Photo Credit: @melissaann.weddings
Time for another Insta-loved inspiration post - this week: first looks with your bridesmaids. A few days ago, we asked all of ya’ll if you were planning to do one with your girls for your wedding day - and, not surprisingly, the majority of you said YAAAAS. And why wouldn’t you? It’s one of the most authentic shots your photographer will capture for the day, and the moments are so insanely special. You in your gown, your besties looking you up and down with the biggest smiles ever across their faces, ALL the tears streaming.
There were even a few of you who said that you wished you had done a first look, girls edition, way back when. Hah! I’m one of them! Didn’t do it for my big day, and I’ve regretted it ever since.
In any case, at Wedding Chicks, we will always be proponents of first looks - it’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. But even if you choose not to do the OG first look with your partner (whether you want to reserve that shock for the aisle, have hesitancy over the intimacy of it all, or it just isn't your style), we implore you to consider this alternative.
Photo Credit: @aaronandjillian
Obviously you’ll be getting all the ‘girl, you are gorgeous!’ gassing up soon enough, but every bride feels anxiety when she puts on her gown for the first time, looks in the mirror, and starts prepping for the last few seconds, minutes, hours of her miss-hood. Debuting the dress in front of the girls you’ve known, loved, and trusted maybe even longer than you have your fiancé guarantees all the 🙌🙌🙌. Your confidence will be climbing from that moment on.
Photo Credit: @jessicasniderphotography
Like it or not, your photographer will prob want to get in a few traditionally-posed pics of you and your posse. So, if you’re all about the candids, then a first look capture has to be on your shot list. Cue the snaps of your big sister in complete and utter astonishment over your maturity, cue the ‘she’s a princess’ realizations of your flower girls, the girl crush looks from your best friends who always knew you were stunning, but who are truly blown away by your beauty today, even some of the side eye ‘oh wow, did I look this good on MY wedding day?!?’ kind of gazing.
Photo Credit: @james.young.photos
Unless you did the proposing, you probably haven’t had the chance to do your own unveiling. A first look, where you’ll have your ladies fan out, covering their eyes until you count to three, or one where you open the door and walk into your bridal suite, whilst your squad is distracted - taking them completely by surprise - will give you that power. Own that s***!!... And let all your girls document it all.
If you do decide to embrace this trend - basic as it may be - you’ll end up with something like this…
Photo Credit: @janelle.elise.photo
… and get all the feels. Forever.
Photo Credit: @emmahopp
Photo Credit: @sarahalleman
Photo Credit: @james.young.photos
Photo Credit: @stephaniebetsillphotography
Photo Credit: @michellelawsonphotography
Photo Credit: @ashleym_brown