets choked up, maybe sheds a tear or two, but isn’t that a private moment you want to have to yourself? No first look we have ever done, has made the reaction less exciting!
If you do a first look, you will get more coverage of the two of you on your wedding day (trust me, these are the clips you love the most!) Videography is an investment, why not get the biggest bang for your buck? It also helps make your day not feel like a giant photo shoot because it breaks up your photos/video more and gives you more time to just be present and enjoy the moments without feeling like you need to pose, pose, pose. This isn’t America’s Next Top Model, this is your wedding day. Relax, let things happen, and get even more coverage to help you remember every moment.
Save it for the altar:
1.) The most important, (in my opinion) you can stay in bed a little longer! Just think about it: you were up late at the rehearsal dinner the night before. You probably didn’t have the best sleep to begin with, and you have salon appointments scheduled from 9 AM until noon (or later!). Knowing you’re meeting your groom a few hours before the ceremony just cuts into your beauty rest and regimen! Not to mention, the time you’ll have to get ready with your best gals!
2.) The dress will be pristine for the ceremony. Many couples who do a first look choose a scenic, outdoor location for the big reveal, understandably so. Unfortunately, that means an increased likelihood you’ll be dragging your train through the elements (mud, grass, or dusty sidewalks). If you forego the first look, you don’t have to worry about your dress, shoes, or veil getting soiled before the ceremony. Once the ceremony ends, the party begins, so you can feel free to get down and dirty (and I mean that in the classiest of ways).
3.) This is a good one… You’ll ACTUALLY be married when you pose for your first photos together. While I know some might disagree, that kind of distinct joy on your faces just can’t be replicated. Also, both of you (but most noticeably, your groom) will be wearing a wedding band in the footage.
4.) Anticipation, Anticipation, Anticipation! I’m not crazy about surprises, nor am I super traditional or superstitious. But when I kissed my man goodnight after our rehearsal dinner, knowing it would be our last kiss until we said, “I do,” I don’t think I’ve ever felt more giddy. I know others have argued there is so much pressure on your big day, that seeing each other alone beforehand will ease your nerves. But if you’re an anxious person and don’t enjoy being the center of attention, the walk down the aisle (and, let’s face it: the entire day) might still be nerve-wracking for you. So why not make it a little more fun by prolonging the mystique? The anticipation is palpable in the best kind of way.
So what do you think?? First Look or save it for the Alter?
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