Why do brides and grooms usually get ready in different or locations?
It’s so that when they see each other for the first time and experience that moment together, hat moment where the couple recalls why they chose to spend their life together and cherish their love, they will remember it forever. So if you’re not familiar with the term “first look” or “reveal”, it’s some time set aside for the bride and groom to meet and see each other before the ceremony. It’s a chance to talk and potentially get some of the nerves out before getting up in front of everyone.
I’d say that 80% of our couples do a first look and are glad they did. And here are 5 reasons why:
1) Intimacy
If you do the traditional way of seeing each other for the first time, when you walk down the aisle, the groom is standing up in front of potentially 100-200+ people. Yes, they should be close friends and relatives, who know the couple very well. But it can be tough for a guy let himself breakdown and allow himself to become vulnerable in front of all those people. The first look allows him to be truly himself with his bride. And he can be his true genuine self.
2) Distance
When you see each other for the 1st time, you’re only a few feet from each other, so you can really see each others reactions. With the long aisle, you’re pretty far away, so it could be tough to see their actual reaction or face.
3)
Opportunity for Touch Ups
Should you actually break down crying there is still time to look in the mirror and fix your make up. With the aisle, you just don’t know if your eye lashes came off or some eye liner is out of place. Plus when you’re walking down the aisle, you’ve got a lot of other things going on in your mind let alone holding back emotions and tears of joy. I’m sure your heart will be beating furiously and your mind will be concentrating on walking straight, trying to trip, and smiling not too much, not too little, but just the right amount.
4) You Can Hold & Kiss Each Other
Yes, I know that some people think that it might be bad luck to kiss before you’re actually supposed to. But you know you really want to! 🙂 All you want to do is take a good look at how wonderful each of you looks, hold them in your arms, and give them a big passionate hug and kiss, right?
5)
Alone Time
Not only do you want to hold each other or kiss each other. But it’s also a little quiet time together. The whole day is filled with friends and family, but this can be your moment alone together and can give you that “calm before the storm.” How many weddings have you experienced where the bride and groom barely have a moment to themselves, let alone eat their dinner? This gives the couple to opportunity to have a private moment that they wouldn’t otherwise get.
And… It can be romantic, sweet, fun
However you decide to conduct your first look, it can be anything you want. Whether the bride walks up with the groom facing the other way, cover the eyes, blindfolds, doors open, whatever you do, it will be the way you want it. Just make sure you tell your photographer, videographer who are capturing those moments what your plan is, he or she knows how best to document everything.
But it is your day and don’t let us tell you what to do. If your dream was to see each other for the first when walking down the aisle, more power to you! It’s your wedding. We just wanted to offer up why we like it.