Wedding Planning Advice from Brides - Part 4 | First Look or No First Look?

Here on our blog, we’ve talked a lot about first looks. Not sure what a First look is, catch up here. We know this decision isn’t always an easy one to make. Today our RRE Brides are sharing more of their sagely advice as we discuss their decisions on a first look.

Thoughts on first look: were you happy with your decision and why?

We were so happy with our decision to do a first look! It made for a quiet, private moment between just the two of us before the ceremony and reception. It also allowed us to spend more time with our family and friends, since we were able to take all of our family and bridal party pictures prior to the ceremony. I think many people worry the walk down the aisle will become less special with a first look, but I decided not to wear my veil during the first look so that there was still something distinct and new when I walked down the aisle to Davis.

Caitlin Roach

Landon Jacob Photography | First Look at The Graylyn Estate in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Yes! And I did not want to do a first look initially-I felt really strongly about seeing each other for the first time when I was walking down the aisle. But it didn’t take away from how special that moment was, and it really made our timeline so much smoother that day. Thanks Becca and Betsy, for convincing me to do it!

Sarah Lyon

Nancy Ray Photography | Wedding at Old Edwards Inn in Highlands, North Carolina

We opted not to do a first look and I’m thankful. We are fairly traditional and mildly superstitious… and seeing his sweet face for the first time as he saw me walking down the aisle was one of my favorite moments of our day!

Sarah Ann Sawyers

Anagram Photography | Wedding at Merrimon-Wynne in Raleigh, North Carolina

When the question of whether Lee and I wanted a "first look" was raised, I wasn’t sure how I felt. While wedding traditions and superstitions weren’t something I had spent much time thinking about before we were engaged, initially, a first look seemed loaded with not-so-good associations. Would bad luck ensue if Lee saw me in my wedding dress before the ceremony? Were we spoiling the excitement of the ceremony? How would our family members feel about this break with tradition? Although these questions sound absolutely silly now, they felt like legitimate concerns at the time! Ultimately, we decided having a first look was the right decision for us as a couple. A couple of the photos from our first look are actually some of my favorite from the entire day because they captured our truest and most genuine selves. Thanks to our amazing photographer, Perry Vaile, our joy in that moment, love for each other, and mutual happiness that we would soon join our lives as a married couple really came through. The first look proved to be a wonderful opportunity for us to ease wedding day nerves, laugh together and squeeze in photos beforehand that would have reduced the time available to spend with family and friends following the ceremony!

Meriwether Goldstein