One of my favorite photos from my own wedding is that of Chad seeing me for the first time in
my dress. It was just the two of us and our photographer and videographer in the chapel. He
stood in the center with his back to me before I tapped him on the shoulder and witnessed the
biggest smile I’d ever seen on his face.

We stood there giggling like we were kids at Christmas delighting in the moment that was not rushed into formalities. He made me feel like a present he had just opened. I did have a present for him. After a few hugs and kisses, I led him to the table where he opened a wooden sign with 3 ropes on it along with the verse found in Ecclesiastes 4:12. We gently laced the ropes together in the shape of a cross signifying our promise to keep God at the center of our marriage and then sat together in the first pew of the
chapel and prayed.

Heads bowed, hands held, dress draping the window-lit room, this is one of
the three photos I keep displayed in our home. This was the moment I wanted to last forever
and there, on the north wall of our living room, it does.

Our first look was a chance to see raw emotion without a full audience, a chance to slow down
and just be together on a day filled with our favorite people and activities, a chance to center the
day in intentionality. For some of my couples, it is a chance to read private vows. For others, it
is to calm nerves. For some, it is not with each other, but with the bride’s dad, an opportunity for
me to capture his reaction to seeing his baby girl all dressed up and ready for this milestone in
her life.

For whatever reason you decide to have a first look, it is my role to stage it in a quiet
place with great lighting, to then be as non-distracting as possible and to capture the happy
tears and glowing smiles that come from such a treasured time.

Traditionally, the groom would not see the bride until she is walking down the aisle. I am
positioned in a spot just in front of the bridesmaids to not block his view and to photograph his
reaction from a 45 degree angle, then switch to the bride’s approach and back to him, back to
her, then tuck myself to the far left to be out of the way, yet still able to see the hand-off. These
seconds are precious no matter the years and times that I have done this. If it is your
preference to keep with tradition, there will be no pressure from me to change that.

For those that decide to embrace the new tradition of a first look, the moment down the aisle is no less
special.

If you are undecided, a compromise many couples choose is to have a “first touch”. With this, I
would select a quiet, pretty spot for the groom to wait, then bring the bride to stand back to back
with him or around a corner where they can hold hands, but not see each other. Many couples
love doing this so they can read letters or private vows, but save the visual moment for the
ceremony.

If you intend to incorporate a first look into your day, I recommend doing so 1.5 hours prior to
your ceremony. This allows for us to capture the intimate photos you desire, time for you to
read anything you would like to share as I step away for it to truly be private, a moment for you
to just be present with each other to calm nerves or just soak in the feeling of this being the
amazing day you have waited for and then for you to have some posed portraits before guests
arrive. I recommend allowing 20 minutes of your pre-ceremony time to be reserved so that you
are not rushed.

This is your day. I want it to be filled with every intentional and beautiful memory you desire.
My hope is that in explaining this, you will have a better idea of what you want for your wedding
and that whatever that is will bring you joy every time you look back on it.