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What is A First Look On a Wedding Day

5 Reasons Why First Looks Aren't Only For The Couple

So, what is a First Look? I'm sure that's the first thought that came to mind if you've never been married before or never heard of a first look until now. A first look is a pre-arranged precious moment set up by your photographer or videographer for your wedding day. It is planned in advance, with input from you (like who wants to see who first, etc.), while still valuing the moment which is normally chosen for couples. Again, one of the best benefits of doing a First-Look for the couple is more photographs and more footage for their wedding film. Intimate moments on a wedding day are precious. But, what if you want to do a first-look with your father or mother? Can you still do a first look? Well, the answer to that question is—yes.

A first look can absolutely be a precious moment between Father and daughter on a wedding day. Arranging this in advance by communicating this to your photographer or videographer makes it possible.

5 Reasons Why First Looks Aren't Only For The Couple. Bride looking out the window with bid-cage veill.

1. Father - Daughter Reveal (First Look): On a wedding day it's typical for the Father of the daughter to see her in her dress for the first time. Typically this happens before her fiance' see's her (if a first look is not being done) walking down the aisle.

A first look can be done on a wedding day for this moment by keeping the Bride in her bridal suite alone while letting her Dad know when he can enter the room. Typically this type of first-look is done by picking an area of the room where the Bride can stand in her dress with the wedding party temporarily for this private moment.

2. Mother - Daughter Reveal (First Look):

A first look with a Mom is really significant because she is the woman that raised you to be the woman you are today. And guess what, she doesn't have to be your biological mother either. Some people are adopted or raised by a grandmother. Whomever that mother-figure is in your life, she's the one that will be a part of this special moment on your wedding day. Sometimes the Mom is chosen to walk the daughter down the aisle so she would be informed of how this process works and given enough time to be prepared for it. Typically this happens before the Bride walks down the aisle as well. This type of first-look is done by picking an area of the room where the Bride can stand alone (in her dress) while the wedding party temporarily leaves that room for this private moment. Be prepared to cry though. It's also significant because every mother wants to give their daughter that final look before she walks into the next phase of her life.

WATCH THIS REAL WEDDING TO SEE A REAL FIRST-LOOK ON A WEDDING DAY The Ritz Carlton // Bal Harbour, Florida

3. Family Reveal (First Look): This year was the first time in my career that one of my couples shared how important it was to have majority of their family present during their first-look. This took a lot of pre-planning, but the hired photographer and myself (official videographer) made it happen for the couple. This type of First-Look requires everyone to be ready for the moment to happen while avoiding lateness as much as possible. Any slip in time can make this impossible. Out of all of the types of first-looks, this type if less common and less practiced because there are a lot of moving parts to it.

Any moment in time that allows the couple to spend more time together on their wedding day is worth having a thousand times over. ​ 4. The Couple's (First Look): This is the traditional first look. This moment is a pre-arranged precious moment set up by your photographer or videographer for your wedding day. It is planned in advance, with input from the couple while still making the moment as natural as possible. Typically the Groom is taken to the designated area first with either the photographer, videographer or both. The plan is to keep the Groom from seeing the Bride (entirely) while still setting up visually to capture the moment as it transpires in real time. First Looks between the couple can be done outdoors or indoors an