How Couples Feel about First Looks, Directly From Couples!

Alrighty dear brides!! Random readers! Curious cats!!! I’m here and ready to reveal some TRUTH about how REAL LIFE BRIDES feel regarding their own personal decision to do a first look!! Recently I put up a poll to all of my previous brides asking if they wanted to be featured on my blog discussing how they felt about their decision to do a first look back on their wedding day!

Andddd I’m SO excited today to share those findings with you!

First up — Katie and Matt!

These two lovebirds tied the knot back in 2019, and it was an absolutely magical day! Katie and Matt were a couple who couldn’t wait to share in a first look together before their ceremony, and oh man, it was full of so much joy and so much emotion!

In Katie’s words!! - “The decision to do a first look was easy, but we didn’t know how amazing and important it was until after our big day! Every single emotion possible came flying out when we saw each other and it was such a release. We didn’t have to worry about other people viewing our emotions. They were just for us! And when I look back on our pictures, all I see is love. Not posed wedding love, but real slightly snotty, messy love. They are pictures just for us!”

My absolute FAVORITE THING Katie said was that their emotions were quote, “Just for us” — YES!! This is so so sooo what I mean!! Love that so much! And on that topic, I mean, just look at these two, having this amazing memorable moment all to themselves (yes absolutely I was taking photos, but I always maintain a good distance so that you guys can react just as yourselves!)

Katie and Matt went on to have a beautiful, just as emotionally-charged ceremony... I for one love, love love Matt’s face as his beautiful bride is handed off to him here! - The excitement is still real, the moment is still special!

Moving now to - Abby + Paden!

A+P married in the wonderful month of October in 2019, and I have to tell you straight up, in all my years as a wedding photographer, I’ve never, not once, heard a couple describe a first look quite like these two did, and it absolutely 100% made me emotional.

In Abby’s words - “I would without a doubt recommend any couple have a first look before their wedding ceremony. We always pictured having that quintessential first look during the ceremony processional. But as the day neared, we started looking at things differently. Having our little intimate moment together was our way of saying to each other - all of me is here for you. It was important for us to remind each other that amidst all of the craziness surrounding our wedding day, celebrating OUR love was the only thing that mattered. That moment of alone time melted our jitters and set an amazing tone for the wedding. We will forever cherish the photos that captured that special moment.”

Guys. Admittedly, even I didn’t see first looks as a way of saying I am here for you and you only, and no matter the craziness of our day, our love is what matters most. Woof.

Next up — Haley and John!

These two married back in 2018 at The Legacy at Green Hills, and these guys opted to do a first look! John’s reaction when he saw Haley was absolutely wonderful!

Directly from Haley herself!! - “So glad we did the first look for several reasons! Those pictures are some of my favorite, you managed to capture John, not only do a little happy dance, but also wipe away a tear! It also gave us more time at our reception by being able to do bridal party and family portraits before the ceremony, especially when our ceremony was delayed by about a half hour due to rain. It was also just a great moment for it to just be the two of us before all of our friends and family arrived and we were the center of attention for the day.”

Haley and John went on to have a super sweet, super memorable ceremony too!! And John was stunned to see her walking down the aisle — in rain no less! — straight to him!

Now we have - Laken and Jake!

An October 2019 wedding at Lone Summit Ranch, and a private outdoor first look under some gorgeous tall trees — their moment was so so special!

Straight from Laken - “We are soo happy we chose to share a first look on our wedding day!! I would recommend a first look to all couples. Jake and myself had some nerves about all eyes on us and being center of attention. We decided that seeing each other earlier in the day may help calm some that nervous energy and it did! Also we liked the idea of having a private moment set aside in our busy day that just the two of us could be together. Just to chat, check in on each other and sneak a kiss. The pictures that Elizabeth took during our first look are so precious to us because looking back we can relive that intimate moment. Looking at these pictures I remember exactly how I was feeling and I am so happy she was able to capture that moment for us. Jake admits that he might not have expressed emotion like he did when hundreds of people were staring at him during the ceremony. Having a first look allowed us to spend the day together taking pictures with our wedding party and family, rather than taking pictures separately and being in hiding until the ceremony. We wanted our day to be a huge party and we wanted to party together!! We have so many good memories of that day and we are so thankful we spent the day making memories together! Plus we have so many amazing photos that we may not have gotten if we waited until after the ceremony. If you are thinking about having a first look, DO IT!!”

And trust me, these two went on to have a down-the-aisle-moment that had so many people crying, laughing, and feeling every emotion right along with them!

Onward to the oh so sweet, Libby and Brian!

Yet another couple at the The Legacy at Green Hills venue here in Kansas City, these guys said their I Do’s on a beautiful day in 2018. And Brian’s reaction to seeing Libby during their first look, oh my word! So so special!

What Libby has to say about their first look! - “We were and still are very happy we did a first look before the ceremony. For me it was more than just him seeing me first but being together before so we could have a private moment to ourselves before it all started. Sharing the excitement, nerves, and emotions before the ceremony was important to us because once it started we knew we would have everyone around us and not get a private moment. The first look also let us get some of our emotions, anxiety and nerves under control and allow us to be more in the moment during the ceremony. We were able to exchange letters which were our own personal vows to each other and give our gifts to each other in person. Plus his face when he saw me, which was captured, is hands down my favorite picture of him.”

Speaking of the fact that these two took their first look up a notch and decided to read their vows to one another… in private…. SO SO BEAUTIFUL.

Now we have, Amanda and Michael

These two had a gorgeous September wedding back in 2019 and a first look was a huge part of their day! Hearing it straight from the bride herself —

Here is what Amanda had to say - "So so thankful that we did the first look - we both were, because our emotions were so high that day and having that moment together just us helped get some of nervous jitters out of the way before we were surrounded by guests. You don't realize how little time you truly have together, just the two of you on your wedding day - and now when we look back on our wedding day, we remember our first look as being one of the only times it was just us, and that makes it so much more memorable and special, and all those feelings are in addition to us being able to calm our nerves together. We also really wanted to knock out as many family photos prior to the ceremony as possible, to allow us to spend more time at the reception with so many guests who had traveled in from near and far. And when I came down the aisle, the feelings and emotions were still there - for both of us, we just were overall more relaxed!"

Rounding out this awesome post we are coming down to Emily and Erin, and for their super sunny, warm wedding — these guys opted to share in a first look that ended up being SO full of emotion, I was struggling to keep my composure behind my camera!!

These sweet souls BOTH gave me their point of view / opinion on first looks and recounted the details of how it affected them each on their big day, so excited to share this with you readers! —

From Emily — “I have always been old fashioned, I was convinced while growing up and planning my fairytale wedding that I didn’t want my groom to see me until I walked down the aisle...and then I met my best friend and when we got to plan our special day, I knew I wanted that first moment to just be the two of us. The way ours happened was perfect. I slowly approached him, heart pounding, stepping quietly so he wouldn’t hear me until I said his name and then...the look on his face directly looking into his eyes if I had any doubts at all (which I didn’t) they were gone and when he wrapped me in a hug - his arms felt like home. I would highly recommend brides do a first look simply because of one reason. You DON’T get that moment back. Also, doing our first look gave me a chance to really be in the moment as I walked down the aisle, I was able to take in the faces supporting us, the music playing, feel the sun on my skin and smile at my handsome groom as I approached him having so much peace in my heart and anticipation of what was to come. If I were to go back and do it again, I would 100% do a first look with my husband because it is one of the most special memories I have from our day and our pictures from that frozen in time moment are a precious gift I can look at and reminisce for years to come.”

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From Erin — “Leading up to the wedding, my friends and family kept saying, "Don't blink, it goes by fast." And, boy, were they right. I am glad my wife and I decided to have a first look. I was able to use the time, standing there waiting, to take a deep breath, slow down my heart rate, and just capture the moment. After what felt like an eternity, more like 5 minutes, my wife quietly walked up behind me and called my name. After weeks of anticipation, not knowing what the dress looked like, I turned around and got to see my bride in her dress for the first time. She looked absolutely stunning. She and I were able to have a quiet moment to ourselves and exchange letters to one another; all while Elizabeth quietly took pictures. It was a perfect day, and it went by entirely too fast. I have a few brief moments that I remember from that day, one of the ones I remember the most clearly is that first look, and Elizabeth was able to capture that moment beautifully with her pictures.”

There it is friends, the real opinions of real couples who decided to share in a first look on their wedding day! It goes without saying that this decision is 1000% a personal one, and you cannot go wrong either way, absolutely not!! But if you were at all on the fence, unsure of the benefits of first look, maybe didn’t even understand them at all — I sure hope you now have a lot more clarity on it all!!