Wedding day first looks are becoming more and more popular, and we are here for it! For those not in the know, a first look is when a couple chooses to take a moment before the ceremony to see each other in their wedding day finest for the first time. Instead of sticking to the tradition of waiting to lock eyes until walking down the aisle, many choose to spend a minute just you two (and your incred photographer who has seamlessly faded into the background).
Not only is it an intimate way to connect before the beautiful chaos of the day begins, but it also serves up some seriously good photos. In our experience, these snaps are always packed with heart-fluttering, body-buzzing emotion – the ones you can’t stop gushing over!
Below you’ll find a collection of some favourite wedding day first looks, as well wise words from the couples involved about why this moment was so memorable and what marriage means to them. All the feels, today, guys. Scroll for a dose of warm and fuzzies…
Jules & Chris’s Gold Coast wedding
“We’re so glad we had a first look and did our portrait photos before the wedding! It was so intimate and special just us, plus once the wedding started, we didn’t miss a thing.”
Photographer Stories by Ash
Blair & Stu’s Melbourne elopement
“Marriage for us was about the next level of commitment, to what we’d already been committed to for about 13 years. We’ve lived together, moved states together, changed jobs, travelled, been through big life stuff like illness and loss together. Getting married was a celebration of all that, shared with the people most important to us.”
Photographer Briars Atlas
Selin & Scott’s Sydney wedding
“Our favourite moment of the day was the first look. It was a truly emotional and happy moment that was shared between Scott and I. We cried, we laughed and were so happy. It was so cold outside where we were taking photos but I could not feel a thing due to adrenaline.”
Photographer Zoë Morley
Danni & Amelia’s Melbourne wedding
“Marriage never really crossed our minds until the plebiscite happened.It felt pretty important to us that we acknowledge every one who fought before us. We feel lucky to have each other and what better way to celebrate that for the rest of our lives. It’s also nice ticking the married box on documents!”
Photographer Finder Seeker
Brooke & Matt’s New Zealand wedding
“So glad we did a first look, which meant we could go straight from the ceremony to cocktail hour to soak up the good vibes with our friends! Matt and I also snuck off at sunset to go down to the foreshore for some photos. It gave us some breathing space to chat and just take a moment. We got some amazing photos, and no-one even noticed we were gone.”
Photographer Love by Colour Captured
Ebonnie & Sunny’s Melbourne wedding
“We had a first look and did most of our couple photos before the ceremony, so we had lots of special time to ourselves and felt like we could just enjoy our guests and canape hour after the ceremony. Our photographer Kristy was incredible with helping us plan this and made great suggestions for this timeline when we told her the relaxed day were aiming for.”
Photographer Kinship By Kristy
Emily & Reg’s Victorian wedding
“For a couple that had been together for 10 years before saying ‘I do’, I feel that marriage didn’t change much, other than some legalities. So, to me, marriage is a chance to celebrate your teammate, the person you chose to share life with, with all your favourite people.”
Photographer Phoebe Dunn
Emma & Chris’s Brisbane wedding
“I thought marriage wouldn’t change much at all for us, given we had already been together for many years and had started a family. However, I have felt a shift in how I feel within our relationship. There is both a sense of peacefulness knowing we’ve made this commitment to show up for each other even when life gets really challenging. I also feel a stronger urge to show up as my best self for Chris, as I have a responsibility as his wife to be as supportive as I can. They are subtle but important changes.”
Photographer Katie Harmsworth
Katie & Rob’s Melbourne wedding
“One moment we will never forget is our first look. We both had this intense feeling of anticipation leading up to it, I remember walking down the hall and seeing Rob on the balcony. We were both overwhelmed with love, and it was so special to share that moment alone before the rest of the craziness began.”
Photographer It’s Beautiful Here
“For me it’s making that ultimate commitment to your person. That person who means the most to you, who you couldn’t imagine going through life without. But also it’s a reason to celebrate that amazing love you have for one another and declaring that love in front of the people who mean the most to us. And you can’t go past the chance to throw the best and biggest party of your life to boot!”
Photographer James Simmons Photography
Tessa-Jay & Brett’s Brisbane wedding
“For us, marriage means infinite love and growing old together with your best friend.”
Photographer Beck Rocchi
Tilly & Joe’s Tasmanian wedding
“The day felt so surreal when the morning came, but after doing the first look photos, we were zooming up kunanyi [Mount Wellington] in a van with our best friends (all looking incredible). It was honestly just such a nice time and so grounding, and took all the nerves out of the day. Taking our portraits beforehand also meant that directly after the ceremony, we could just get into the celebration with everyone and have so much more time with our guests.”
Photographer Cassie Sullivan
Adelaide & Rhys’s Melbourne wedding
“To us, marriage means celebrating each others quirks and differences. It’s important to laugh everyday and pick your battles wisely.”
Photographer Elsa Campbell
