The old superstition that the bride’s partner mustn’t see her in her wedding dress until they walk down the aisle has faded in recent times, with more and more couples opting to spend the morning of their special day together regardless. Another popular alternative, however, is to do a “first look” – where you schedule in a specially arranged moment to see one another privately earlier in the day.
So which option should you go for? Here are the important things to consider if you’re thinking about doing a first look.
Photographs
Many wedding photographers encourage couples to do first looks, as it’s a great way for them to get personal photos that focus on your bond without the chaos of everyone else there as well. It’s also a good opportunity for them to make the most of the light earlier in the day – especially in winter when the sun often sets by the time the camera comes out!
Timings
Taking an hour to do first look photos in the morning can help to speed things along later in the day, cutting down the amount of time you’ll have to spend posing after you’ve taken your vows, and giving you more freedom to talk to guests and get to the meal (and the bar!).
On the other hand, it does mean that you’ll need to be ready earlier in the day – which means an earlier start to an already long day.
Quality time
Having a first look lets you and your husband or wife-to-be spend a quiet moment together on the morning of your wedding day – something which can be difficult to achieve once you get swept up in everything later on. This can also be a great way to settle your nerves and to remind yourself of the real reason you’re there – to commit to the person you love.
Tradition
Many couples really value the traditional moment of seeing each other for the first time at the ceremony. So it’s important to consider how important that special moment is to both you and your partner before making your decision.
