Best First Looks of 2023

December 27, 2023

First looks are one of my absolute favorite things! They are such special moments! We had so many amazing and emotion-filled first looks this past year. So many of our couples opted to not only share a first look with their partner. But also their bridesmaids, fathers, and even included their mom on one. I will never get tired of looking back over these moments and maybe getting a little teary eyed. I mean, how can you not??

Benefits of a First Look

I will never force my couples to have a first look if they truly do not wish to do one on their wedding day. However, there are SO many benefits to having one! I love sharing all of the benefits with my couples and then allow them to make that decision for themselves. We can honestly go either way but I feel that it’s important to share all of these benefits beforehand.

So many of my couples change their minds about not sharing a first look once they hear all of the upsides! These are things they never even thought about and when they chose to do one they never once regretted it! Part of my job is to educate my couples and share my experiences with them. Most of them have never planned a wedding before and always appreciate my input. Here are some benefits to having a first look with your partner on your wedding day:

MORE PORTRAITS – You’re investing a lot into your wedding photography. With a first look you’ll receive 40% MORE portraits of the two of you…and those are the images you’ll decorate your first home with! You’ll get the most for your money. We will have time immediately following your first look for bride and groom portraits. Then I always recommend to add in some time for some “sunset” portraits a bit later in the day! You won’t regret that gorgeous light!
ENJOY THE SURPRISE FREELY – You actually get to have intimate time on your wedding day with your man. Most brides don’t realize that when you come down the aisle and totally SHOCK him with your gorgeous-ness…he can’t even tell you how amazing you look. He can’t touch you, embrace you or even SPEAK to you. You have to wait until 30 minutes later when the ceremony is over for him to react and tell you how amazing you look. And after 30 minutes of the ceremony, the reaction isn’t the same as the initial first glance.
EXTEND YOUR DAY BY 3 HOURS – First Looks allow you to extend your wedding day. Normally the wedding day would start when you come down the aisle, then the ceremony would end, you would rush through portraits so that you’re not late for the introductions and then it’s reception time. With a first look, your wedding day is extended by almost 3 hours! Instead of being rushed for your bridal party portraits…you actually get to enjoy them and have fun hanging out with your BEST friends on your wedding day.
YOUR ONLY ALONE TIME – First Looks allow you to be TOGETHER and alone on your wedding day. When my husband and I saw each other, not only was it intimate, it was our only time to be alone the whole day! We cried and laughed and cried some more…and then that put us in the PERFECT mood for our romantic portraits. Normally portraits are a little rushed after the family formals, and it can be hard to really get back into that “lovey dovey” mode…especially with family around! When you have just shared your first look, you’re READY to love on each other, and I always capture some super sweet images during those moments!
DIMINISHES NERVES – You get rid of your nerves! I’d say, literally 1/2 of my couples who have decided to do a first look, the grooms were not fans of it at first. However, because they have never experienced their wedding day before, they didn’t know how nerve racking it can be. I have heard it from grooms who initially weren’t a fan of the first look…but afterwards admitted to being SO much more relaxed and ready for the ceremony!

Take a look at all of these gorgeous first looks we captured in 2023! Absolutely amazing moments I won’t soon forget!