Last updated on January 27th, 2025 at 09:10 pm

When it comes to planning your wedding, the decision of whether to have a first look before the ceremony is one that can shape the flow and emotional tone of your entire day. Here’s everything you need to know about the first look and how it compares to the traditional “At the Altar” timeline.

A Quick Breakdown: First Look vs At The Alter

First Look: A Moment of Privacy and Connection

The First Look has grown in popularity over the years as it gives couples a chance to share a private moment before the ceremony. This special time helps calm nerves, allows for family photographs to be completed beforehand, and provides an opportunity for you and your spouse to spend meaningful time together before the festivities begin.

At the Altar: The Timeless Reveal

Choosing the traditional “At the Altar” or down-the-aisle reveal keeps the suspense and emotion intact, creating a memorable first look in a ceremonial setting surrounded by loved ones. This option embraces the timeless charm and anticipation of a wedding day.

Why you should choose the “At the Alter” schedule

With this schedule, the couple does not see each other before the ceremony, making the first look a truly emotional and unforgettable moment witnessed by all your loved ones.

Most of your portraits together will be captured later in the day when the sun is lower, offering the gorgeous golden light that creates stunning photographs. While this timeline is quite popular, it does come with some considerations. Before the ceremony, we will only take photos of the bridesmaids and groomsmen.

After the ceremony, we will move straight into family formals and full bridal party photos. Once these are completed, we’ll take a few quick portraits of you and your partner, which typically happen during cocktail hour.

There are some pros & cons to doing the “At the Alter” timeline.

Pros of at the Alter:

It’s a timeless choice. If you’ve always dreamed of walking down the aisle and seeing your fiancé’s reaction for the first time, this traditional approach is perfect for you!

A smoother flow to the ceremony. Unlike a First Look, this timeline minimizes waiting around beforehand, allowing you to dive straight into the excitement of the day.

No more nerves! Once the ceremony is over, the hardest part is behind you. Now, it’s time to relax, enjoy being together, and capture some beautiful portraits without any lingering stress. Many couples love the sense of relief and joy that comes after the big moment.

Golden Hour magic. Photographers rave about the warm, soft glow of Golden Hour, which eliminates harsh shadows and creates stunning, flattering portraits. The closer we can schedule portraits to sunset, the better the results!

Cons:

Time constraints can be a challenge. Some weddings allow only an hour between the ceremony and reception, which means family formals, bridal party photos, and your portraits need to fit into that window. While this is achievable if you’re okay staying at one location and having fewer portraits of just the two of you, it does require efficient planning.
That said, during summer weddings, we can sneak away during the reception for some stunning sunset photos.

Limited cocktail hour participation. If attending cocktail hour is important to you and you only have an hour between the ceremony and reception, you may miss much of it with a down-the-aisle timeline. However, if your schedule allows for more time between events, you’ll be free to join in the fun!

Avoid receiving lines with this timeline. Receiving lines can take up to an hour, leaving little time for post-ceremony photos. To ensure we capture all the essential shots, we recommend skipping the receiving line and focusing on your portraits instead.
 

Why you should go with a First Look

So what exactly is the first look?

Simply put, a First Look is when you and your partner share an intimate moment before the ceremony—just the two of you. We’ll find a secluded, romantic location away from the guests, where you can experience the joy of seeing each other for the first time on your wedding day. This private moment not only creates beautiful memories and stunning photographs but also gives you a chance to connect and share something truly special before the day’s festivities begin.

Pros & Cons of a First Look

First Look Pros:

Spend more time together. A First Look gives you the chance to spend quality time with your soon-to-be spouse before the ceremony. Many couples find it helps calm their nerves and lets them fully enjoy the day.

More time for photography. With a First Look, you’ll have plenty of time for portraits, ensuring a relaxed schedule and more opportunities to capture beautiful moments.

Streamlined timeline. Since most of the photos are completed before the ceremony, the transition to the reception can happen much faster, avoiding any long gaps for your guests.

Perfect for winter weddings. With daylight fading earlier in the winter, a First Look ensures you can take advantage of natural light for your portraits before the sun sets.

First Look Cons:

Earlier start to the day. Since most of the photos are taken before the ceremony, everyone will need to get ready earlier. This might also mean hiring a photographer for additional hours to capture all the moments you want.

Less ideal lighting. The quality of light can vary depending on the weather and season. While golden hour near sunset is ideal for portraits, a First Look may happen earlier when the light isn’t as soft or flattering.

Preserving tradition. Some couples prefer to stick with traditional wedding customs, and that’s perfectly fine! If skipping a First Look aligns with your vision and dreams, go for it—it’s your special day, and you should celebrate it the way you’ve always imagined.:

Things to Consider with Either Timeline

1. Getting Ready Close to One Another

We strongly recommend that couples get ready as close to each other as possible. In the past, we’ve experienced situations where the couple was over 30 minutes apart and an hour from the venue. This can create challenges for the timeline, as a significant amount of time may be spent traveling instead of capturing important moments. Staying nearby helps ensure the day runs smoothly and lets us focus on documenting your special day.

2. Hotel vs. Home

There are pros and cons to getting ready at a hotel versus at home.

Starting with hotels, one major advantage is the lack of clutter. Hotel rooms are typically more minimal, making it easier to find clean, well-lit spaces for photos. In contrast, at home, we might need to move not just a chair but also decor and picture frames to create the perfect setup. Another benefit of a hotel is convenience—everyone is in one location, which allows us to easily move between the bridal and groom parties, capturing more moments throughout the day.

On the other hand, getting ready at home has its own unique charm, especially when it comes to storytelling. For example, we recently photographed a bride getting ready in her childhood home, which was deeply sentimental to her and added a personal touch to the photos. If you’ve always envisioned moments like walking down your staircase to see your dad for the first time, then getting ready at home can make those dreams a reality.

3. Receiving Lines

What often starts as a generous cushion of time for photos can quickly shrink to just 15 minutes because receiving lines take far longer than most people anticipate. As a general guideline, plan for about 15 seconds per guest. With 100 guests, that adds up to 20-30 minutes of simply standing in line.

I highly recommend avoiding receiving lines!

Instead, consider alternatives like visiting guests at their tables during the reception after you’ve eaten or dismissing guests by table if you’re having a buffet. This approach allows you to connect with everyone without feeling rushed or cutting into your timeline. Another fun part of this is you can grab a photo with each table to make sure you get a photo with every guest from your wedding!

4. Natural Light

Lighting is one of the most critical elements of photography. It shapes each photo, adds a unique touch, and enhances everything it touches. Natural light, in particular, is incredibly flattering and elevates the overall quality of your photos. On your wedding day—the most important day of your life—it’s essential to incorporate as much natural light into your schedule as possible, especially for key moments like wedding party, family, and couple portraits.

Does this mean you can’t have a romantic candlelit dinner reception or a dreamy sunset ceremony? Not at all! It just means we’ll need to work together to create a schedule that ensures we capture all your important photos in the best light beforehand.

5. Letters and Gifts

Handwritten letters may feel like a rarity in today’s world of social media, texts, and emails, but their timeless charm remains unmatched. What better occasion than your wedding day to take a moment to express why you love each other? While it’s certainly not a requirement or expectation, your wedding is the perfect opportunity to write a heartfelt letter or give a meaningful gift to the people who matter most to you.

6. Reveal With the People Who Matter Most

Love the idea of a First Look but want to save that special moment with your partner for the walk down the aisle? Consider having a First Look with your bridesmaids, your dad, or anyone else who holds a special place in your heart. It’s a wonderful way to share an intimate and memorable moment with those who mean the most to you!

7. Be Adventurous / Be You!

When we hand you your wedding album at the end of this journey, we want you to say, “WOW!” Not just because the photos are beautiful (which they will be), but because of the story they tell. If getting ready at home holds special meaning to you, let’s make it happen. If skipping a creative session to visit your grandma at the nursing home feels more important, then let’s absolutely do that. If your first date was at a local coffee shop that means the world to you both, let’s capture some memories there.

Many people focus on where to take photos, but we encourage you to think about why those locations matter. Together, let’s dig deep and choose a place that tells your unique story perfectly.

8. Keep the Main thing the Main thing.

Murphy’s law says that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. While that’s not always the case, it’s a helpful reminder that sometimes we just have to let go. On your wedding day, this mindset is especially important! Whether it’s the cake arriving late, an uncle running behind, or a button popping off your dress, these things might feel overwhelming in the moment—but in the grand scheme, they’re small.

What truly matters is this: you’re getting married! Today is your day, and it’s all about you. We can’t count how many times we’ve reassured couples with, “The [church, guests, officiant, band, servers—you name it] will wait for you. You’re the main event, and nothing starts until you’re ready.” So take a deep breath and focus on what really counts—celebrating your love and enjoying every moment of your big day.

It’s so true because not everything will go as planned and we promise that it won’t matter to you later! So remember, no matter what it is, just say this: “It’s just a _____. It’s not going to ruin my day!”

Your wedding day is a story waiting to be told, and I’m here to capture it in the most authentic, meaningful, and beautiful way possible. Whether it’s the heartfelt moment your dad sees you for the first time, the laughter shared during your first look, or the magical glow of golden hour as you celebrate with your new spouse, my goal is to document the moments that truly matter.

From scouting meaningful locations to crafting a timeline that lets you fully enjoy your day, I’m here to ensure your experience is stress-free and filled with joy. You deserve a photographer who not only delivers stunning images but also takes the time to understand what’s most important to you—your love, your story, and your people.

So, let’s make it happen. Let’s plan a day that reflects your unique story and leaves you with photos that make you say “WOW!” every time you look at them. If this sounds like the experience you’re looking for, I’d love to chat with you more!

Fill out the form below to start the conversation. Let’s create something unforgettable together!