Bellingham Wedding & High School Senior Photographer | Melisa Draper Photography

Tradition is to not see your groom before before you get married but Why? Superstition? The majority of brides today opt to see their groom before the wedding, we do what is called first look! This is a more intimate way for our couples to see each other for the first time on their wedding day. Most couples have been planning their wedding day for months and in some cases even a year, they have been waiting for that moment to see their bride in her dress or their groom in his tux. They want to have that moment alone and for it to be special. We set it up in a area where they can have their space but we can photograph that moment from a distance, that way they will have those photos to treasure for a lifetime. We try to make this moment to be a special time for just the two, when they have had a moment when then do their bride and groom portraits.

Another reason why it is helpful to do a first look is you can get more of the photos out of the way before the ceremony so you don’t have to make your guests wait for the reception to start. Usually there is a cocktail hour between the ceremony and the reception but guests don’t like to be kept waiting too long. The time after the ceremony for photos is almost cut in half! Hope this gives you something to think about when you are planning your wedding!