a post that deserves a repost: let's talk first looks!

It’ll be interesting to go back to what I wrote about this a few years back + see if my opinion has stayed the same….but here we are in 2022 and I want to give a little education session about what it means to consider a first look on your wedding day. I think often couples find themselves in the “MEH” opinion about first looks…meaning, they can be persuaded to do or not do them on their wedding day. I like to present the facts, unbiased, then..and let them see how it changes the vibe of their wedding day. Why? Because a lot of you’ve never been married before, and your wedding preparation involves scouring the internet for opinions and advice.. and it’s a lot! Know what’s right for you on your wedding day? what feels right for you. Now, here’s where the educating comes in: by looking through a sample schedule including a first look, and not including a first look, will help you figure out what the feel of your wedding day will be like. buuuuuut. THIS IS A BIG BUT! ….

if you’re getting married in late fall / winter…you don’t have a lot of wiggle room with your timeline for photos. so..you’ll have to take my unbiased education into consideration what season you’re working with.

Let’s get going!

SO let’s say you’re planning on NO first look, my advice to you is to minimize the amount of “work” you “have” to do following your vows, I could give a few reasons why…but my real why is so that you can actually make a decision about what you want to spend your cocktail hour doing. I will absolutely 100% never tell you what you have to do. HA in this very next sentence I’ll easily say what I think you should get to do during cocktail hour - either step away with your new spouse to spend a few quiet moments together OR socialize because it’s what you want to be doing. Your wedding day, NO FIRST LOOK, looks like this:

• photographer arrival for final getting ready photos 1.5 hours before ceremony time

• complete posed photos with both sides of bridal party, separately, finished by 30 minutes to ceremony time

• ceremony

• 20-30 minutes following ceremony: family portraits for both sides

• 10-30 minutes following those entire bridal party photos/couples portraits (so basically all of cocktail hour)

• introduction into reception / into first dances or into welcome + dinner

• you’ll be fed first, so I’ll usually check to see if you’d like to take a quick step outside, as this often corresponds with golden hour or sunset time, to shoot some photos / have some alone time while the rest of your guests finish their meal

• back to the party for speeches/formalities

• PARTY! with maybe another step outside for final night time portraits

PHEW! a lot right?

ok, so here we’ll look through a wedding day that INCLUDES a first look

• Photographer arrival about 3 hours before ceremony time for final getting ready.

• first look, about 10 minutes to be alone with your partner before the madness of the bridal party / family comes into play!

• ALL the bridal party shots, including travel, if necessary

• finish with pre ceremony shots: bridal party, couples, family if possible about 30 minutes before ceremony to refresh and rest.

• ceremony

• remaining photos with missing family members, etc.

• you can choose to join cocktail hour / hide away for a snack / quiet time!

• 10 minutes of couples portraits as your guests are lead to sit for dinner

• DINNER - you eat first, I’ll usually try to grab you for 10 minutes or so if it corresponds to golden hour

• YOU ARE FREE! PARTY!

SOOOO what do you think? Do they read differently to you? Does one give you a feel that you want to feel on your wedding day?