This week’s Friday Fight-out may turn out to be more of an evening squabble but hey, give us a break, it’s our wedding week and frankly we’re just not in the mood to fight! The show must go on though so let’s get our game faces on and prepare to step into the ring with this week’s topic:
First Look Vs Wedding Day Surprise
Now for anyone who maybe hasn’t heard of a first look it’s a gradually growing trend where, rather than the groom see the bride for the first time as she makes her grand entrance and walks down the aisle, instead the couple share a private moment before the ceremony where the bride is revealed to her soon-to-be husband. It’s become hugely popular in the U.S and is spreading further afield but is it really a good idea?
Let’s find out….
Wedding Day Surprise ~ Wedding Photography by York Place Studios
In the red corner, our modern funky bride is fighting it out on behalf of the first look… Any excuse for more time for awesome pictures eh! It’s Dom “The Tog” Bride
In the blue corner, ever the traditionalist although he’s had his perspective changed rather after experiencing a first look first hand (stay tuned for more info)… Nonetheless fighting for the wedding day surprise it’s Matt “The Still Gormless Even Though He’s Actually Gotten Married…
Photography by Ed Peers – Our First Look
FIGHT!!
Dom: seeing your bride for the first time actually in the ceremony leaves you so little time to really enjoy it. You barely have time to tell her how beautiful she is before you have to crack on with the marriage proceedings. A first look allows you to really enjoy that moment together.
Matt: All the emotion and excitement for the groom has been building up to that incredible moment when this perfect vision of the woman he loves walks down the aisle to become his wife. If you’ve already seen her in her dress you might lose some of the impact of that incredible moment.
Dom: There is so much to do on the wedding day that once it’s underway you don’t have much time to get the photographs of the two of you together that you really want. Having that first look means you can go to a location you wouldn’t otherwise be able to and get some amazing photographs.
Matt: But do those photographs mean as much when you’re not yet a married couple? Is it more special to do the pictures celebrating the marriage even if you are more limited?
Dom: If you set up the first look well it can be such an incredibly exciting moment, creeping up on your partner, tapping him on the shoulder and watching his reaction… Walking down the aisle he may be so far away that you don’t even see his first reaction, it’s so cool to see it up close.
Matt: The groom not seeing the bride until she walks down the aisle to be his wife is such a hugely traditional thing. It’s a tradition that has been around for so many years precisely because it works: it really does add to the excitement of the entrance and is a beautiful moment for the guests to behold as well.
Dom: For the Bride it’s sometimes difficult to really enjoy your entrance because there’s so much going on and you’re concentrating on trying to look elegant and not fall flat on your face! The first look is just a perfect, private moment between the two of you with nothing else to think about.
Matt: If you’ve already seen your partner before she arrives ready to become your wife is that huge emotion to some extent already gone? Is she just wearing that dress you liked? Controversial I know!
Final Remarks:
Dom: you do realise that we did a first look and you cried like a baby both at the first look and at the ceremony right
Matt: (sniff) but you looked so beautiful!!! And I didn’t cry, I was just err…. Allergic to your perfume!
Dom: I wasn’t wearing any perfume
Matt: Bugger.
So what do you think? Would you do a first look or would you rather stick with tradition? Let us know with your comments or catch us on Twitter or Facebook!
