Should You Do a First Look at Your Wedding? Pros, Cons, and What It Changes

First looks can solve a lot of problems and concerns that may arise on or before your wedding day! But what even is a first look, and why is it so amazing?

Let’s talk about how your wedding photographer can help ease worries and alleviate stress by having a stellar first look, especially if you’re getting married here in Colorado, where mountain light and quick weather shifts add a whole extra layer to your timeline.

But at no point will I ever pressure my couples’ into one, so let’s see if it’s the right choice for you and your wedding day.

What is a first look?

A first look is a small photo session we have before the ceremony starts, where you and your future spouse see each other in your wedding finery for the first time. It’ll be just you, your spouse-to-be, and me, so we can keep things nice and intimate for those tears and tender words. I take photos of you two in your gorgeous wedding attire, and then you can relax and enjoy the ceremony and reception.

Couples do intimate first looks for many reasons, but the main goal is to get breathtaking, private photos taken of you and your forever love before all the craziness of the ceremony begins. In Colorado, where sunsets dip behind the mountains earlier, afternoon storms appear out of nowhere, and outdoor venues fill quickly, a first look can be a huge stress reliever.

So… should you do a first look?

A first look isn’t a rule, and it’s not some kind of betrayal of tradition. It’s just a timeline choice.

And the way that choice plays out is usually pretty clear.

When couples do a first look, the day tends to feel a lot calmer. You’ve already seen each other, you’re not holding all of that anticipation through the ceremony, and most of your portraits are done before anything really starts.

Which means you’re not spending cocktail hour pulled in two directions.

But if what you care about most is that moment at the aisle being the first time you see each other, that matters too. There’s no wrong choice here, just different trade-offs in how the day actually feels.

Let’s walk through some of the worries a first look can solve, and how to decide if adding a first look into your wedding day timeline is right for you.

What a first look changes (the good and the trade-offs)

This is usually where it becomes less about “should we” and more about what actually shifts in the day.

When couples choose to do a first look, it tends to make a few things easier. The timeline has more space, portraits happen earlier in the day when the light is more consistent, and you’re not trying to split your time between photos and your guests right after the ceremony.

It also gives you a chance to be together before everything fully starts, which for a lot of people takes the edge off in a really real way.

The trade-off is just as straightforward.

You’re choosing to see each other before the ceremony instead of at the aisle, and for some couples, that moment is something they’ve always pictured happening a certain way. It can also mean starting the day a little earlier.

Neither side is better. It just depends on which parts of the day matter more to you.

“I want to actually hang out with my partner and my family on my wedding day. How do I do that?”

First of all, I totally feel you! What’s the point of having all of your family come to a wedding if you can’t take a moment to spend time with them? Enter: the first look!

Get all of the super-important photos out of the way first by doing a first look photoshoot before the ceremony even starts.  That way, the cocktail hour and dinner are free for you to spend time with your family, and the whole day opens up to spend with your partner. And you’ll be able to totally relax because you’ll know all the major photos are out of the way, especially helpful at Colorado venues where cocktail-hour views or outdoor spaces are just too good to miss.

“It wasn’t always easy to make decisions for our wedding, but my husband and I immediately agreed that we both wanted to do a first look. We both wanted the intimacy and deep emotion of that moment to be shared without our guests watching. . .When he turned around, I knew his tears were authentic. We were blessed to have Jennifer there to capture our embrace in that unforgettable moment.” – Hailey and Ryan

“I’m nervous to read my vows in front of everyone!”

Reading vows can be super nerve-wracking! Doing a first look is a great opportunity to practice reading your vows and get all your jitters out. You can even throw in something more personal that you don’t want to say during the ceremony, too! 

I always recommend first looks to couples who are more camera-shy and might want to get their more intimate photos done before the ceremony starts. I always recommend first looks to couples who are more camera-shy and might want to get their more intimate photos done before the ceremony starts. And an adorable, private vow reading is a great way to do that, especially at mountain venues or trail-adjacent ceremony sites where privacy can be hard to find once guests arrive.

Some people don’t want to cry in front of their friends and family, so getting it out of the way beforehand is also a great solution.

How a first look actually shifts your timeline

The biggest difference a first look makes is where your time lives during the day.

When you do one, most of your portraits are finished before the ceremony. So after the ceremony, you’re not trying to fit family photos, wedding party photos, and couple portraits into cocktail hour.

When you don’t do one, all of that happens after the ceremony instead. That’s usually when the timeline starts to feel tighter, because you’re balancing photos, guests, and the transition into the reception all at once.

Neither timeline is wrong, but they feel very different when you’re in them.

“I don’t want to feel rushed on my wedding day. How do I slow things down and just enjoy it?”

Then a first look is exactly what you need! The beauty of getting your most important photos done before the ceremony even starts is that you can relax for the rest of the day. Enjoy your cocktail hour, your dinner, and your dance floor, knowing that all of your most important photos are checked off your list!

“The first time I saw Alexis in her wedding dress and makeup, I felt an overwhelming feeling of gratitude.  I had seen Alexis many times before, of course, but our “first look” felt like I was literally looking at Alexis for the first time.  I already felt blessed to be marrying her, but we decided to include our rabbi who gave us a formal Jewish blessing as well.” – Alexis and Guy

“Can a first look be like I’m walking down the aisle, so my fiancé sees me like they will in the ceremony?”

Of course! With my years of experience photographing first looks, I know exactly how to replicate walking down the aisle. We will have you two be farther apart, and one of you can walk toward the other. Or, you can turn around at the same time and see each other in full. We can also have your first look at the ceremony site so we can fully replicate the walking-down-the-aisle feel!

“I’m having a night ceremony, but want outdoor photos in our wedding clothes. What should I do?”

Have a first look, of course! Before the sun sets and the ceremony starts, we’ll get some gorgeous photos at golden hour at your venue. This way, you’ll have the best of both worlds: the amazing night ceremony you’re dreaming of, and the breathtaking couples photos that will fill your albums and heirlooms forever.

“We were on the fence about doing a first look, but after talking to Jennifer we decided that it would be more intimate and personal to see each other in private before the ceremony. My husband was still a little against it (and I quote, “My wife made me do it!”), but said that it was the most beautiful that he thought I had ever looked.” - Alisha & Kyle

“I want a more intimate, elopement-style moment with my fiancé before we start the big ceremony.”

Step right this way to a first look! Doing one gives you the chance to be alone with your spouse-to-be before you’re in front of all your friends and family. We’ll find a beautiful corner of your venue and enjoy the natural or city surroundings, whether that’s alpine trees, a riverside path, or downtown Denver architecture.

You can even practice reading your vows to each other!

“I want to do a first look, but i want to see my fiancé cry while i walk down the aisle.”

If this is your only first look hold up- I totally get it! But, just because your fiancé sees you before the ceremony, does not mean that they might not still cry as you walk down the aisle! Everybody is different, and the ceremony is still a unique once-in-a-lifetime moment for the two of you!

When a first look tends to help the most (and when it doesn’t matter as much)

This is something I see play out pretty consistently.

First looks tend to make the biggest difference on days that already have a lot moving parts. Multiple locations, larger guest counts, big wedding parties, or tighter daylight windows, those are the kinds of timelines where the extra space really matters.

It’s also a big shift if being present with your people is important to you, especially during cocktail hour.

On the other hand, if your day is simple, all in one place, and you feel strongly about saving that moment for the ceremony, a first look isn’t always necessary. Some timelines can hold that structure without feeling rushed.

It really just depends on what your day is asking of you.

“I love the idea of a first look, but I want the first time my fiancé sees me in my wedding finery to be in the ceremony.”

Understandable! Pre-ceremony first looks aren’t for everyone. But I’ll work with you to ensure your coming down the aisle first look results in some show-stopping photos! We’ll just have to do a little extra photography after the ceremony so you get the full gallery. You can also do a first touch instead!

If you're having a Colorado mountain wedding, just remember that post-ceremony light drops quickly behind the peaks, so we may move a bit faster, but we’ll still capture everything beautifully.

“It’s an old school tradition that the groom doesn’t see the bride before the wedding and we thought there was something beautiful in that. We understand that it’s becoming more typical to do a first look so any emotions you have can be easily photographed and private, but we wanted to share the moment with our friends and family.” – Katelyn & Jake

Why A first Look can matter more in Colorado

This is one of those things that doesn’t always show up until you’re actually in it.

Colorado light can be a little unpredictable depending on the season and location. In the summer, the middle of the day can be harsher than people expect, and in the fall and winter, the sun drops earlier, especially in the mountains where shadows come in fast.

If your ceremony is later in the day, that can leave a pretty small window for portraits afterward.

A first look gives you more flexibility with that. It opens up better light earlier in the day and takes some of the pressure off trying to fit everything in before the sun is gone.

It’s not something every couple needs, but it’s a big part of why a lot of Colorado timelines end up built this way.

“So…should my fiancé and I do a first look?”

Of course, it’s completely up to you, but I definitely recommend doing a first look if you’ve found yourself asking any of these questions! Not only does it help take some of the stress off by getting your most important photos taken before the ceremony even starts, but it makes the timeline of your day run more smoothly.

And especially for Colorado weddings, where the light, weather, and landscape encourage a slower, more intentional day, a first look gives you a moment to breathe, connect, and take in what you’re about to celebrate.

Relax and enjoy your cocktail hour: you paid for it, after all! You also get a moment alone with your fiancé before all the insanity starts. Use your first look as a moment to take a breath and realize the incredible event you’re about to celebrate.

There is no harm in not doing a first look though, and I’ll never pressure you either way! Hopefully, all of these questions give you a good idea of what a first look may accomplish though!

Choosing to do a first look can completely shift the tone of your day, giving you a quiet pocket of time to be together before everything starts moving. In Colorado, where the scenery is wild, the light is dramatic, and the timeline can change with the weather, it’s a chance to ground yourselves and enjoy the moment without feeling rushed. Whether your celebration is in the city, the foothills, or deep in the mountains, a first look helps your whole day unfold with more ease and intention.

If you’re curious how a first look could fit into your Colorado wedding timeline, reach out through my contact form!