Friday, January 29, 2016

Is a "First Look" Good for You and Your Groom?

A "first look" in wedding terms is that moment when the groom sees the bride in her wedding dress for the first time before they say their vows.  This used to only happen when the bride began walking down the aisle.  Today, having that first look is most often done before the wedding guests even arrive.  Our South Florida bridal salon hears many couples that are unsure if they should give this a try or stick with old tradition.  Angelus Bridal & Formals has come up with a few pros and cons for you to argue each side of this choice.   



CON:  It's against tradition.

An old wedding superstition says that it is bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her wedding dress before the ceremony.  If you are the type of couple that want to stick strictly to tradition, then a first look may not be right for you.  It may be because you have a parent or grandparent that insist on tradition and you don't want to hurt their feelings. 


PRO:  It's a new day and age.

The main reason for a bride and groom not seeing each other before saying "I do" was because of arranged marriages years ago.  No one wanted the couple to get cold feet before the wedding if they didn't like the look of each other.  In this day and age, couples know each other very well before getting married, and the first look is starting to be considered a new tradition.    


CON:  You have to get ready much earlier. 

The first look happens well before the wedding's start time so that you can still walk down the aisle as scheduled.  This means that you will have to be camera-ready hours before the actual ceremony begins.  


PRO:  Photos are done earlier.

Once you have laid eyes on each other, you can go ahead and take all of those other wedding photos that need to be done.  Without a first look, these will have to wait until after the ceremony and may slow down the reception's start time.  If you have planned a cocktail hour to keep guests entertained before your reception, getting photos out of the way early allows you to enjoy that hour along with your wedding guests. 



CON:  You may have to pay vendors overtime.

Photographers generally put a time limit on their services.  If you have them show up 3 hours before the ceremony, they may not be hired to stay long enough to capture the reception without being paid overtime. 


PRO:  You won't need your photographer as late into the evening. 

Let's face it, once the cake cutting and bouquet tossing are done, the rest of the reception photos all start to look alike.  Lots of shots of your friends dancing.  If you schedule anything that you want photographed towards the beginning of the reception, your photographer can be dismissed well before the end of your night.  Your friends are sure to be taking enough candid shots of the reception to cover the dancing part.


PRO:  You can share the special moment alone with your fiance.

Well, the photographer will have to be there, but that's beside the point.  Seeing the person that you will be marrying can be a private moment between the two of you rather than a show for everyone you've invited.  It turns into a special time to appreciate each other in private.      


PRO:  You get some amazing couple photos.

The photographer will be able to capture the raw emotion of your reactions, which is usually followed by an embrace or kiss that you will be thrilled to have a picture of later.  If you wait to see each other as you are walking into the ceremony, your reactions will be from across the room from each other.


PRO:  You can avoid showing pre-ceremony nerves.

Nerves before a wedding are simply a fact.  Even when you are absolutely positive that this marriage is exactly what you want, the anticipation gets to everyone.  Getting that out of the way before the wedding gives you time to be together and relax before the big show (ceremony) begins.  You'll be calm, cool, and collected by the time your guests see you.  



According to our points, the pros outweigh the cons.  Don't take our word for it though. Deciding whether or not to have a first look with each other in your Pompano Beach wedding fashions is a very personal decision.  Whatever choice you make as a couple is the right choice.  Whatever you end up deciding, Angelus Bridal & Formals knows that at the end of the day, you will be happily married and everything will be wonderful.    





878 SW 10th Avenue - Suite #8
Pompano Beach, FL 33069
954-943-7768

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