Thinking about a first look?

I must have been around five years old when I started dreaming of walking down the aisle – I had never been to a wedding before, but my dolls would exchange vows on a regular basis, and I have thorough memories of swaying back and forth with a mop, imagining it was a handsome man sharing our first dance. As I got older and learned of first looks, I was firm in my stance that I would never ever ever let my husband see me in my dress before I walked down the aisle – otherwise he wouldn’t cry when he saw me, right? That was, of course, before I started photographing weddings. Now?

My wedding needs a first look.

No longer a little girl with dolls, I still dream of my wedding day (and it’s just around the corner!), but now, this is how I see it – I walk through the gardens of our wedding venue, train trailing behind me, pearled veil picking up in just a faint gust of wind, and I tap my future husband’s shoulder – he turns, and sees me; just the two of us (and our photographer). He whispers something to me only I can hear, we hug and stand there together for a moment, holding hands, taking it all in. Then? We spend the whole day together. We take photos for an hour or so until it’s time for the ceremony – we squeeze hands for a moment before parting ways with a ‘see you out there’, until, once again, his eyes fill with tears again as I walk down the aisle. We enjoy cocktail hour, dance away the night together, we spend forever together.

What about walking down the aisle?

Seeing your bride walk down the aisle and seeing her in a private first look are both two very emotional, very different, moments. Each are impactful. After that priceless moment of standing together alone in your last minutes as just an engaged couple, that walking-down-the-aisle moment means even more. And you know what? During every single wedding we’ve shot with a first look, the groom teared up during both the first look and the aisle moment. That big dream moment did not lose any luster, was not any less impactful, and was just as one-of-a-kind.

The benefits of a first look

You get more time for photos, more time TOGETHER, the chance to enjoy your cocktail hour, two special moments felt and captured. With a first look, you literally get so. much. more.

If you still don’t want a first look, we love you just the same! We will capture beauty and romance and intimate, authentic moments. But we ask you, friend, to take some time to think about those benefits, to, just like me, reimagine those moments you always dreamt of and see how your soul feels.

We hope these tips make planning your big day a little easier! If you are a bride searching for a light & airy New Jersey wedding photographer, you can learn more about our services here!