Pros & Cons From a Colorado Wedding Photographer
This is one of the most common considerations for every bride and groom. It can completely change the way your wedding day timeline flows, and there are so many beautiful benefits to both options: doing a first look or seeing each other for the first time while walking down the aisle.
As a Colorado wedding photographer, I am going to give you some of the pros and cons of each option, and then share my opinion as someone who is photographing your day!
What Is a Wedding First Look?
A first look is a moment where you, the bride and groom, take some time before the ceremony to see each other for the first time on your wedding day. These moments are full of emotion, excitement, and anticipation. They are truly so special.
Many couples use this time to do private vows with each other (these make me cry every time), pray with one another, or simply soak in each other’s presence and allow themselves to breathe a little before their ceremony begins.
What are the pros of a first look?
- More time together on your wedding day
- Can calm nerves before the ceremony
- Allows you to do wedding portraits earlier
- Creates a more relaxed wedding day timeline
- More time to enjoy cocktail hour and your reception
What are the cons?
- You lose some of the anticipation of seeing each other for the first time at the ceremony
- It may feel less traditional
Waiting to See Each Other at the Aisle
However, when it comes to a traditional wedding and seeing your bride for the first time as she walks down the aisle, there will always be something so incredible about that moment.
The anticipation builds throughout the morning, and then suddenly, there you are, walking down the aisle toward the person you’re about to marry. It’s one of those wedding-day moments that can feel almost suspended in time.
For couples who love tradition or have always imagined seeing each other for the first time at the end of the aisle, waiting can make that moment feel even more meaningful. And while it may mean saving more of your wedding portraits for after the ceremony, with a thoughtfully planned wedding photography timeline, you can still have plenty of time for beautiful photos without feeling rushed.
Pros of waiting for the aisle:
- Builds anticipation
- That first reaction happens in front of your loved ones
- Keeps the tradition of not seeing each other beforehand
- Can make walking down the aisle feel extra emotional
Cons of waiting for the aisle:
- More portraits need to happen after the ceremony
- Your timeline may feel a little tighter
- You may miss part or all of cocktail hour
The Alternative: A First Touch
Something I have been seeing more and more as an alternative to a traditional first look is a first touch.
A first touch gives you the chance to have a quiet moment together before the ceremony, without actually seeing each other. You can stand around a corner, on opposite sides of a doorway, or back-to-back and simply hold hands. This can also be the perfect time to read private vows, exchange letters, or pray together before walking down the aisle. You still get that emotional moment of seeing each other for the first time at the aisle, but you also get a few minutes together beforehand to slow down, connect, and take in the day before everything begins.
It’s a really beautiful option if you love the idea of a first look but don’t want to give up that traditional aisle moment.
My Opinion as a Wedding Photographer
Overall, doing a first look gives you so much more time to enjoy with your guests. You can move your family or bridal party portraits to before the ceremony begins, giving you more time to actually experience your cocktail hour.
As a wedding photographer, I love this option because of the flexibility it gives my couples to spend time with their friends and family. I can always feel the weight it lifts off of them after all of the anticipation they have been feeling throughout the day.
And in my opinion, it makes it feel like you aren’t doing the day apart from each other. The ceremony is the high point of nerves for most people, and knowing that you have already hugged, seen your person, and released some of those built-up emotions from the day can be such a relief.
First Look vs. Walking Down the Aisle: Which Should You Choose?
At the end of the day, pick what feels right. Pray about it, even. If you are split, continue to find pros and cons of each option or seek out advice from your wedding planner, photographer, a friend, or a family member. Or maybe meeting in the middle and doing a first touch ends up being the perfect alternative.
And the biggest thing I want you to remember is that this isn’t about what is the best option overall. You are getting married to the one you will spend the rest of your life with. That is such a beautiful thing. You are starting a legacy for generations of your family to live by.
Holy cow, is that cool or what?
