I don’t know if you’ve had a chance to think about this yet, but in case you’re wrestling with the choice, I wanted to share some thoughts on the pros and cons of a first look at your wedding.

To state the obvious, a first look is when you and your love plan to see each other before the ceremony.

But how do you decide whether or not to see each other before the ceremony? I say consider the first look wedding pros and cons!

Pros of a First Look Wedding:

Get the nerves out and steal a moment to yourselves.

When Dennis and I got married in Mexico, I knew I was gonna cry. And I did. Seeing each other before the ceremony gave us a few moments to pull ourselves together.

Spend more time with your guests!

Getting the first look out of the way means you can also do the other photos before your ceremony, and then be free to enjoy the snacky-snacks, festivities, and hang out with your loved ones afterward.

Capture both of your reactions in one photo.

Here's a little secret: first looks are totally staged. You walk up and wait for him to turn, and when he does, I capture your faces in a single, stunning photo. If you wait until you walk down the aisle to see each other, I can only capture one of your reactions at a time.

Take your photos while everyone’s feelin’ fresh.

You spend all that time getting ready, might as well snap your pics while everyone is looking their best.

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Cons of a First Look Wedding:

Missing a traditionally big moment.

There’s something to be said about sticking with tradition. The anticipation of the moment when you walk down the aisle... it really is beautiful!

Photos might actually look better later in the day.

With a first look, photos happen earlier in the day, while the sun is high. So, we'll probably be hanging out in some open shade for group photos to avoid harsh light on your faces. If you take the photos later in the day, the sun will probably be a bit lower, creating softer light.

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