written by alessandra iurman
june 25, 2026
First Look or No First Look? Here’s My Honest Take
If you’ve spent more than five minutes on wedding TikTok or Pinterest, you’ve probably seen people debating whether or not to do a first look. Some people swear it ruins the magic of walking down the aisle, while others say it’s the best decision they made.
After going through it myself, I honestly don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer. It all comes down to what you want your wedding day to feel like.
For me? I am 100% team first look.
I almost skipped it because I didn’t want to take away from the moment of walking down the aisle. I wanted that emotional reaction everyone talks about. But I’m so glad I decided to do a first look because it gave me everything I was hoping for. And surprisingly, it didn’t take away from the ceremony at all.
Our first look ended up being one of my favorite parts of the entire day. It was just the two of us. No guests. No distractions. We exchanged our private vows, hugged, cried, laughed, and actually got to spend a few quiet moments together before the event truly started.
People don’t always tell you this, but your wedding day goes by incredibly fast. Everyone wants a minute with you, they want to take pictures with you, your photographer is guiding you from place to place, family pictures, vendors have questions… you’re constantly being pulled in different directions, no matter how much you try to avoid it.
The first look gave us a chance to slow down and simply be together. It also helped my nerves so much.
I was incredibly anxious before seeing my husband, and after our first look, I felt completely different. Instead of standing at the aisle feeling overwhelmed, I was actually able to enjoy walking down it, looking at my friends and family, seeing my soon to be husband at the end.. it was truly enjoyable and I was able to take it all in.
And here’s the part that surprised me the most… Walking down the aisle was still incredibly emotional. My husband still cried. I still cried. The butterflies were still there.
The music, everyone standing, seeing all of our favorite people together, it was still one of the most special moments of the day. Seeing each other beforehand didn’t make it feel any less magical. If anything, it made it better.
That being said, I completely understand why some couples choose not to do a first look.
If you’re getting married in a beautiful church with those dramatic doors opening, the music echoing through the room, and everyone seeing you for the first time as you walk down the aisle, that really is a once-in-a-lifetime moment. I can absolutely see why some couples want to save that first reaction for then.
Just know that choosing not to do a first look usually means your timeline becomes a little tighter.
You’ll likely spend part of cocktail hour taking portraits, which means missing time with your guests. Depending on your schedule, you may also feel a little more rushed throughout the day.
Neither option is wrong and I truly wouldn’t discourage either, it just depends on your priorities.
If your priority is spending as much time with your guests as possible, feeling less nervous, having a relaxed timeline, and getting those portraits done before the ceremony, I’d absolutely recommend a first look.
If your priority is preserving that big reveal for the aisle, and you don’t mind sacrificing a little cocktail hour or adjusting your timeline, then skipping the first look might be the perfect choice for you.
One thing I would ask yourself is this: How do you want your wedding day to feel?
Do you want a quiet moment together before everything begins? Or do you want your very first moment seeing each other to happen in front of everyone you love?
There’s no right or wrong answer.
Looking back, I wouldn’t change our decision for a second. The first look gave us a chance to connect, calm our nerves, and actually soak in the fact that we were about to get married. And somehow, it made the rest of the day even sweeter.
If you’re on the fence, my advice is simple: don’t let social media make the decision for you. Truly take a step back, picture your day, understand your priorities - and then, you can choose the option that matches you, not someone else.
Because at the end of the day, the best decision is the one that lets you enjoy your wedding the way you’ve always imagined it.