Should You Do a First Look at Your Wedding? Advice from a Niagara Wedding Photographer

As a Niagara wedding photographer team, we’ve seen all kinds of wedding day timelines, from traditional to more modern, intentional pacing. One of the biggest choices couples face when planning their timeline is whether or not to do a first look.

While it’s never a must, a first look can be one of the best ways to give yourselves more time together, more flexibility for photos and, ultimately, a little more time to actually enjoy your wedding day.

What about the walk down the aisle?

We’ve heard it before. “Won’t it take away from the moment?” “Will it still feel special if we’ve already seen each other?” The hesitation is totally normal, but the truth is, it doesn't take away anything. In fact, you get double the excitement.

The butterflies, the emotional build-up, the big reveal... it all still happens. And when it’s time to walk down the aisle, those feelings come rushing right back. Every couple we’ve worked with who chose a first look, even those who were hesitant at first, has said they were so glad they did. Not once have we heard, “I wish we hadn’t.”

More time, less rushing

When your ceremony flows straight into cocktail hour, everything afterward can quickly become a race against the clock. Suddenly, you’re trying to fit portraits of the two of you, wedding party photos and immediate family photos into about an hour.

If you have a few hours between your ceremony and reception, that’s a different story. But when the timeline is tight, cocktail hour goes by very quickly.

A first look allows you to spread those photos out earlier in the day rather than trying to cram everything into one short window. It also gives you more flexibility if you want to go off-site for wedding photography in Niagara. Trying to travel from point A to point B, take your portraits, photograph your wedding party and family, and get back within an hour-long cocktail reception is tough.

Giving yourselves more time means more options for your wedding photos and a lot less watching the clock.

You get more of your wedding day together

Think about it. On your wedding day, wouldn’t you want to spend as much time as possible with your fiancé?

Instead of waiting until late afternoon or evening to finally see each other, a first look gives you a quiet moment together earlier in the day. It gives you a chance to take a breath, soak it all in and actually spend more of your wedding day side by side.

And those first look wedding photos can be pretty special too. We’ve captured tears, laughter and plenty of excitement during first looks, and those moments often become some of the most meaningful photos of the day.

You can actually enjoy your cocktail hour

This is a big one. With most of your portraits already taken care of, you can actually be present for cocktail hour.

Mingle with your guests. Hug your family. Grab a cocktail and enjoy those hors d’oeuvres you carefully picked out. After all, it’s your wedding! You should get to enjoy everything you’ve planned, see how it’s all come together and, most importantly, celebrate the two of you together.

A first look isn't necessary for every wedding day timeline, but if your ceremony flows directly into cocktail hour, you want to visit multiple photo locations, or you simply don't want to feel rushed through some of the most important photos of your day, it's absolutely worth considering.

Looking for a Niagara Wedding Photographer?

As a husband and wife photography team, we’ve helped hundreds of couples create wedding day timelines that not only look good on paper but feel good in real life. If you're looking for a Niagara wedding photographer who can help guide your day with experience and calm, we’d love to hear from you.

Get in touch with us here. We're here to help make your wedding day everything it should be.