4 Types of First Looks on Your Wedding Day (And Why Each One Matters)
4 Types of First Looks on Your Wedding Day (And Why Each One Matters)
It's hard to choose our favorite moments throughout the wedding day, but if we had to pick, they might be the excitement of being seen for the first time. Whether this beautiful moment comes from your partner first look, your first look with parents, or when you walk out to your bridesmaids—a first look moment is sure to steal your heart away.
More and more these days, couples are choosing to take a few minutes during different phases of the day to enjoy moments of surprise and emotion with their best friends and loved ones. From looks of joy and laughter to the happiest of tears—from those who have always stood by your side to those who will stand by you forever after—these first look moments say it all.
Below are four first look opportunities that will sweep you off your feet and create unforgettable photo opportunities.
1. First Look With Your Bridesmaids
We admit, each kind of first look is special in its own way and we love each for different reasons. The bridesmaids first look is sweet and sentimental among best friends.
What Makes This Special
The moment unfolds: After you're fully dressed and ready, you step out to reveal yourself to your bridesmaids for the first time. Their reactions are immediate, genuine, and deeply personal.
What we capture:
Each bridesmaid's unique reaction (some cry, some scream, some go silent with emotion)
The collective moment when they all see you together
Individual hugs and embraces
Candid laughter and tears
The bond between you and each friend
Why This Matters
We love that each reaction is different and admirable while capturing a unique bond between the bride and each bridesmaid. Friendships are forever, and we love that photo opportunities like this celebrate them!
When to schedule this:
Right after you finish getting dressed
Before any other first looks
15-20 minutes is usually plenty
Works in your getting ready suite or a nearby beautiful location
The Emotional Value
These photos capture: The women who have been with you through everything—roommates, late-night conversations, relationship ups and downs, life milestones—seeing you about to marry the person you love. It's a celebration of friendship as much as it's a celebration of your wedding day.
Years from now, these images will remind you of the friends who stood by you during one of life's biggest moments.
For guidance on what to wear during getting ready and how to coordinate with your bridesmaids, our preparation guide offers helpful tips that apply to wedding mornings as well.
2. First Look With Your Partner
Tried and true, it's the most common first look and the most romantic (obviously!). The reaction of your partner makes all the anticipation worth it and will be remembered forever, thanks to your photography and videography team.
Why This Is So Powerful
The private emotional release: It's truly one of the most genuine moments captured during the day. Your partner gets to react authentically—tears, laughter, overwhelming emotion—without the pressure of an audience watching.
What happens during this moment:
You position back-to-back or with one partner's eyes closed
The reveal happens naturally
Genuine reactions unfold (often tears from both)
Private words are exchanged that only you two hear
You have 5-10 minutes alone together before portraits begin
Capturing Multiple Perspectives
Even better when captured from multiple angles by our team members. Having a second photographer ensures one captures your reaction while the other focuses on your partner's—preserving both perspectives of this irreplaceable moment.
What dual coverage captures:
Your partner's face when they first see you
Your expression and emotion
The approach and reveal from different angles
The embrace and private moments afterward
Wide shots showing the beautiful location and context
Why Video Matters Here
This 60-second moment contains words you'll forget, emotions you'll miss while living them, and authentic reactions that deserve more than still photos. Read our complete guide on why video is a must if you're doing a first look to understand why this moment deserves both photography and videography.
The Timeline Benefits
Beyond the emotional value, partner first looks provide:
More relaxed portrait sessions (60-90 minutes pre-ceremony)
30-40% more couple portraits in your gallery
Ability to utilize golden hour light for yourselves
You can participate in cocktail hour instead of being stuck doing portraits
Reduced pre-ceremony nerves
For a complete breakdown of all the benefits, read our detailed guide on whether you should do a first look.
3. First Look With Your Parents or Grandparents
Giving away a son or daughter on their wedding day is an emotional thing for parents. So naturally, the reaction of seeing their child dressed and ready for their wedding day—ready to walk down the aisle—is incredibly touching and sentimental.
Why This Moment Is So Meaningful
For your parents: This is the moment they truly process that their child is getting married. You're no longer just "planning a wedding"—you're standing in front of them, fully dressed, about to marry the person you love.
Common reactions we see:
Tears (from both parents and you)
Quiet pride and emotion
Tender embraces
Meaningful words exchanged privately
Sometimes laughter through tears
How to Structure This
Timing options:
Option 1: Before getting fully dressed
Your mom sees you in your dress before anyone else
Very intimate, emotional mother-daughter or mother-son moment
Usually in your getting ready suite
Option 2: After you're ready
Both parents see you together
Happens after bridesmaids first look (if you're doing one)
Can include grandparents as well
Usually allows for more composed photos
Option 3: Right before ceremony
Quick private moment before processional
Very emotional as reality sets in
Limited time but powerful impact
Photos You'll Treasure Forever
You'll cherish these photos for years to come, we promise. They also make incredible framed gifts for your parents—consider ordering prints to give them as thank-you gifts.
What these images capture:
Your parents' pride and emotion
The generational connection
A milestone in your family's story
The people who raised you seeing you become a spouse
Grandparents (if included) witnessing family legacy continue
Understanding how to pose naturally during emotional moments helps everyone feel comfortable, allowing authentic emotion to unfold without awkward stiffness.
4. The Traditional First Look: Walking Down the Aisle
Even if you see each other before the ceremony, there is a completely different set of emotions you'll experience as you walk down the aisle and see your partner at the altar.
Why This Remains Powerful
The ceremony entrance is unique because:
All the anticipation and planning comes down to this moment
A swell of emotions takes over you
Your guests' energy and reactions surround you
The formality and significance of the setting
You're making a public commitment in front of everyone you love
The weight of what's about to happen feels real
You Don't Lose This Moment
Common concern: "If we do a partner first look, won't the aisle walk be less special?"
The reality: Doing a first look with your partner won't take anything away from this moment. We promise!
Why both moments are distinct:
Partner first look = Private, intimate, emotional release
Just the two of you
Freedom to react without an audience
Casual, authentic interaction
Nervousness melts away
Ceremony entrance = Public, formal, ceremonial significance
All your loved ones watching
Processional music and formality
The gravity of commitment
Different kind of tears and emotion
Actually, it gives you more moments and more experiences on the wedding day, all different and unique in their own way.
Capturing the Processional
What we document during your entrance:
Your partner's reaction seeing you walk toward them
Your face and emotion walking down the aisle
Guests' reactions (tears, smiles, joy)
Parents' faces watching
The full scene with everyone gathered
The moment you reach the altar
Not to mention all the guests swooning as they stare and watch you walk down the aisle—this collective energy creates an atmosphere that simply doesn't exist during a private first look.
Having a second photographer ensures comprehensive coverage: one positioned at the altar capturing your partner's reaction, the other at the back documenting your full entrance and guest reactions.
Planning Multiple First Looks: Timeline Considerations
If you want to include several first look moments, timing is key.
Recommended Schedule
2:00pm - Get dressed Hair and makeup complete, dress on, ready to go
2:15pm - Bridesmaids first look 15-20 minutes with your bridesmaids
2:30pm - Parents/grandparents first look 10-15 minutes with parents (can be separate or together)
2:45pm - Partner first look The main event, including 5-10 minutes of private time
3:00pm - Couple and bridal party portraits 60-90 minutes of relaxed portrait sessions
4:30pm - Ceremony begins Everyone is relaxed, portraits are complete
5:00pm - Cocktail hour You participate! Quick family formals during this time
6:00pm - Reception Brief sunset portraits if desired
What This Timeline Achieves
Benefits of stacking first looks:
All major emotional moments captured before ceremony
You're relaxed and present during ceremony
Portraits are completed without rush
You enjoy cocktail hour with guests
Multiple meaningful photo opportunities throughout the day
Understanding the best time for wedding photos helps you plan when to schedule each first look for optimal lighting and emotional impact.
Which First Looks Should You Include?
Not every couple needs all four types. Here's how to decide:
Definitely Consider
Partner first look - if you:
Want relaxed portrait timeline
Feel nervous about ceremony
Want private time together
Desire more variety in couple portraits
Want to participate in cocktail hour
Parents first look - if you:
Have a close relationship with parents
Want to give them a special private moment
Know they'll be emotional (they deserve privacy)
Want meaningful photos to frame for them
Nice to Have
Bridesmaids first look - if you:
Have a close-knit group of friends
Want to celebrate your friendships
Have time in your getting ready schedule
Want fun, joyful photos with your girls
Traditional aisle first look - this happens regardless: Even if you do partner first look, the ceremony entrance remains powerful and emotionally distinct. You don't have to choose one or the other—you can have both.
How We Capture These Moments
Our Approach to First Looks
We believe first looks should be:
Authentic, not staged
Private (only essential people present)
Well-timed (not rushed)
Beautifully documented from multiple angles
What we do:
Position you naturally in beautiful light
Step back and let moments unfold organically
Capture genuine reactions without interfering
Use documentary photography techniques to preserve authenticity
Provide gentle guidance without directing emotion
Why Professional Coverage Matters
First looks are unrepeatable moments:
You can't redo your partner's genuine reaction
Parent emotions happen once
Bridesmaids' surprise is authentic only the first time
This is why comprehensive wedding photography coverage matters—these moments deserve to be preserved by experienced professionals who know how to capture emotion without disrupting it.
Common Questions About Multiple First Looks
Does doing multiple first looks cheapen the experience?
No. Each first look serves a different emotional purpose:
Bridesmaids = Celebrating friendship
Parents = Honoring family and legacy
Partner = Private intimate connection
Aisle = Public commitment and ceremony
They're all meaningful in distinct ways.
How much time should I allocate?
Recommended timing:
Bridesmaids: 15-20 minutes
Parents: 10-15 minutes
Partner: 30-40 minutes (including portraits after)
Total: Plan 90 minutes for all first looks plus initial portraits
Will I be emotionally exhausted before the ceremony?
Actually, the opposite. Most couples report feeling:
More relaxed after seeing their partner
Calmer knowing major moments are captured
Excited rather than nervous
Present during ceremony instead of anxious
Do we need video for all first looks?
Priority for video:
Partner first look (highest priority—words exchanged, genuine reactions)
Parents first look (emotional, meaningful words)
Aisle entrance (always captured)
Bridesmaids (fun but less critical for video)
Read our guide on why video matters for first looks to understand what you're missing with photos alone.
Making Your Decision
Have you decided whether or not you'll include first looks in your wedding day? If you're set on not seeing your partner before the ceremony, consider one of the other options above. Each makes for an incredible photo opportunity and meaningful moment.
Questions to Help You Decide
How important is timeline flexibility for portraits?
Do we want private emotional moments before the ceremony?
Will our parents be very emotional? (They might want privacy)
Do we have a close bridal party we want to celebrate?
How nervous do we typically feel at big events?
What moments matter most to us personally?
Our Recommendation
After photographing 300+ weddings, we've seen that couples who include at least one first look (usually partner or parents) report:
Less stress during the day
More meaningful private moments
Better variety in their photo gallery
Calmer, more present ceremony experience
No regrets about "ruining" the aisle moment
But ultimately, your wedding should reflect what feels right for you.
More Wedding Planning Resources
Are you in need of more wedding planning inspiration, engagement session planning, or photography/videography advice?
Explore our complete guide library:
Wedding Photography Guides:
Wedding Videography Guides:
Wedding Planning Guides:
Ready to Capture Your First Look Moments?
Whether you're planning one first look or several, we'll work with your timeline and preferences to ensure these meaningful moments are beautifully preserved.
Let's discuss your wedding day:
Schedule a Consultation | View Our Portfolio | See Recent Weddings
Serving Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Southern California with wedding photography and videography that captures authentic emotion during first looks, ceremonies, and every meaningful moment in between.