When planning your wedding, there are a lot of decisions to make—and one that often sparks strong opinions is whether or not to do a first look before the ceremony.
At Cuff Link Media, we’ve captured hundreds of weddings over the years, and we’ve seen the pros and cons of both timelines. If you’re on the fence, this guide is for you. Let’s break it down.
🤔 What Is a First Look?
A first look is a private (or semi-private) moment between the bride and groom before the ceremony, where they see each other for the first time—camera-ready and emotionally raw. It’s usually orchestrated by your photo/video team and happens in a quiet, beautiful spot, allowing you to soak in the moment without the eyes of 100+ guests on you.
✅ The Pros of Doing a First Look
1. More Time for Photos 📸
Doing a first look allows us to capture not only your reaction but also many of your formal portraits before the ceremony. This can include:
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Couple portraits
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Bridal party portraits
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Sometimes even family portraits
This means less scrambling later and more time to actually enjoy your day.
2. Attend Your Cocktail Hour 🍸
This is one of the biggest advantages. If you get most photos done beforehand, you can actually attend your cocktail hour—spend time with guests, enjoy the hors d’oeuvres you paid for, and soak up the love before the reception starts.
3. Eases Nerves 💗
Seeing your partner before the ceremony can ease the nerves and emotional pressure. Many couples say this calms them down and helps them stay present throughout the day.
4. A Truly Intimate Moment 💑
The first look can be an emotional and heartfelt moment, free from the pressure of a crowd. You can cry, laugh, hug, pray, or just breathe together before the whirlwind begins.
⚠️ The Cons of Doing a First Look
1. Breaks Tradition 🙏
For some couples, the idea of seeing each other before the aisle walk is just too untraditional. If that special moment at the altar is something you’ve dreamed of your whole life, you might prefer to keep it that way.
2. Earlier Start Time ⏰
A first look requires everything to be moved earlier: hair, makeup, getting dressed, and travel. Depending on your timeline, this could mean a very early start for the bridal party.
3. Light & Weather Considerations 🌦️
If your ceremony is later in the day (think sunset), and you want to do all your portraits after, lighting could be tricky. However, if you do a first look earlier in the day, we can make use of the best natural light.
📷 A Timeline That Works For You
Ultimately, whether or not to do a first look comes down to your vision, your comfort level, and your timeline. At Cuff Link Media, we work closely with each couple to craft a photo and video timeline that brings out the best in your day—whatever that looks like.
We’re not here to push you one way or the other—we’re here to give you the options, explain the benefits and trade-offs, and support your decision 100%.
🎙️ Want the Deep Dive? Tune Into It’s Just a Wedding
If this blog got you thinking, you’ll love our brand new podcast: It’s Just a Wedding!
Every Tuesday night at 7PM, we dive deep into topics like first looks, timeline stress, the vendor dream team, and what really matters on your big day.
New episodes premiere every Tuesday at 7PM—wherever you get your podcasts (Apple, Spotify, Amazon, you name it).
Come hang out, laugh with us, and learn how to make your wedding the best party of your life—without losing your mind.
Need help planning your timeline or still deciding on first look photos?
Reach out to the Cuff Link Media team—we’re happy to walk you through it, no pressure.
Let’s capture something unforgettable. 💍📸
