Is "First Reveal" Right For Your Wedding?

The bride and groom see each other for the first time as the minister looks on.

Photo by Jason Tench

A somewhat popular new trend with wedding couples and photography is the “First Reveal” or “First Look”. If you don’t know what this is, it is when the bride and groom see each other before the actual wedding ceremony. The meeting is usually staged beautifully for pictures. Most often only the groom, bride and photographer are in the room. The groom’s back is turned; the bride enters and calls his name. The groom turns and sees her for the first time. Done right it is an incredibly touching moment. The few times I’ve been privileged to see it, hankies were definitely needed. The photographer catches all the candid moments and then the couple is left alone to spend a little time together before the wedding party comes in for more pictures.

Now I can hear you saying, “But it’s back luck to see the bride before the ceremony”. Says who? I promise you the wedding gods are not going to rain bad luck down on you for sharing such a touching moment. This all started when marriages were arranged and the groom did not see the bride before because he might not like what he saw. After the marriage it was too late. Hopefully your groom has no plans to run. 

Photo by:  Jason Tench

Also, there are some very real advantages to doing this:

1) Your time for pictures together greatly increases. You have the time for all those great magazine styled shots that you do not have time to get between the ceremony and reception.

2) In every case where we have done this, both the bride and groom's nerves were gone after seeing each other and they were better able to enjoy their pictures and ceremony.

3) Your hair and makeup will be freshly done for all your pictures and can easily be retouched before walking down the aisle.

4) Many churches do not allow the photographer access to the front of the church during the ceremony. So it is not easy to catch the moments of the first look. If done before the ceremony the photographer has no problem having access to the perfect shooting spot.

If you are worried about not having that rush of emotion as you and the groom see each other later at the ceremony, don’t be. All my brides have said that the feeling was still there. It is something about being in front of all your family and friends, hearing the music and seeing the love on each others faces that still makes your heart leap and knees weak.

Photo by: Jason Tench