Advice · 5 min read · May 18, 2026
First look or not? An honest comparison
Both are lovely. Here is what each one actually does to your day.
A first look is a private moment before the ceremony where you see each other for the first time.
Choosing one usually buys you two hours of relaxed portrait time and means you can join your own cocktail hour. Skipping it preserves the aisle moment and tends to produce a bigger emotional peak during the ceremony.
There is no wrong answer. Decide based on how much of your reception you want to be present for.