Wedding myth buster: The First Look
Up until recently, the first look has been a major bone of contention between couples who wish to follow the tradition of their parents and grandparents and those who prefer a more relaxed approach to their wedding day. The main point of this article will be to illustrate, through my clients’ experiences, that there is no right or wrong. Let’s begin by debunking the myth of “bad luck”, or some such nonsense. Whether you choose to see one another before the ceremony or not, the choice is entirely yours.
In the end, you are the one in control of your wedding!
Over the years, there have been many time-honored traditions: “penny in the shoe”, “something borrowed, something blue” and giving knives as a wedding gift was considered bad luck. Then little by little, couples began opting for non-traditional approaches to their wedding. For instance, in my experience as a wedding photographer, I’ve seen men standing in for “maid of honor”, and women be the “best man”; now, I’m photographing more ceremonies in the beautiful outdoors instead of in chapels and about half of my clients are opting out of “bouquet and garter throwing” (too cheesy) and instead, just dancing the night away!
The thrill of that first look can be exponentially higher!
Up until recently, there was one rather sacred tradition that just wasn’t messed with that the first time that the groom’s eyes rested upon his bride was when she walked down the aisle. But can that tradition still be “honored” when your future spouse sees you before the ceremony? Let’s think about this for a minute: Both approaches take place before the wedding vows have even taken place, So why the fuss? The only difference is minor; that of where and when you see each other. Now let’s get to the heart of the matter. Will the fact that he sees you alone, apart from your friends and family, spoil the emotion of the moment? In the many weddings I have photographed, trust me, there are just as many tears of joy in either scenario! As a matter of fact, when no one else is around, and when you don’t feel the need to be in control you’ll feel freer just to be yourselves, let the emotions flow, and enjoy the moment even more!
I will artistically render your first precious moments into your album!
The art of seeing without eyes...
One final note: If after thinking it over, you’re still on the fence, you can still have that “connection” without actually seeing each other. You can hold hands on either side of a wall (I’ve even photographed couples who used a makeshift curtain) or read each other the notes that you’ve composed to one another. As you can see this can really make for some fun photo ops! I hope that this post has given you some inspiration for your wedding.
I’ve got plenty more ideas that will help guide you through the maze of wedding planning that will make your day go smoother. Subscribe to my blog, and you won’t miss a single one!
If you have questions about any of my clients’ experiences, please feel free to reach out in the short form here and I’ll be happy to share them with you.
