Wedding First Look Pro's & Cons

JM Cellars, Woodinville WA

I'm going to be honest right from the get go. There aren't really any pros to skipping the wedding first look, so this list is going to be pretty lopsided. But I think it's important to consider all these things!

PROs to a first look timeline

• Significantly better timeline flow

• Get the nerves out of the way before your ceremony (this is sooo underrated) 

• You can use all the best spaces at the venue without guests in the way

• It's easier to let yourself be emotional in this moment than in front of all your guests (some people are nervous about this, some aren't)

• You get to give each other hugs/kisses and talk! During the ceremony, you won't be able to say anything to each other except your scripted vows. 

• Better momentum (once you get married lets party, you don't want to take 1.5 hours worth of photos!)

• You can do private vows with each other. Some couples like to have a more intimate love letter/vows for this moment and then have a less lovey-dovey version that they say in front of their family and friends

• The ease of transport in the event that you guys have multiple places to go to on your wedding day, you won't have to take separate cars and stay hidden while walking around!

• You get to enjoy all this extra time together on your wedding day that you otherwise wouldn't if you stayed separate

• You wont keep your guests waiting during cocktail hour (it's a long for them, they will have traveled, sat through the ceremony, possibly driven to a second venue, waited during cocktail hour, then gone straight to dinner when everyone's trying to eat before they will get a chance to hug you and say hi!)

• You get to enjoy cocktail hour and the party you've planned! Some of the best mingling photos and pictures with guests happen during cocktail hour. 

Pros to no first look

• You keep an old tradition going.  I don't mean to put that bluntly! But genuinely consider if this tradition (that most people don't do anymore) has an origin that is meaningful to you, or is a tradition that really makes you excited about your wedding day. If it is super important and something you really want to do and none of the other things matter then maybe it's right for you! If not, then I'd definitely do a first look. The reason I am biased (and every other vendor is too) is because we see how much more fun first look couples have on their wedding day than old-school timelines, and we want you to have the best day ever!!!
  

• In some rare occasions, with weddings that have some alternative plans and nonconventional timelines, taking your pictures after the ceremony makes more sense. This is really rare, maybe 1% of the weddings I've photographed it actually works out this way, but there have been times that due to their unique plans, a first look made things more complicated than taking all the photos during cocktail hour.

In the vast majority of weddings, a first look is going to be your best option for so many reasons. That being said, if you really want your wedding to exclude a first look before the ceremony, you really love the tradition, and don't mind the hiccups with the timeline, then you should do whatever it is that makes you happy! I'm not you, I can't make decisions for you, I can only offer advice based on my own experience and what I've witnessed first hand at nearly 200 weddings.