Bride coming down stairs during first look for article on pros and cons of first look
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The Pros and Cons of a First Look Before Your Wedding

ByKelly Williams, Photographer

Deciding whether to have a first look before your wedding ceremony is a deeply personal choice. While some couples love the idea of a private moment together before the whirlwind of the day, others prefer the tradition of waiting until the walk down the aisle. If you’re on the fence, today’s blog post will help you consider the pros and cons of a first look to help you determine what aligns best with your vision for your wedding day.

Bride and groom standing on patio in front of large red heart during first look for article on pros and cons of first look

The Pros of a First Look

I’ll be honest, from a photographer’s perspective, a first look is always the best choice. Granted, I’m not much of a traditionalist, so take this into account. But if you have a first look, then you can take care of all of your photography photos ahead of your ceremony leaving nothing but candids – and fun! – after you walk down the aisle. It’s something to think about, along with these other pros:

  1. A Private, Intimate Moment

One of the biggest advantages of a first look is the opportunity to share a quiet, emotional moment with your partner without an audience. Wedding days can be hectic, and this private time allows you to connect before the ceremony begins.

  1. Eases Nerves

Many couples experience pre-ceremony jitters. Seeing your partner beforehand can help calm your nerves and allow you to enjoy the ceremony with a more relaxed mindset.

  1. More Time for Photos

From a photography perspective, a first look offers a significant advantage: more time for portraits. Without the pressure of rushing through photos after the ceremony, you can take your time capturing meaningful images with your partner, wedding party, and family.

  1. Better Lighting Options

If your ceremony is in the late afternoon or evening, natural light might be limited after the ceremony. A first look allows you to take advantage of ideal lighting conditions earlier in the day.

  1. More Time with Guests

Many couples who opt for a first look complete most of their portraits before the ceremony, meaning they can head straight to cocktail hour and spend more time celebrating with their guests instead of being tied up with post-ceremony photos.

  1. Enhances the Aisle Moment

Contrary to popular belief, having a first look doesn’t diminish the impact of the aisle moment. If anything, it can make it more emotional since you’ve already shared a private exchange and can now fully focus on the ceremony without overwhelming nerves.

Bride and groom in front of yellow taxicab during first look for article on pros and cons of first look

The Cons of a First Look

  1. Breaks Tradition

For those who value the classic tradition of not seeing each other before the ceremony, a first look might not feel right. If you’ve always dreamed of locking eyes for the first time as you walk down the aisle, you may prefer to wait.

  1. Earlier Start Time

A first look requires starting your wedding day earlier. That means hair, makeup, and getting ready must be completed well before the ceremony, which can add stress to the schedule.

  1. Less Emotion at the Ceremony?

Some worry that a first look could take away from the emotions of the ceremony. While this isn’t always the case, if you think seeing your partner beforehand might lessen the impact of the aisle reveal, skipping the first look could be the better choice.

  1. Coordination and Logistics

A first look adds an extra event to your timeline, requiring coordination between your photographer, videographer, and planner. If not managed properly, it can create stress rather than alleviate it.

  1. Possible Weather or Location Limitations

If your wedding is outdoors, the first look might be limited by weather conditions. Harsh midday sun or unexpected rain could affect the experience and photo quality.

African American bride and groom holding hands on lawn in front of brick buildings during first look for article on pros and cons of first look

Sample Wedding Timelines With and Without a First Look

If you are considering a first look, it’s helpful to visualize how your wedding day might be structured. When I put together a wedding timeline for my clients, I always start at the ceremony and work backwards since the ceremony time is normally etched in stone. Here are sample timelines showing the pros and cons of both decisions.

Wedding Timeline WITH FIRST LOOK:

  • 12:00 PM – Getting Ready (Hair and makeup for the couple and wedding party)
  • 2:00 PM – Getting Dressed (Final touch-ups, putting on attire, and first look preparations)
  • 2:30 PM – First Look (Private moment between the couple)
  • 2:45 PM – Couple’s Portraits (Photos of just the two of you)
  • 3:30 PM – Wedding Party Photos (Bridesmaids, groomsmen, and group shots)
  • 4:15 PM – Family Portraits (Immediate family photos before the ceremony)
  • 4:45 PM – Moment of rest for the bridal party (photos of guests arriving at the ceremony; ceremony details, etc.)
  • 5:00 PM – Ceremony
  • 5:30 PM – Cocktail Hour (Guests enjoy drinks while any remaining family and friend photos are taken)
  • 6:30 PM – Reception Starts

This timeline ensures that most portraits are completed before the ceremony, giving you more time to relax and enjoy the reception without feeling rushed.

Wedding Timeline WITH FIRST LOOK:

  • 1:00 PM – Getting Ready (Hair and makeup for the couple and wedding party)
  • 3:00 PM – Getting Dressed (Final touch-ups, putting on attire, and first look preparations)
  • 3:30 PM – Groom portraits, groomsmen, and groom’s family
  • 4:00 PM – Bride portraits, bridesmaids, and bride’s family
  • 4:45 PM – Moment of rest for the bridal party (photos of guests arriving at the ceremony; ceremony details, etc.)
  • 5:00 PM – Ceremony
  • 5:30 PM – Cocktail Hour
    • 5:30-5:45 Family photos (group shots)
    • 5:45-6:00 Wedding party photos (group shots)
    • 6:00-6:30 Bride and groom photos (all together)
  • 6:30 PM – Reception Starts (any friend and any additional family photos will need to be taken now)

In comparison, you can see that without a first look any photos with the bride and groom together – bride and groom portraits, family portraits, wedding party portraits, etc. – now all have to be taken during the cocktail hour.

If your schedule has a break between the ceremony and the cocktail hour, then you can take your photos then. Of course, then your guests have to wait while you take photos. But if your schedule does not allow for this break, then this means that the bridal party will all be missing the cocktail hour fun in order to take photos.

Bear in mind that during the cocktail hour guests will be trying to greet you and give you their best wishes. Taking photos will not be a private process unless you have a very strict event planner to keep you on schedule.

Taking photos during the cocktail hour also puts a strict deadline on the photography since you will need to compact all of the photos into one hour – the normal time allotted for the cocktail hour. If you have an extensive number of bride and groom photos you want taken, or if you need to take bride and groom photos in a different location other than your ceremony or reception site, then I would highly recommend a first look so that you can allow enough time for these photos.

(Please note that both of these schedules do not take into account any transportation time necessary to get from the getting ready location to the ceremony, and from the ceremony to the reception venue, etc.)

Asian bride and groom in front of trees in park during first look for article on pros and cons of first look

Making the Decision

If you are unsure whether to have a first look, consider what matters most to you and your partner. Think about your wedding timeline, emotional preferences, and photography goals. Talking with your photographer can also help, as they can offer insights based on your venue, schedule, and light conditions.

For most couples, it all boils down to tradition and the thought that the groom won’t tear up if he has already seen the bride in her dress before the ceremony. But I’m here to tell you that the groom is going to be emotional throughout the day. Why have one set of waterworks (i.e., tears) when you could have two? One behind the scenes during the first look and one at the altar.

Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong choice—only what feels best for your wedding day experience. Whether you choose a first look or stick with tradition, the most important thing is that your day reflects your love story in a way that feels authentic to you.

Enjoy the images and I will have more photo adventures for you next week!

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If you find this article on ‘The Pros and Cons of a First Look Before Your Wedding’ useful, then check out these articles:

Looking to say ‘I do’ in San Antonio? Drop me a line and let’s chat about how I can help you. I have hourly rates, and all photo shoots include editing and high-resolution files.

To view more images from my wedding photography portfolio, please visit my website – KellyWilliamsPhotographer.com

Bride and groom standing on patio in front of large red heart during first look for article on pros and cons of first look
Bride looking through glass window of red door
Bride standing in doorway of red doors
View of groom over the shoulder of bride during first look
Bride approaching groom on patio for first look
Bride and groom standing on patio in front of large red heart during first look for article on pros and cons of first look
Bride and groom standing on patio in front of large red heart during first look for article on pros and cons of first look
Bride and groom in front of yellow taxicab during first look for article on pros and cons of first look
Groom standing under gazebo looking out over waterfront
Asian bride and groom in front of trees in park during first look for article on pros and cons of first look
Asian bride tapping groom on shoulder during first look for article on pros and cons of first look
Asian bride and groom in front of trees in park during first look for article on pros and cons of first look
Bride and groom holding hands during first look for article on pros and cons of first look
Groom in grey blazer looking down at feet during first look
Bride walking down stairs out of brick building during first look
African American bride and groom standing on lawn in front of brick buildings during first look for article on pros and cons of first look
African American bride and groom standing on lawn in front of brick buildings during first look for article on pros and cons of first look
African American bride and groom standing on lawn in front of brick buildings during first look for article on pros and cons of first look
African American bride and groom standing on lawn in front of brick buildings during first look for article on pros and cons of first look
African American bride and groom kissing on lawn in front of brick buildings during first look for article on pros and cons of first look
African American bride and groom hugging on lawn in front of brick buildings during first look for article on pros and cons of first look
African American bride and groom hugging on lawn in front of brick buildings during first look for article on pros and cons of first look
African American bride and groom dancing on lawn in front of brick buildings during first look for article on pros and cons of first look

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Hi! My name is Kelly Williams, and I am a wedding and family photographer serving San Antonio and Austin, Texas. I love telling the story of someone’s love, life, and happiness in one frame.

I proudly call San Antonio home, but I have lived in NYC for the past 21 years.

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