How To Plan A Successful First Look On Your Wedding Day

A first look with one another on your wedding day can be a quiet moment together before everything else begins and there is something incredibly special about seeing each other before being up in front of all your family and friends. Maybe even exchanging private vows or even just hold hands around a corner.

For some couples, that first look moment belongs at the end of the aisle. For others, a first look gives them a chance to experience it privately, away from the eyes of their guests, before the ceremony and celebrations begin.

There is no right way to do it. But if a first look feels like you, a little planning can make the moment feel natural, unhurried and genuinely yours (rather than a photo opportunity).

So… What is a first look?

What is a First Look?

A first look is simply a planned moment before the ceremony where you see each other for the first time.

Usually, one person will be waiting while the other approaches from behind. You might tap them on the shoulder, call their name, or simply let them turn around when you reach them.

And then, importantly, nothing else needs to happen.

You don’t need to perform a reaction for the camera or immediately move onto the next photography. You can hug, talk, laugh a little, cry, simply take in each other’s outfits or have a few minutes before the rest of the day unfolds.

That is what makes a first look so nice, it’s a moment to breath it in.

Choose somewhere that feels private

The location doesn’t necessarily need to be spectacular.

Beautiful light and a simple, uncluttered setting will often photograph far better than choosing somewhere impressive but busy.

More importantly, think about privacy. A first look feels very different when it’s just the two of you compared with having the bridal party, family, venue staff and a handful of curious guests watching from nearby.

Your photographer (hopefully me!) can help you choose a spot that works beautifully for your photographs while still giving you some breathing room.

Give yourselves more time than you think

Try not to squeeze your first look into a spare ten minutes before you need for the ceremony.

Allow enough time that if hair and makeup runs slighting longer than expected, someone can’t find their shoes, or there is an unexpected button-related emergency (it happens!), you aren’t watching the clock throughout the entire moment.

I can help build your first look into the photography timeline so that we have plenty of time without making the morning feel overly scheduled.

Keep the actual moment simple

You don’t need to plane exactly what you’re going to say or how you’re going to react.

In fact, please don’t.

We’ll organise where you’re both standing and how you’ll approach each other so that I can photograph the moment beautifully, but after that, the moment is yours.

Some first looks are emotional. Some involve enormous smiles. Some couples immediately start laughing. Sometimes one person cries and the other one announces that they knew they would.

Whatever happens is exactly what should happen.

Consider exchanging letters or vows

If you’d like, you can make it a little more special by exchanging handwritten letters, gifts or even private vows after seeing each other.

Private vows can be particularly beautiful if you love the idea of saying something deeply personal to each other but don’t necessarily want to share it in front of everyone at the ceremony.

It also creates a little pocket of the wedding day that belongs entirely to the two of you.

Think about what a first look changes in your timeline.

One of the practical benefits of a first look is that it can open up your wedding timeline.

Because you’ve already seen each other, we can potentially photograph some of your couple portraits, wedding party photographs and even family photographs before the ceremony.

That can mean less time away from your guests afterwards and more time actually enjoying your cocktail hour.

It doesn’t mean we need to take all of your portraits beforehand, either. I still love taking my couples away later in the day when the light is beautiful for another relaxed set of photographs together.

Will a first look ruin the aisle moment?

This is probably the question couples worry about most.

Seeing each other beforehand doesn’t necessarily make walking down the aisle any less significant.

They’re two completely different moments.

A first look is quiet and private. Walking down the aisle comes with the music, your favourite people around you, the anticipation of the ceremony and the realisation that this is actually happening.

You may find yourselves emotional during both – just for completely different reasons.

And if you don’t want one?

Don’t have one.

A first look isn’t something you need to add to your wedding simply because you’ve seen beautiful photographs of other couples doing it.

If you’ve always imagined seeing each other for the first time as you walk down the aisle, keep that moment.

Your wedding photography should fit around how you want your wedding to feel, not the other way around.

Making your first look feel like you

The best first looks aren’t perfectly choreographed.

They’re given a beautiful setting, enough time and then room to unfold.

I’ll help with the practical pieces – where to stand, when to arrive, where the light is best and how it fits into the rest of your wedding timeline – so that when you finally see each other, you don’t need to think about the photographs at all.

You just get to be there.

And I’ll take care of remembering what it looked like.