Timeline Tips: First Looks with Family Members
Hey guys!
I am starting a blogging series called Timeline Tips. They are tips for your wedding timeline and things you may not have thought to include! This series will break down wedding timelines from the makeup going on to busting it down on the dance floor.
Today we are talking about first looks with family members! What they are, how they work into your timeline, and how they can be an easy an important moment to capture. This is typically with a father, brother, or grandpa but can also be with any family member that you want to have a special moment with!
What is it: Typically at weddings, the females will all get ready together so mom, sisters and grandma have already seen the bride in the dress. As a photographer I try to capture and create as many special moments as possible. I’ll have the maid of honor help the bride into the dress and have mom come in to help zip up the dress and add the finishing touches of jewelry and shoes. There is usually hugs and tears and it’s a special moment in your day that we can easily create space for!
That’s a huge reason why I love first looks with the male members of your family. The bride is typically away from the males in the family until right before the ceremony or during family photos. It can be easy for that special moment to get lost in the shuffle, but with a first look we make time for it! And remember, there are no rules! I did my first look with my dad and brother, I’ve had brides do them with their dads and stepdads together or solo. It’s however you want that moment captured.
How does it fit in the timeline: I tell my brides that first look with their dad, brother, or grandpa only takes about 5-10 minutes and it’s a quick and easy way to carve out space for a sweet moment. In the timeline of the day, the first look with your family member is typically right before you have the first look with your partner OR after you’ve gotten ready if you’re doing a traditional look. When it comes to blocking out time on the timeline of the day, I typically put in 15 minutes just to be safe in case dad is running a bit late or if getting into your dress took a litter longer than we expected.
How does it work: I will set up the family members in a space so that we can capture the moment and then guide the bride up to the person(s) and give a verbal cue for them to turn around. Very similar to a first look with your partner! This is usually the first time in the day that the men of the family get a chance to see the bride and it creates that special moment that you got with the females that are closest to you! Dad usually sheds a few tears and ya know, I’m silently crying behind the camera because it’s just so dang sweet!
I had a first look with my dad and brother at my own wedding. I had seen the trend on Pinterest and thought it was so sweet. Our photographer placed my brother and dad out on the patio of the house I got ready at and cued me to go outside. I cried like a baby (like I did at most of my wedding) and I will always treasure that memory and the photos that go with it! (Photo below was from my first look on my wedding day, photo was from my photographer Natural Escape Photography!)
