Why it’s No Longer Bad Luck to See the Bride Before the Wedding

When we tell people about “first look wedding photos” they’re sometimes surprised. The practice of a happy bride and groom-to-be getting the chance to see one another before the ceremony is still a little shocking for some. In practice however, it’s a wonderful new tradition.

The first look is an opportunity for the photographer to capture those thrilling moments before the marriage ceremony. It’s a special, private time; an intimate affair meant only for the bride and groom…and the photographer of course!

For obvious reasons, some brides-to-be (and some grooms!) are a little nervous about the idea of getting a sneak-peek at their loved-one before anyone else. After all, most people are familiar with the idea that it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony.

But is it a tradition that’s now outdated? Can booking a first look make your wedding a more enjoyable occasion?

What are the real benefits of a first look?

Why should you book a first look with your wedding photographer? In short, a first look is the best way of ensuring that you get the most out of your day and spend the majority of it with your family and friends.

Seeing one another before the ceremony, for the express purpose of taking your wedding photographs can be a fabulous idea. Why? Because once the official marriage ceremony is over, there are only group family photographs to complete and the rest of the time is yours to enjoy!

Your clothes and makeup are still fresh as a daisy and there’s a wonderful air of excitement and anticipation in the air as you prepare for your wedding. As far as romance goes, what could be more wonderful than the intimacy of a photo shoot done as a couple who are about to embark on a wonderful adventure together?

Making the most of a first look

Timing is everything when it comes to weddings. With so much to fit into one day, it can feel overwhelming…but a first look really streamlines the event.

If your ceremony happens to be later in the day, when the natural light is starting to fade, then you can have your first look in the morning to take full advantage of the daylight.

There’s also the fact that a first look ensures you get more photographs than you might otherwise manage. First looks allow for pictures to be taken both before and after the ceremony, documenting the entire day as it happens.

How do first look improves a wedding?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the romance and joy of that first look is very affecting. Most couples find that a first look is an unforgettable part of their day.

There’s something especially moving about the first moment the couple set eyes on one another in their wedding clothes. It’s a moment that really comes across in the photographs. It’s an extra sparkle of anticipation that’s unmistakable.

First look wedding photo ideas

Discuss your first look photo ideas with your fiancé or fiancée and keep an open mind as to the way you want them to look! The beauty of them is that no first look photos will be exactly the same. First look photos capture a pure moment in time, in the most beautiful way.

Less pressure, more pleasure

Once your first look photographs are secured and you’ve both been captured in all the excitement, wonder and romance of your wedding day, you’re free to enjoy the rest of your day. That knowledge creates a wonderful sense of freedom and both bride and groom can relax into the rest of the celebration.

The ceremony is of course the crowning moment of any wedding and when that’s complete, it’s time for the fun to begin! Fun that doesn’t include the added pressure of spending an hour or two having photographs taken!

Breaking down the “tradition” and understanding the old ways

To fully understand the origins of the idea that a groom mustn’t see his bride before the ceremony, we need to go back to a very different time. A time when arranged marriages were the norm amongst wealthy European families.

A shrewdly arranged marriage could considerably increase both the wealth and the lands of two families with children of marriageable age. But if a groom didn’t quite like the looks of his new bride or vice versa, then trouble could arise. Lucrative “deals” might be jeopardised and money lost.

The tradition of not allowing a couple to see one another before the ceremony, arose therefore from a desire to protect the marriage/business deal.

Fashions within weddings and the traditions surrounding them, come and go with the centuries; altering and shifting as commonly as attitudes and beliefs and some, it could be argued, linger on for far longer than necessary!

A simple schedule shift in a special day can not only take off pressure but also add a fresh and very romantic element to the occasion.