First Look vs. Traditional Reveal

HALEY + ANDREW // WEDDING IN PENSACOLA BEACH, FL // BARKLEY HOUSE

When deciding to do a first look or not, it is a very personal decision for every couple. There are so many pros and cons to each, but just like any other part of your day there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong answer. We want to give you some of our best reasoning for why one might select a first look or a traditional reveal. We’ll also be providing suggestions for ways to compromise as well as some tips for how to be formulate a timeline with your ultimate decision in mind. At the end of the day, we advise you to take some time and consider what’s most important to you! After all, every aspect of your wedding should be what is most comfortable and best fit to you and your partner’s story.

Advantages to the Modern First LooK

Maximizing Time with Your Lover

It may be traditional for the nearlyweds not to see each other the night before the wedding all the way until the start of the ceremony. However, when you think of one of the most thrilling and love filled days of your life you also might consider who you spend it with. Why not maximize the time you get to spend with your love? Additionally, at some venues it can be especially hard to “hide” from your lover depending on how things are laid out. There have been days where we as planners have had to cover our nearlyweds with a sheet to keep the lovers from seeing one another through a window or hallway. By getting a first look in early in the day, it removes the need for any of those logistical redirections.

Eases the Nerves

The moment when you walk down the aisle officially is sometimes a butterfly filled experience. Lovers often worry about what that “reaction” will look like in front of all their guests. Some partners feel especially comforted when they are close to their love and able to verbally express how they are feeling. This is something to consider when thinking about that first moment and whether you want it be in front of an audience or be in a more personal setting.

Beauty Services Are Fresh + Clean

By starting the day earlier (sometimes up two hours earlier than you otherwise would) hair and makeup will be more fresh for those initial photos and the moment shared between just the two of you.

Prime Time for Newlywed + Extended Family Photos

Getting your immediate family and wedding party photos completely out of the way prior to ceremony time will allow you to get straight to extended family and newlywed portraits during those prime golden hour moments. Since most of your extended family will not be gathering prior to ceremony time, this is the perfect time for them to say congrats, give you a hug and get that photo of every family member together for the first time in a decade!

Extra Time to Attend Cocktail Hour

You mean you can actually enjoy your cocktail hour with your guests before dinner/dancing? YES. By having a first look earlier in the day and getting all those family/wedding party pictures done early, you can grab a drink and cheers to spending the rest of your life with your best friend even sooner!

Advantages to Seeing Your Love Traditionally (Coming Down the AislE)

The Traditional Moment

This alone is reason enough for some to not ever consider doing a first look. That moment you’ve waited for almost your whole life of walking down the aisle to your person and watching their reaction as you approach them while they are seeing you in your full wedding look for the first time is something you really only get once.

Extra Time for Beauty Rest

If you are doing a first look, you will inevitably have to get up earlier because your ready time will be earlier in the day. So that means if you are not having a first look before the ceremony, hair and makeup start time(s) can get started later on your wedding wedding day giving you even just an hour longer to sleep in!

Flowers Are Fresher

Because of a later start time, your flowers will be setup and installed closer to ceremony time and out of water for less time prior to the ceremony.

Surrounded by Family + Friends

Just as much as a first look can take the pressure off, for some, having family and friends around during this moment can be even more comforting. For those that are fueled by the energy of their loved ones, this is even more comforting than being alone. Some want all their favorite people in the world there to witness the moment, and coming down the aisle might be the only true way of making that happen.

Attire, Hair, and Makeup is Untouched

By saving photos for after the ceremony, your wedding attire has a much smaller chance of getting dirty from the outside elements. Hair and makeup is finished closer to ceremony time - meaning it is fresh and untouched before all your family and friends see you walk down the aisle or standing at the front of the space.

Options for Compromise

Still on the fence about whether to have a first look or not? Why not do something that gives you the best of both worlds…

Get Ready Together

Getting ready with your lover could be anything you want it to be. It might be starting your morning sipping coffee in bed together, getting your makeup done in the same room, or even dressing one another in your finest. This is your day, there are no rules.

Include your Family and/or Friends in the First Look

Have your family be there during this moment with you and your lover so that they are there to witness this exciting time with you as well. Or, you can do first looks with them! Some other first looks to consider are: with your mom/dad, with your wedding party, your person of honor, or even your grandparent(s).

Saving the Best for Last

You could do a first look with your hair and makeup completed but without your wedding attire on yet or you could do the first look excluding a special accessory on such as your veil your sexy jacket. This gives you a way of doing a first look but still leaving some details up for surprise.

First…

If you want to do some type of first moment to help ease nerves, but still stay hidden from one another - you might consider sharing personal vows, say a prayer together, read a letter to one another, or even exchange wedding gifts. These are all ways of sharing an intimate moment before actually walking down the aisle to see one another for the first time.

Creative Partners in the Featured Photos Above

Event Management // Your Plan A Events

Photography // Sandy Blanco

Haley’s Hair + Makeup // Volume One Weddings

Wedding Party Makeup // Yvonne Boudreaux

Wedding Party Hair // Myka Worth

Haley’s Dress // Brides Across America

Suit // The Black Tux

Wedding Party Dresses // Revelry

Flowers // Blossom Lane Farm

Tent + Rentals // Kents Special Events

Catering // Mr Pollo Pensacola

DJ // Any Day DJ