Photographer Meredith Melody gives her advice on First Glance photography on your wedding day.
A lot of brides ask their photographers if she and her groom should see each other before the wedding. This is a very personal decision and the best answer to this question is to do what feels best to you and what's right for your relationship.
There are good reasons for having a First Look or for waiting to see each other as you walk down the aisle, but ultimately the choice is yours. From a photographer's perspective, I highly recommend having a first look and have some reasons why you should outlined here:
1. Nerves.
Seeing each other before the ceremony always, always, always calms nerves. Most brides and bridegrooms who have a first look say they would recommend it to anyone getting married and also say that they felt happier, more relaxed and even more excited after seeing eachother.
2. It's special.
A First Look is a very special experience. You will get that once-in-a-lifetime moment of walking down the aisle and seeing eachother for the first time. Your photographer will help you recreate the experience of walking down the aisle -- be it in the church, in a beautiful garden or wherever your ceremony is taking place.
3. Alone time.
The First Look is designed so that the moment is only shared by you and your photographer. The benefit of the First Look is that you are alone and it's private. This means you can embrace each other. You can cry without worrying about your makeup running down your face. You can laugh. You can kiss. You can actually talk to each other and tell your groom how excited you are to get married. You can do whatever feels right. The First Look is often the only alone time you'll have all day, so it's a great opportunity for some amazing memories and some quiet time together.
3. Timeline and portraits.
If you decide to see each other before the ceremony, you have the opportunity to take your formal portraits after the First Look. Having a First Look can save you time and money - if you wait to see each other until the ceremony, you'll likely spend 30-60 additional minutes on portraits. By having all of your portraits completed before the ceremony, your photography timeline will be more streamlined and you can focus more of your photographer's time on what's important to such as getting-ready shots, reception coverage or your grand exit at the end of the night.
4. Spend more time with your guests.
Since you've had a First Look and you've taken all of your portraits before the ceremony, you can head to the reception immediately after the ceremony. You've spent months planning your wedding and a lot of those plans have focused on the reception and celebrating your marriage. By having a First Look, you ensure that you'll get to spend more time with your guests and enjoy more of your awesome party!
Meredith Melody is the owner of Meredith Melody Photography. She is a seasoned wedding photographer who's shot many creative engagement photos for Arkansas brides and grooms. She blogs about her adventures in engagement, wedding and boudoir photography on her blog LittleRockWeddingPhotographer.com. Learn more about her services at MeredithMelody.com.
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