Many couples contemplate whether or not to have a "First Look" or to stick with tradition and not see each other before the Bride walks down the aisle.
The origin of this tradition started during the time when arranged marriages were custom, the betrothed couple wasn’t allowed to see each other before the wedding at all. The wedding symbolized a business deal between two families - romantic, huh?, and a father would have been pleased for his daughter to marry a man from a rich, land-owning family. But he also feared that if the groom met the bride before the wedding and thought she wasn’t attractive, he’d call off the wedding, casting shame onto the bride and her family. Therefore, it became tradition that the bride and groom were only allowed to meet at the wedding ceremony so that the groom did not have the opportunity to change his mind. And that veil the bride wears? Its original purpose was also to keep the groom from finding out what the bride looked like until the last possible minute, when it was too late to back out of the transaction.
Today although arranged marriages are no longer common, most brides still don’t want their groom to see them before the wedding. Many believe it makes the day more exciting and memorable. However, some couples feel they’ll be more relaxed if they see each other for just a few minutes before the ceremony. The added bonus is that you can take your formal pictures pre-ceremony when everyone is freshly done-up. Some couples opt for somewhere in between where they are either blindfolded or hold hands around a corner. This is our personal favorite because it's so sweet & romantic! Here are some of our favorites of each style! Link
Traditional "First Look"
Somewhere In Between "First Look"
Modern "First Look"
Whether or not To do a "First Look" is completely up to the two of you!
We'd love to hear what you and your fiancé plan to do!
