To Do a First Look or Not

I absolutely LOVE answering this question and probably because it was the ONLY thing I would change about my own wedding! Below are a few questions you should ask when deciding to or not do a First Look:

1. What time is my ceremony? Daylight has sooooo much to do with the day - especially regarding photos - so depending the the time of your ceremony and when sunset will be, I would either recommend doing a First Look with your groom, or say you can totally wait till the altar.  For instance, if you are planning an evening wedding in Winter when the sun sets around 4pm I may recommend a first look, where if you are planning a mid-morning Spring brunch wedding, when the sun sets around 7:30pm I may recommend waiting to see each other.

2. If I am going to wait until the altar to see the man of my dreams, what are my guests doing during that time? Do your guests have a long drive between ceremony and reception venue? Will they be invited to a formal cocktail hour and then invited to dinner? Is everything taking place at the same location therefore the "wait" may seem longer? Etiquette is really all about others so as long as you are loving your guests well by considering them you can make excellent plans either way.

3. What photos do I absolutely "have to have" and who needs to be in them? Most of my "wait to the altar brides" (including myself) have to be very clear about the few "must have" shots - a professional photographer, on a perfect (as can be) timeline, will get the shots, its in their DNA, but great communication between planner, bride and photographer is key to make sure all bases are adequately covered and people are where they need to be at the time they need to be there.

Honestly, the hardest part of my own wedding day was waiting to see Braxton. I had ZERO doubt he was God’s perfect choice for me, I just missed him. It literally felt like the LONGEST day of my life waiting to see him and then when I finally did it wasn't like we could "catch up" at the altar. Either way can be perfect - the key is to have a professional vendor team who will help serve you and your family well.

CREDITS: Photography by Stacy Richardson