Why to have a first look with your groom

First looks have become more and more popular with Brides and Grooms, so much so that the majority of weddings we do now are doing them!
A first look is when the Bride and Groom have a beautifully planned and captured first view of each other before the ceremony even begins.

Here is why so many couples are choosing first look instead of the traditional first view of coming down the isle:

~ It helps you both feel calmer.
Once you see each other for the first time in your wedding attire, you’ll automatically start feeling calmer and can truly enjoy the ceremony. By having a first look, your photographer can also get better shots of the bride walking down the aisle because she won’t look as nervous.

~ It frees up more time.
Having a first look means you can get most of your couple and wedding party shots, and possibly even family formals, completed early on and can have more time to spend with your guests during cocktail hour, alleviating some of the pressure on the day.

~ You get amazing reaction photos.
When there's nobody around but the two of you (and us capturing the moment), your groom has the freedom to really express his true emotions. A first look also makes it easier to capture your grooms reaction as the photographer is usually more focused on the bride when she first walks down the isle and only can get minimal shots of the groom.

~ You get to share a truly magical moment together.
A first look will be one of the first moments that you get to share together on your wedding day and the fact that its alone makes it even more special. Every moment during your wedding day will be special and unique but there is something about sharing that first look alone that makes it simply magical. After we capture the moment, we leave the two of you to talk and admire one another, undisturbed, until you are ready to begin portraits.

~ The truth behind the tradition:
We understand that some like to keep it traditional, and that's okay! We are happy to work with your preferred requests! Some people like to stay in tradition though without even knowing how the tradition started. So I am here to help!
The reason for not seeing your spouse before the ceremony is because of back when marriages were arranged, the bride and groom weren't allowed to  see or meet each other until they were at the altar. This way, the groom would not have met her before knowing what she looked like, in case he would call off the wedding, which would lead to serious shame of the family who arranged the marriage. So to avoid risking the family's reputation, the tradition that the couple didn't see each other until the ceremony was born.