Your First look see each other before or wait until the ceremony?

Traditionally, you see each other for the first time at the ceremony, whether in church or at an outdoor ceremony. One of you stands at the front, the other walks in, and that is the moment you see each other.

You are never alone in that moment, though. All your guests are watching, and the excitement is huge. That is why some couples decide to see each other beforehand.

There are many ways to do this. Some couples drive to a special place, others simply stay in the garden or at the venue. You can stand facing each other with your eyes closed and open them at the same time, or stand back to back and turn around together.

The classic version: one of you stands with your back to the other. The second walks up, places a hand on their shoulder, and then they turn around. That gives you the typical photos where one person is in focus and the other is soft in the background.

The two of them got ready separately at Hotel St. Hubertus and then saw each other for the first time in the garden. First came a broad grin, then a long hug, and right afterwards their friends joined them.

I give you a few minutes to yourselves. You can talk, kiss, twirl and simply enjoy the moment. The photos happen all on their own. I move around you and photograph from every direction, but always from a little distance, so you do not have a camera in your face in that moment.

For most couples the excitement is noticeably smaller afterwards, and they go to the ceremony much more relaxed.

My favourite is a shady spot. There I can photograph from every direction, you have no sun in your faces, no harsh shadows, you are not dazzled and can focus entirely on each other. When the sun is still low in the morning, backlight works well too, because then it does not dazzle you.

I would generally not recommend a first look indoors. It is usually cramped, there is little space and the light is rarely good, unless the venue has exactly the right room for it.

Right after their first look, Michelle and Marlene went into the woods with me, for light between the trees and soap bubbles in the backlight.

Still, leave some breathing room in the morning. Getting ready almost always takes longer than expected, and a rushed first look is the opposite of what it is meant to be.

Some couples also have a first look with their dad, mum, brother, bridesmaids or best friends. It is always lovely and more private than when the most important people are simply part of all the guests at the ceremony. And you can exchange a few words before the ceremony.

Whether you see each other beforehand, and whether this moment belongs only to you or your family is there, is entirely your decision. If you would like to wait until the ceremony, we plan the couple portraits afterwards or in the evening. With Leah and Sina at Galanthus we were out for twenty minutes after the ceremony, just a two-minute walk from the celebration. How that works is explained in the post about couple portraits on the wedding day.

I plan every wedding day together with the couple. The examples on this website are ideas. We can change the order, leave parts out and add other moments.

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