intimate First Looks— are they worth it?

Torn between staying traditional or keepin' it trendy when it comes to your first look? Here is the honest opinion, from a wedding professional, about intimate first looks before the ceremony:

There are different pros and cons when considering an intimate first look. How much does staying traditional mean to you and your partner? Have you dreamt about seeing your partner’s reaction as you walk down the aisle? Is your family set on tradition? Honestly, intimate first looks are EVERYTHING!

Why you need an intimate first look:

• ITS INTIMATE

  Duh, right? You don’t have a crowd of people watching you - besides your media team! If you have pre wedding gifts, you can exchange them then and just be present in the moment with each other.

• LESS PRESSURE

  There may be a lot of anxiety around not seeing your partner before the ceremony. Wedding prep usually takes all day with a ceremony time around 3pm/4pm or later. Seeing your person is an instant relief. You get to be in your feels together.

• YOU GET TO SEE YOUR PARTNER’S TRUE REACTION

  These are always the most raw and organic reactions. I’ve seen so many partners do the full 360 checkout which otherwise wouldn’t happen during a ceremony! When keeping the first look during the ceremony, some people hold back their true emotions because they are “on stage”. You might also miss seeing your partner’s immediate reaction depending on how far of a walk you have.

• PRIVATE VOWS

  There isn’t a better time to do vows then during your first look. Some people are private so saying intimate things about their partner may feel hard or difficult to do in front of a crowd. It also cuts ceremony time too- which is a whole other topic; stay tuned.

• ENJOY COCKTAIL HOUR

  This is HUGE. I can’t tell you how many couples miss out on their entire cocktail hour because they are getting photos done. Don’t underestimate the photo process. Once you have your first look you’ll hop right into portraits for couple, wedding party, immediate family, and other photos you want captured with the allowed timeline. After the ceremony you’ll take a few pictures with extended family if you choose to. AND you get to enjoy your cocktail hour with your family and friends!

Ultimately, deciding to have an intimate first look is dependent on you and your partner. It’s not for everyone, but there are definitely a lot of perks to having one! I would have done so many things differently for my wedding now that I’ve been in the wedding industry for two years— an intimate first look being one of them.