Should I do a first look or a first touch on my wedding day?
Are you currently debating on whether or not you want to do either a first look or first touch with your partner? If so then we’re going to help break it down for you and hopefully help you come to a decision.
To start things off, let’s talk about what they are. A first look is where the bride and groom see each other for the first time in a private and intimate setting before the actual wedding ceremony. A first touch is where the bride and groom have a physical connection or exchange without actually seeing each other.
Now that we’ve established what they are, let’s go into their pros and cons to see which suits you better.
First Look
Pros:
Emotional Connection: Allows for a private and emotionally charged moment between the couple, often resulting in genuine reactions and expressions of love.
Photography Opportunities: Provides an extended period for capturing intimate and candid photographs of the couple, showcasing their reactions and emotions.
Nerves and Anxiety: Seeing each other before the ceremony can help alleviate nerves and anxiety, allowing the couple to be more present during the ceremony.
Time Efficiency: Potentially saves time after the ceremony for the couple to join the celebration sooner if they opt in for taking formal pictures ahead of time.
Cons:
Breaking Tradition: Breaks the tradition of not seeing each other until the ceremony.
Less Anticipation: Takes away the surprise element of seeing each other for the first time during the ceremony, which some couples consider a significant part of the day.
Pressure to React: The presence of a photographer during the first look might make the couple feel pressured to react in a certain way, potentially affecting the authenticity of the moment.
First Touch
Pros:
Maintains Tradition: Preserves the tradition of not seeing each other until the ceremony.
Anticipation: Retains the surprise and anticipation of the first look, as the couple doesn't see each other but still have a physical connection and private moment together.
Emotional Connection: Allows for an intimate exchange of words or gifts, fostering an emotional connection between the couple.
Photography Opportunities: Provides opportunities for photographers to capture emotional and heartfelt moments during the first touch.
Cons:
Limited Photography Options: The physical separation might limit the variety of photographs captured during the first touch compared to a first look.
Logistical Challenges: Coordinating a first touch requires careful planning to ensure that the couple doesn’t see each other before, during, and after the first touch.
Less Time Efficiency: Since formal photos aren't taken before the ceremony, it may take longer after the ceremony to complete.
Still undecided? Maybe someone else’s experience might help you out! As photographers, we’ve seen plenty of both and ultimately came to the decision to have a first touch on our wedding day. We knew that we wanted some type of interaction ahead of time in order to chat with each other and calm our nerves. There’s so much anticipation and stress around the day so taking a moment to relax with one another was really important to us. That, and we both tend to be emotional people and didn’t want to be bawling like babies in all of our photos so we wanted something private. The night before our wedding I was going through a box I have full of some of our memories together. Logan and I started dating in high school and used to write each other little love letters. I came across one where Logan mentioned wanting to be my husband and I knew immediately that I’d be reading the letter to him during our first touch. We held hands and I read the letter to him. It was so perfect and intimate. We cried together and prayed, which made us both feel less anxious before the ceremony. When it came time for me to walk down the aisle, we got to see each other’s reactions and really take it all in. It was happening, we were getting married. We couldn’t have asked for a better day!
So which one is for you? Are you wanting to break away from the tradition of first seeing each other at the ceremony and spending more of the day together? Are you wanting to have a private moment and uphold that anticipation? Perhaps you want neither and just want to wait till the ceremony for any interaction. It’s all up to you and your partner and how you envision your day!
