Not Sure About a First Look?
So you are finally engaged and planning your big day and are trying to figure out whether or not to do a first look. As you know, the groom seeing his bride for the first time while walking down the aisle is a big deal! It is definitely tradition. But does that alone make it worth it? Here are some reasons that I believe a first look is a good idea.
It Gives You a Moment of Peace
Just think about it. You are getting ready and rushing and worrying and getting all gussied up and ready for your big moment. The entire day is a whirlwind, from the moment you get out of bed to the moment you leave the reception. Sometimes it is good to get ready for the ceremony and just be excited about what is coming! It gets you away from the other people who have been hovering around you and doing everything with you. You get a moment to just breath and enjoy knowing that you are going to spend the rest of your life with the person that you love.
It Makes the Timeline Easier
On your wedding day, there are So. Many. Pictures. Pictures of the bride’s family, the groom’s family, without the bride, without the groom, the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, the whole party together, etc. It is really hard to capture everything after the ceremony. There is always a combination of a lack of light from a later ceremony, guests waiting to eat their meals, and some elderly family being unable to hang around long enough to get it all. If we are able to move half or all of these pictures before the ceremony, we are able to get your pictures done right after and have you back in to the reception to hang out with your guests.
It Doesn’t Take Away From the Ceremony
A lot of times brides are looking forward to that big moment when the groom sees his bride walking down the aisle toward him. It is an emotional moment of “I can’t believe this is finally happening” and “oh my goodness gracious!” But honestly, I have yet to see a wedding that had a first look that did not also have a big moment of wonder in the ceremony. There is absolutely nothing like standing at your wedding ceremony, as you watch your bride come down the aisle or you walk toward your groom.
Waiting Stems From an Archaic Reasoning
Do you know the history of waiting? The father of the bride used to make a deal to marry his daughter off to a rich, or more well-to-do family. Traditionally, the groom would not have seen his bride-to-be until this moment. So the father would keep back the daughter until she was literally walking down the aisle to make sure that the groom could not back out if he found her ugly. It is the same reason for the veil! It would cover her face until the deed was done and he could not get away. I don’t know about you, but I don’t believe that is enough reason to keep it as a tradition!
