How to Have a First Look
Elopement days can have all the aspects of a large wedding day that you envision, if you want a first dance, a first look, a cake cutting its all possible and encouraged. Dont cut out any traditions you want just because you are eloping ! Focus on activities and events to make your day meaningful and full of memories. One of the first questions I get asked by eloping couples is how do we have a first look when we are staying in the same hotel room? So I wanted to create a blog answering all questions about first looks. About 70 percent of my couples now choose to do a first look together!
What is a first look?
It’s a moment you spend together with just you and your partner before your elopement or wedding day. A first look should be just between your fiancé and you, your father/ mother and you or your brother/ sister and you. Often times others looking on takes away from the emotion filled moment.
Tips to have an emotion-filled first look
Mentally get in the space of focusing on the moment, not the photos. It’s about soaking in the time before you promise your futures to each other. It’s ok to cry!
Take your time! approach from behind for a hug or read a love note to your partner before you ask them to turn around.
How to have a first look
Stand back to back and turn around at the same time
Have one of you step outside; often when eloping you are staying in a beautiful location perfect for a first look. When clients locally stay in the redwoods by the river I will have one partner wait by the river and then walk the second partner down to surprise them.
Get ready together! Its such a sweet moment to have your fiancé zip you up and then turn around so they can see your front!
Have one partner come out of a door or hallway as the other waits
Slap your partner’s butt and tell them to turn
Hug them from behind and ask them to turn around
Pros and cons of a first look :
Pros :
We can take photos as we move from location to location
Clients usually say they feel so much less stressed after seeing their parter, they can focus on having fun.
Cons :
You’ll have to get ready earlier
Lighting may not be ideal as golden hour is always a photographers preferred time for portraits so I love doing first looks in a forest.
It can be difficult to coordinate if you are wanting a separate location from where you are staying. I usually suggest forgoing a first look if its not happening at your getting ready location.
