The First Look

To see each other before the ceremony or not to see each other before the ceremony, is a question often raised by today’s couples, when planning their wedding day.

I have been photographing weddings in one capacity or other for over twenty years. One of the biggest changes I’ve seen in recent years is the softening attitude many bride and grooms have taken, when it comes to seeing each other for the first time on their wedding day.

In the early nineties, the first look rarely ever occurred before the bride made her much anticipated walk down the isle. However, for practical reasons, more and more couples today are bucking tradition and choosing to have this moment initiated, before their ceremony.

The main reason is scheduling. With many weddings, there is just too tight a window to do all the traditional group photos they want, after the ceremony.  Hence, the bride and groom elect to have most or all of them done beforehand. Of course, that means the soon-to-be bride and groom must see each other beforehand.

With regards to photography, it can work out even better, because the photographer now has more control over the setting.

THE WAITING...is the hardest part. ~ All photos copyright, Paul Van Helden

 The Waiting… is the hardest part

THE OPENING DOOR ~ All photos copyright, Paul Van Helden

 The Opening Door

HERE COMES THE BRIDE ~ All photos copyright, Paul Van Helden

 Here Comes The Bride

THE FIRST LOOK ~ All photos copyright, Paul Van Helden

The First Look 

THE REACTION ~ All photos copyright, Paul Van Helden

 The Reaction

THE LOVE ~ All photos copyright, Paul Van Helden

 The LOVE

THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER ~ All photos copyright, Paul Van Helden

^ The Happily Ever After

The traditional First Look, when the bridegroom is standing at the ceremony place and sees his bride walking down the isle, is still the most preferred choice among couples. Less, than twenty percent of the couples, whose weddings I have photographed in the past two years, have opted to do them beforehand. However, that number does seem to be on the increase. That said, whenever I have had to orchestrate these moments prior to the ceremony, I found them to be just as special and sometimes even more so.

The above photos are from Dai and Jamison’s wedding, earlier this month. May God bless them each day, as they live their lives together as one.