 Tampa Wedding Photographer | Wedding First Look | Kristen Marie Photography Tampa Wedding Photographer
 
First looks, Sometimes I get a “huh?” expression and sometimes I get an eye brow raise- by now it isn’t the newest trend but still something some couples have never heard of . It isn’t a trend I push as some couples are more traditional on their wedding day then others, but there are times where we will bring it up to couples because of different events taking place on their day that may cut back on their formals time.
The benefits to a first look?
Less Stress- Most of the couples I have worked with as well as upcoming couples have expressed they do not like all of the attention on them. It stresses them out.  I have been  down the aisle myself and I did not do a first look, I wish I had. I looked at the ground the entire walk down the aisle because I do not like having all the attention focused on me (I like being behind the camera) and I was nervous, very nervous. My couples who have taken advantage of a first look have said their nerves were put aside when they were able to talk and see each other before the walk down the aisle. Tears were shed before the ceremony so they didn’t have to worry about looking at their significant other and crying while walking down the aisle.
Time- Some couples are opting out of a cocktail hour or want to be involved in the last few minutes of the cocktail hour to get some of the mingling out of the way. Cocktail hour is typically used (in its entirety) to do your family formals, Group wedding photos, Sometimes bridal and groomsman if there was limited time before the ceremony, and your couples formals. That is a lot to fit into one small hour. A first look gives you the first 15 minutes or so to see each other and take advantage of getting your couples formals, for the most part, done and out of the way. You’re relaxed to walk down the aisle and you have more time after your ceremony to possibly take advantage of the cocktail hour or just spend some time with each other before you walk into your ceremony. It’s an awesome little thing that frees up so much of your time for the day.
Backdrop- You really love the look of “Enter locations name here” but didn’t want to get married there. You dreamed of what those images would have looked like there. Well, you have the opportunity (as long as its location is within reason to your actual ceremony spot) to use that spot still with a first look. Some ceremony/reception locations are beautiful but because of setup or other reasons may be limited. A first look gives you the variety in your images. Â The image below is a first look in Boca Grande. The couple was getting married on the beach. There were really three spots within location reason to use for the couples formals without them all starting to repeat because of backdrop. The first look was done 5 minutes up the road on a beautiful little road that had a church just a few feet from it and a nice road. It allowed for the different backdrops that really brought it all together for the couple and their images. It also went back to one of the above points about stress the couple, this couple was SO relaxed during the actual ceremony.
Ultimately, a first look is a couples choice and one we do not push on a couple. If we think you could benefit from it then it is something that is definitely brought up during the consultation and the benefits are discussed, but you ultimately make the decision if it is something you do or do not want. Couples who have been traditional in all other aspects have used this in different ways. Below is also a first touch. The couple didn’t see each other but they had a few minutes before the ceremony to relax and hold hands. It’s a great little touch!
