Four Reasons Why You Should Plan A “First Look” On Your Wedding Day
You may have heard about couples doing a first look on their wedding day, and perhaps one of your vendors has asked if you’re planning on doing one. Here are the top 4 reasons why you should consider doing a first look at your Hudson Valley wedding.
First things first, what even is a “first look”? Haven’t I already gotten a first look at my fiancé when I met them? Well technically you’re half right. A first look is the moment the bride and groom see each other for the first time on their wedding day. Nowadays, this refers to a set-up, more intimate moment between the couple that takes place before the ceremony itself. Gone are the days when the groom sees his bride for the first time only when she comes down the aisle! Here are four of the top reasons why you should plan on doing a first look on your wedding day.
Your first look creates an intimate moment on your wedding day that the two of you will never forget.
Emily & Tyler’s first look at the Madison Hotel in Morristown, NJ. Photo by Hudson River Weddings
Your wedding day is full of special moments that you’ll want to treasure for a lifetime. Whether you’re full of butterflies sliding into your wedding dress surrounded by your beloved bridesmaids, saying “I do” after dreaming about that moment for years, or throwing down some questionable dance moves with some of your best friends during your reception, special moments are not in short supply.
However, the day can be such a blur that it’s often difficult to take in the company of the one person who matters the most to you on your wedding day- your fiancé! While it’s great to really feel the love of being constantly surrounded by people celebrating your big day with you, it can be a bit overwhelming and have you wanting a moment just to yourselves and the first look does just that. The first look allows just the two of you (and maybe a couple of cameras) to see each other for the first time and take in all the feels in a more private and intimate setting to create a moment you’ll never forget. Every couple we’ve worked with has says that if they could do it all over again, they would definitely do the first look again.
2. A first look makes for an amazing opportunity for your photos and video.
While we may be a bit biased with this one, it’s true - your first look will give you some of the best photo and video opportunities of your entire wedding day. If you’re a sucker for a good reaction shot, seeing your fiancé’s face when they first see your stunning wedding dress is a moment you’ll definitely want captured on photo and video!
Don’t just take our word for it, let the video below speak for itself.
3. The first look can calm your nerves for the rest of your wedding day.
The most nerve-racking part of your wedding day are the moments leading up to that big “I do” moment. Think of it like a rollercoaster - getting hair and makeup done, getting into your wedding dress, picking up the flowers… are all like loading into that rollercoaster car and beginning your ascent to the top. You get closer to the top as you’re getting ready to walk down the aisle and those pre-wedding jitters are at an all time high- but what if we could relieve a bit of that stress altogether? Well, that’s where a first look comes in!
Most couples not only enjoy a sweet moment and get some amazing photos and videos during their first look, but can also take a deep breath and eliminate most of those wedding day butterflies by seeing just how amazing their fiancé looks, and having your partner-in-crime back to enjoy the rest of your wedding day! And much like that wedding day rollercoaster, it’s all downhill from there.
4. A first look can free up your schedule to make your wedding day flow even smoother.
The last and perhaps the most important reason to plan a first look for your wedding day is the sheer convenience factor of doing a first look before your wedding day. If you’re worried about wedding day timelines, scheduling and trying to fit in photos, cocktail hour, time to mingle, and actually enjoy your day, here’s a cheat code: plan a first look!
While a first look is great for all of the reasons mentioned before, here’s the biggest benefit: by seeing your fiancé before the ceremony, you can finish all of your couple’s portraits, bridal party, and family photos before your ceremony.
You might be thinking, “so what”? Well, here’s the thing: if you plan a first look and are able to knock out all of those photos before your ceremony even starts, you’re practically done with photos for the entire day and can actually enjoy the rest of your wedding day!
Now you might be thinking wait- why is a wedding photography company saying “done with photos” like it’s a bad thing? Of course it’s not a bad thing! We just understand that on your wedding day, while taking the time to capture stunning photos and video is a crucial part of the day, it’s not the only reason to have a wedding and shouldn’t dominate the day. While Hudson River Weddings is dedicated to creating stunning photos and cinematic wedding videos of your big day, we’re also there to make sure that you two have an amazing day as well.
It’s that simple! Hopefully, you’ve picked up on a thing or two about first looks that will help make your wedding day run a bit smoother and give you some stunning wedding photos and video as well.
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