(If you are just coming to the site, be sure and catch up one Part1 & Part 2 of this series)

Ok, so yesterday we talked about a few myths about why seeing each other before the ceremony is bad. Today we are looking at some super cool benefits that only come from having a First Look.

1. Time Alone
I think this is my favorite thing about First Looks. It give the two of you time to hang out ALONE at your wedding. Even though you may have been to tons of weddings, there really is not anyway to understand what one is like ’til it’s yours. There are plenty of people who want to see you, timelines to stay on, and sometimes things get behind schedule. By seeing each other before hand, you ensure that you have time with the most important person in your life, on the most important day of your life. I have NEVER seen a couple who waited to see each other have time alone on their wedding day. Go back and read that last sentence. (I’ll wait.) Seriously, it’s crazy to think about, but someone is always with them, either their parent, a bridesmaid, the planner, or even the dreaded photographer. :) My favorite part of First Looks are when I leave you guys alone for a bit. You talk, relax, and remember that all the crazy wedding shenanigans are trivial compared to the person standing in front of you. There is something so intimate and powerful about seeing a bride and groom talking and laughing alone moments away from their wedding vows. I love it!

2. Better / More Photos

So, FINALLY, I get to talk about my part in this whole thing.  The photos.  A few quick thoughts:

First off, most couple get married in the afternoon/evening.  This means that by the time the ceremony is done and everyone has hugged a bit, there is only about 10-30 minutes of “good light” left in a day.  If we just wanted a few shots of the two of you this would not be a problem, but we still have to get you guys with your side of the family, his side of the family, grandparents, that crazy aunt who insists on having a picture of the 3 girls together.  (You get the idea.)  Needless to say people start getting shuffled around like cattle and, rather than everyone enjoying the process, it feels like we are all in trouble and the clock is ticking away ’til the building explodes.  Oh, and no matter how many times you’ve told them, there is always that one family member who heads to the reception and has already changed clothes and then we have to wait for them to come back.

Second, and this is HUGE:
You actually get MORE photos of the two of you when you choose to see each other before hand. This is not intentional, it’s just the reality of the day. Less time together means less photos together. Even though brides plan for some time alone with their groom, it always seems to get cut short. Things run behind schedule, the guests are hungry, it gets darker sooner than people realized, or that crazy aunt keeps coming outside to tell you you need to hurry up and get to the reception. I went and counted up my past 10 First Look vs. Non-First Look Weddings. Couples who saw each other before had an average of 74 photos of just the two of them. Couples who waited too see each other end up with 21.  (74>21)

I checked with some other photographers as well and they have similar sometimes even lower numbers. One photographer told me about how behind schedule the family formals were and how stressful the whole process was for the bride and groom that they only ended up with 3 photos of them. Three! They just were too tired and didn’t want to deal with it any longer.

3. More time to party like a rock star on YOUR wedding day!
One of the bonus benefits of having a First Look is it allow us to get all of those family formals we all love done before the ceremony. Again, everyone is relaxed and enjoying the process rather than feeling rushed as we try and shuffle Grandparents around so we can hurry up and go cut a cake. Typically we’ll have the formals done 30 minutes before your ceremony allowing you a bit of down time to do some make up touch up or just relax before things really get rolling. What this means is after the ceremony, you can head right to the reception and hang out with your guests longer. You can actually talk to people rather then half hug them as you try your best to move to the next table to make the rounds before everyone starts heading home. You’ll have more time on the dance floor, more time to enjoy your dinner, basically, it’s about a hour of fun that most couples lose when they do all their photos after the ceremony.



Come back tomorrow when you’ll hear what grooms have to say about this whole First Look business.

(The wedding day is like… 2.5% their day too, so I thought it would be nice to ask them what they thought of it.)

( Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 )

( Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 )

Any of you that read or follow this little blog know that I love it when couples choose to have a First Look. In fact about 80% of my couple choose to have one at their wedding. This is where the bride and groom see each other before the ceremony. It give them some moments alone, and it also allows us to do most of the formal photography before the ceremony, allowing you to head straight into the reception and visit with your guests. Today we’ll tackle some of the “traditions” a First Look goes against.

1. It’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride on the wedding day.
This one came about back when brides were considered property of their fathers and marriages were arranged. Often the groom had NEVER seen the bride beforehand and if he caught a glimpse of her and did not like what he saw, the marriage was off. (Ouch) Thus it became “bad luck”. This is also where other traditions like the veil come from. (One more way of keeping the bride a secret) So, if you are nervous about him running at the sight of you, a First Look is probably not for you. :)

2. Many brides say “I really want him to have ‘that look’ when he sees me walking down the aisle.”
This sounds good in theory, but I can tell you from attending weddings for a living that often times all the groom is thinking as the bride walks down the aisle is… “Try not to pass out, try not to pass out, try not to pass out.” This is countered by the bride thinking, “Try not to trip on my dress, try not to trip on my dress, try not to trip on my dress.” (Did I mention there are also anywhere form 100-400 people staring at both of you?) Seeing each other alone before hand is a MUCH more natural and genuine interaction. This gives him a chance to say what he is thinking about how beautiful you look. It gives you a chance to tear up a bit and not feel like you are ruining your make up in front of the world. It gives both of you a chance to really reflect and just sit in the moment of your day. Believe me, he will say things to you then that you will never forget. Those minutes together may end up being your favorite part of the day. Then, when you do walk down the aisle you both still experience the realness of what’s happening, but the stress and anxiety has been removed.

Tomorrow we’ll take a look at some of the super cool added benefits you can only get by doing a First Look so be sure and come back!

( Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 )

( Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 )

This week is First Look week here on the site. I will be talking more about what a First Look is, the purpose of it, and why I totally love it when my couples choose to have one, but before I get to that let me go over a few quick things.

1. A First Look is when a bride and groom see each other before the wedding ceremony. This is done alone, away from your wedding party, and it is a moment shared by just the two of you.

2. Your wedding is your day, you should not let anyone, including your super cool photographer who goes to a wedding every weekend, tell you what to do on your day. :)

3. Even though it’s “your day”, you only get one shot at it. So, rather than just go with what you’ve “thought” would be best since you were a 4 year old girl, why not get some input from those who have tried a few things different and see if they have any tips or ideas you can learn from.

Like I said, the next 4 days will be full of pros, cons, and reasons why you should consider doing a First Look. I have interviewed tons of past brides AND grooms and will be posting some of their answers as well as talking about some of the myths of why it may or may not be “bad luck” to see each other before you walk the aisle. So, just to get warmed up, here are a few quick quotes from some happily married First Look brides.

One more thing, First Looks don’t just have to be about the mush-gushy. There can be very practical reasons why you would see each other before hand…

( Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 )

It’s been a few weeks, since I’ve done one of these, so real quick like let me explain…. I love working with vendors I love.  So when it comes to your wedding planning process I thought I’d interview some of the best wedding vendors in the area to help you get to know them a bit and maybe expose you to some new ones you have not heard of.  Also, I just added a new “Vendors” section to my website.  Click the link up top for a complete list of people you have to consider working with when planning your wedding.  So, now that you know the scoop, here are a few photos form The Belgium House, then it’s on to the interview.

How did you guys get started?
In 2000 my daughter Jennifer and her fiance Shane found a place similar to The Belgium House in Austin to use for their wedding.  I fell in love with it and felt that Longview needed a place like that.  After several years of design and research, we knew it would be something that our town and surrounding areas could benefit from. 

How long have we been doing this?
The Belgium House has been in operation since December of 2007.  I have been working with brides for fifteen years or more.  Before I was a coordinator, I sewed for the public, which involved wedding dresses, and much more.  I coordinated weddings for my church for a while, then opened The Belgium House.  I have always loved being involved in the excitement felt by a precious bride. 

 What is your favorite part about your job?
There are so many things we love about our job.  The look on the couple’s face when they first see the house is pretty amazing,  We love seeing what girls and their mothers can come up with that is unique for there special day.  We get to do all the decorating and creating for the wedding day, which is a delight, then finally on wedding day when the bride and her family see the results of all the ideas and designs brought together, making for a very happy time.  As many weddings as I have witnessed, I still cry at that very special time in a couple’s life when they are pronounced man and wife. 

What is the craziest thing that has ever happened at your venue?
Some of the questions asked in this interview needed a little thought before I answered, but this question was easy.  Our craziest wedding was September 17, 2008, the same weekend we had the hurricane.  The Belgium House lost electricity for eight days.  I called the bride and gave her the news.  I offered to reschedule, or even refund, but NO she was determined to get married.  As always, it is the bride’s decision, so I said, “OK baby, come on!!!”.  We planned for generators, worked with the caterers to prepare ahead, added more candled to the decoration, and expected an unusual event.  One hour before the bride was to show up, our electricity came on.  WOW were we excited, and the bride was ecstatic to say the least.  We had a wonderful wedding and it was definitely one we will never forget.   

What are some things brides should look for when looking for a venue?
1. A bride and groom need to choose a place that will fit their personality and the mood they are trying to set for their wedding day.
2. Consider the manual labor it will take to make that venue work for them.
3. Is the date available?  For a spring wedding, venues will book as far as one year out.
4. Will the size accommodate the guests? 

What is something unique to your venue that you are extra proud of?
We are proud of the fact that this facility is service oriented.  We are family owned and operated, and we are all here during the event to make sure the bride and her guests are given special treatment.  Both my daughters, my son, each of their spouses, along with my fiance and I, and now even my niece are here to serve.  We feel it a privilege to be a part of a wedding day and we don’t take that responsibility lightly.

 
For more information, visit their website or give Jan a call.
Happy Planning!

The Belgium House
http://www.thebelgiumhouse.com/
Jan McClung
903. 660.0125

As I was driving into Jacksonville for Melissa & Alex’s engagement session I saw a little spot on the left that I knew would be the perfect location. Theses two did not disappoint. They were just what I like my couples to be, relaxed, natural, and totally into each other. These two are getting married on New Year’s Eve so it’s good to know I’ll have a great couple to close out the year with.

The only thing cooler than a guy in a Slipknot shirt with a sunflower….

…is a guy in a Slipknot shirt that’s totally into his fiance.