Traditional Versus First Look

As you’re planning for your wedding day, you’ll quickly realize (if you haven’t already!) that there are a lot of little details you need to think about! Don’t panic! That’s what we’re here for! We are in the middle of a series talking about tips for your wedding day timeline. We will be approaching this from a photography perspective (since that’s what we know), but these tips always work for our couples and we want to pass them on! We know every wedding is different, and we also acknowledge that everything doesn’t always go according to plan. But creating a timeline with your photographer will not only make your day go by more smoothly, but it creates less stress for you on the wedding day (yay!), and ensures those little details all come together! Catch up on the series here!

Part 1: Traditional Versus First Look
Part 2: Location. Location. Location.
Part 3: Planning For The Light
Part 4: Leaving Time For Details
Part 5: Adding Buffer Time
Part 6: To Exit Or Not To Exit

When you start to discuss your timeline with your coordinator and photographer (among other vendors as well), one of the first things you and your fiancé need to determine is whether or not to do a first look. Your day will run completely different based on which direction is best for you. So which direction is best for you?

Defining the Terms.

Going the traditional route means the first time the groom sees his bride is when she walks down that aisle. This is how it has always been done (hence, Traditional). It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for since you were a little girl playing dress up in preschool.

A first look gives you and your soon-to-be husband a chance to see each other before the ceremony. It’s a private moment between the two of you (with photographers in the background to capture those moments!). It’s an emotionally charged moment where the two of you enjoy your last few moments before you become husband and wife. It’s magic.

Explaining the Differences.

When it comes to how your day will unfold, going the traditional route means saving all of the creatives of you and your new husband for after you say I Do. It means spending cocktail hour capturing family portraits, a few wedding party group pictures, and creating magical moments of you two lovebirds.

Some pros to going the traditional route? If you’re getting married in the heat of summer and have an earlier ceremony, saving your creative portraits till after your ceremony makes it more comfortable for the two of you. It can also be the best time all day to take gorgeous photos because the light is at its best right before the sun goes down! And it makes family portraits more convenient, since everyone is already in one place. Finally, it gives your guests a chance to mingle and enjoy cocktail hour while they wait for the two of you to start the party!

Cons of the traditional route? Well, we find that once the ceremony is over, everyone is emotionally spent and they just want to get to the reception. You don’t want to sacrifice your creatives because you were too tired! Also, if you cry during your ceremony (and let’s be honest, most brides do!), then you may not look your best for the pictures of you two. You may want to get them done earlier in the day when you are fresh.

Pros of the first look? In our humble opinion, the best part of choosing to do a first look is that private moment our brides & grooms get to themselves before the ceremony! That raw emotion of the look, the awe and wonder (and tears!) in both of your eyes… it’s the beginning of forever that starts in that moment. Not only does a first look free up your evening/party, but it gives you the opportunity to enjoy your day with the love of your life! You get everything done before the ceremony, and then all you have to do is celebrate the occasion with your friends and family!

Cons of the first look? Well, if you’re a traditional person, this might not be the route for you. Also, depending on your timeline, doing your creatives before your ceremony might not be a great plan because if the sun is high in the sky, that’s not the best time for photos. Like we said, the light is at its best right before the sun goes down! But that depends a lot on the location, so talk to your photographers!

If you’re on the fence about either option, we highly recommend you chat with your photographer! Your photographer should be able to walk you through how your day would go with either timeline option, and advise you on which course would be best for your wedding. First looks tend to be perfect for those late evening wedding ceremonies, while going the traditional route tends to work best for the afternoon ceremonies! We always encourage our brides to first determine which timeline model they want. We will then help them determine their ceremony time, and optimize their timeline for their preferred option! Decide what’s important to you about your day first, and in our next post, you’ll be able to build from there! We hope this helps!