After shooting hundreds of weddings, we have come to realize that we absolutely love when our couples choose to do the first look! Though we will always let you choose how you want your day to go down, (and still do a few weddings a year without the first look) we thought we would compile our top 5 helpful reasons on why we really dig the first look, and also why we feel like it brings value and meaning to your wedding!

1. Adds an amazing memorable *private* moment to your day!

Guys I didn’t do a first look at my own wedding and I REGRET IT! My husband is not one to like being the center of attention, and so having everyone witness the first moment we saw each other at the aisle was a lot of pressure and an “all eyes on him” moment. Looking back I honestly don’t think he had a genuine reaction. The buildup and pressure was a lot, and he was nervous and felt on display ( Will he cry? Will he laugh?? What will he do??) Where I really think if we would have carved out that special 10 minutes of  time with JUST the two of us earlier in the day, it would have taken the pressure off and we would have had a really memorable private moment, and a more genuine reaction on his part. Some of our couples love and are comfortable in the spotlight, but if either of you are a little timid when made the center of attention, let me tell you from personal experience, this is definitely my number one reason for doing a first look!

2.Your photographer is able about 30% more photos of you two with the extra time

Now we know that we obsess over photos more than any of your other vendors, but we also know that the majority of the photos you are going to love and then print out and hang up in your home are going to be the photos we take of you TWO! By having a first look, you have an extra 20-30 minutes of time together that we get to capture! (and its some of our favorite photos because so many of them are just sweet sweet candids!) With this extra time of just the two of you, the natural production of that, is more photos! And since it is a different time of day, we often get to utilize different parts of your venue, getting different backgrounds and lighting than at sunset. : ) The best!

3.  All your married friends tell you that their wedding day was srsly like the best day of their life! SOOO then it totally makes  sense to spend more time with your life partner on the happiest day! (Umm this one is super self explanatory!) First look = way more time together on wedding day! win. win. win!

4. Look your absolute best in the bulk of your photos!

So you are spending all this money on hair and makeup and that perfect dress… lets be fore real, by the end of the night, hair falls a bit, the dress has got some mileages (and possible spills)  and after lots of kissing your new hubby, your makeup isn’t going to be as on par! ( just speaking the truth people!, ask your married friend how her dress looked the next morning and you’ll see I’m right : ) )

By doing a first look we are capitalizing on that time right after your hair and makeup is freshly doned, and your dress is still pristine – THIS is when we take all those fun portraits with your bridal party, your girls, your mom and dad and OF COURSE your about to be husband during your first look! You look your absolute BEST and this is when we capitalize on all those precious photos! So amazing! Trust me!

5. You will be able to enjoy more of your cocktail hour/reception

If attending some of your cocktail hour is high up on your priority list for wedding day, then you should definitely consider the first look! At some point on your wedding day you have to make time for family and bridal party photos. Without a first look, you  delay all of these portraits to after the wedding, therefore you cut out any chance of being able to attend a cocktail hour because that is literally the *only* time of the day to get not only those, but also get photos of you and your new spouse together! We need that full hour after the wedding to take those photos, cutting out your chance of popping in to your cocktail hour and trying out your signature drink you chose!