Wedding Day First Look Explained | Mississippi Wedding Photographer

First looks are amazing! And most brides don’t even think about them as an option! But they are a LIFESAVER when it comes to your Mississippi wedding (or weddings ANYWHERE!) timeline. They help capture amazing bride & groom portraits!

What is a First Look?

This is such a good question and one I hear from brides a lot! A First Look is when you and your groom see each other before the ceremony. Doing this you can take photos at the beginning and have more time for your reception! It is a newer concept, but one that is on FIRE in the Mississippi wedding industry. It helps SO MUCH on the wedding day!

Some brides love tradition but I think it’s safe to say that all brides love seeing the reaction their groom has when he first lays eyes on her. Those that are not interested in a first look usually think that by seeing each other before hand, they will lose part of that reaction. They also assume that it will not be as emotional or intimate as it would be if they were coming down the aisle. But in truth, I have found that it actually HELPS with the reaction!

Why Choose a First Look?

Let’s face it, even the most organized wedding has a tendency to be stressful (especially for the bride & groom!) despite all intentions. The whole day is focused on them, they need to look their best, they need to be on time, the list goes on.

Then, traditionally, we ask a groom to stand in front of an audience that’s all expecting him to “react” when his bride walks down the aisle. All he wants to do is hug her and kiss her because he’s so excited to see her in all her glory, yet we make him wait there. Only moving when the officiant tells him that he can take her hand.

So instead, let’s take him away from the crowd. Away from on-lookers and all the expectations. And let’s lead him to a private setting where you let his beautiful bride, the love of his life, walk up to him. She gently taps his shoulder. He turns around and finally get his first look at his stunning bride and not only would he get to see her…he could run to her and hug her . . . and kiss her . . . and laugh with her . . . and be in the moment with her for as long as they wanted! As she shows him her dress, she twirls a few times and then she asks him what he thinks – and his nerves start to diminish. After all, she’s the one that can make him most comfortable anyways.

Better Investment, Better Photos

You are investing a lot into your Mississippi wedding photography. With the first look, you’ll receive a lot more portraits of the two of you! You get to make the most out of this large investment and you get the most for your money! Not to mention, you get more photos with better variety because you and your photographer aren’t rushed just trying to get the bare minimum.

Intimate Time Together

With the first look, you actually get 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 gorgeousness, 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 40 minutes later when the ceremony is over for him to react and tell you how amazing you look. And after 40 minutes of the ceremony your reaction just isn’t the same as the initial first glance.

Bridal Party Photos

Often times intimate Mississippi weddings & elopements don’t have bridal parties. But when you choose to involve a bridal party in your intimate wedding, that’s just one more element that needs to be captured on a super short timeline. By having your first look before the ceremony, you can then invite your bridal party to join you and get those photos out of the way too! So then the only thing you have left is ceremony, family formals and partying the night away!

Flexible Timeline

By doing a first look before the ceremony, it frees up time that would be spent. Instead of spending 30-45 minutes taking photos while your guests are already off at the reception, you just take a few quick “Just Married” photos after the ceremony and then you’re off to the reception! This gives you more time to mingle with your guests and helps save time at the end of the day when you either have to be out of the venue by a certain time, or your photography coverage ends at a certain time.

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