Wondering if a first-look is right for you? Here is some information
A "First Look" is a private moment when you and your soon-to-be spouse see each other before the ceremony.
They say it's bad luck to see each other before the ceremony, so why would I plan it? Well, we did a "First Look" and we wouldn't have changed it for the world! The morning of the wedding, you get so wrapped up in getting ready, people wanting to see you, that calling or even texting the person your whole day is focused on - your bride or groom - is out of the question.
When the "First Look" came, we were excited to not only see each other, but also to have a few moments without everyone around. And those memories and pictures are some that we cherish the most.
Sample wedding timeline for an 8-hour wedding day
Every bride loves having those beautiful shots of her bridal details. It's an important part of the story and I love shooting all the details-dress, shoes, jewelry, etc. While I'm shooting the details, I am also capturing shots of the bride and her girls getting ready. I normally allow at least 45 minutes for this part of the day.
It's time for the bride to get into her dress! This is a big moment! Diana usually asks the mother-of-the-bride and all of the bridesmaids be dressed by the time the bride is ready to get into her dress. This ensures that everyone will look nice in those images. After the bride is in her gown, she can put on her shoes, jewelry, etc.
As Diana is photographing the bridal details, Daniel will be hanging out with the groom and groomsmen. He will capture any groom details-cuff links, shoes, ties, etc. While he is photographing details he will also capture groom portraits.
This is our favorite part of the wedding day! We will find the perfect location for our couple's First Look prior to the getting ready portion of the day! I will make sure the location is private and as secluded as possible.
After the First Look, we will begin taking romantic portraits of you guys! I will find the locations for these shots as well! As we shot these portraits, the bridal party can start making their way to join us!
We will shoot the entire bridal party together and both the girls and guys separately. Make sure to have someone put the boutonnieres on the guys before they arrive for portraits.
After bridal party portraits are complete, the bride will go into hiding so that early guests don't sneak a peek and the ushers will begin their duties.
If the reception is in the same location as the ceremony, we will use this time to shoot the reception decor untouched.
It's time to get married! Most ceremonies are about 30 minutes long. If your ceremony is longer than 30 minutes, we'll make adjustments to the timeline. Cherish these moments! Your ceremony will pass by so quickly!
It's best to shoot all of the family formals immediately following the ceremony because all the family members will be present at that time. We'll need about 30 minutes for family. We recommend shooting portraits outdoors if possible, especially if the ceremony location is dark! Make sure family members are notified beforehand to stick around for the family portraits!
If the ceremony and reception are in different locations, we recommend having a cocktail hour outside of the main reception area if possible so that we can grab some great shots of your reception before the night begins.
This is when the bridal party lines up for introductions and the party begins! By this part of the day, the timeline isn't as strict. And we begin focusing on the reception events.
This is the time to take a minute to eat and drink. Wedding days are long, and your party is just beginning. We will also be eating while you and your guests eat.
Enjoy the music, greet guests, and get out on that dance floor. Also, try not to laugh at our awkward dance moves on the sidelines.
Cake cutting, bouquet toss, garter toss, make time for the traditions that are suited best to your wedding.
We include 8 hours of coverage so that we can be present for the main events of the reception and some of the dancing. If your party is still rocking and you're not ready to call it a night, you can either add additional coverage or plan a faux exit with just your bridal party.
Time to go on your honeymoon