You've been waiting for this day for as long as you can remember. You've pictured the dress, the flowers, all of your favorite people in one room... and that moment you finally see each other.

So let's imagine for a moment that you decide to see each other for the first time during the ceremony. That is totally fine! That moment down the aisle is AMAZING, and I'll be right there capturing every bit of it.

But let's keep walking through the day together, because what happens after the ceremony matters just as much.

The music plays, you walk back down the aisle as newlyweds, and the celebration is officially on... except it isn't quite yet.

Now it's time for about 30 minutes of family portraits. Then 30 minutes of wedding party photos with everyone together. And we still haven't taken a single photo of the two of you as a couple! Little by little, what was supposed to be a fun time turns into a MARATHON of photos.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE photos. (It's kind of my thing!) But your day is not just about photography.

Meanwhile, you're missing your cocktail hour. Your guests are wondering what is taking so long, and you'll need to feed them and keep drinks in their hands while they wait. Without a first look, you need at least 90 minutes between the ceremony and the reception... and that's assuming you aren't traveling anywhere.

And then there are family photos right after the ceremony. That means trying to wrangle everyone so they don't wander off to cocktail hour, and keeping your Dad from chatting with Cousin Johnny because he hasn't seen him in 10 years. (It happens at almost every wedding!)

I'll never forget one wedding where the groom kept asking if we were almost done so he could get to his party. The couple hadn't taken any photos before the ceremony, so everything was packed into that window afterward. Then we found out there were going to be NINE speeches at the reception, and the venue coordinator had to cut our portrait time short so they could fit them all in before dinner. Their portraits were rushed, the groom was ready to be anywhere else, and no one got to relax.

Now imagine it the other way.

You see each other for the first time in a quiet, private spot... no crowd, no coordinator counting down the minutes. Just the two of you. You get to hug, laugh, cry, and actually ENJOY that moment for as long as you want. From there we roll right into your portraits, your wedding party joins us, and by the time guests arrive most of your photos are already done.

After the ceremony we grab a quick round of family photos, and then you get to walk into your cocktail hour and celebrate with the people who came to celebrate YOU. And trust me, the aisle is still magical!

A first look is never required. If you'd rather wait for the aisle, I'm all for it, and we'll plan your timeline together so there's room for everything. Keep reading to see more reasons I love a first look!

The First Look Explained