If you're planning a 2027 wedding in Maine, there's a good chance you've already come across the idea of doing a first look. But what if you really want that quiet moment together before the ceremony... without giving up the feeling of seeing each other for the first time as you walk down the aisle?
That's where a first touch comes in and honestly, it's one of my favorite alternatives to a traditional first look.
As a Maine wedding photographer, I've photographed both, and I don't think there's one option that's better than the other. It really comes down to what matters most to the two of you and how you want your wedding day to feel.
What Is a First Look?
A first look is a private moment before the ceremony where you see each other for the first time.
Usually, I'll get one person into position and have the other walk up behind them. From there, I step back and let the moment happen.
This first look at The Barn at Loon Cove in Skowhegan, Maine is a perfect example of why couples choose to see each other before their ceremony.
You get a few minutes where it's just the two of you. You can hug, talk, laugh, cry and actually take each other in without a room full of people watching.
And there's another big benefit: your wedding timeline.
When you do a first look, we can often complete your couple portraits, wedding party photos and even some family photos before the ceremony.
That can mean fewer photos afterward and more time actually enjoying your cocktail hour with everyone you invited.
Will a First Look Ruin Walking Down the Aisle?
This is probably one of the biggest concerns I hear from couples considering a first look.
They worry that if they see each other beforehand, walking down the aisle won't feel as special.
But those are two completely different moments.
A first look is quiet and private.
Walking down the aisle is the moment when everything suddenly becomes real. Your family and friends are there. The music is playing. You're about to get married.
I've photographed plenty of couples who did a first look and still had an emotional reaction during the ceremony.
Seeing each other beforehand doesn't automatically take that away.
What Is a First Touch?
A first touch gives you that same chance to connect before the ceremony without actually seeing each other.
And this is probably my favorite alternative for couples who want to keep the traditional aisle reveal.
You might stand around the corner of a building, on opposite sides of a door, or back-to-back somewhere private.
You can hold hands, talk to each other, exchange letters, read private vows or pray together.
You just don't turn around.
This first touch at Water's Edge Estate in Skowhegan, Maine included something I especially love: the couple prayed together before their ceremony.
They were able to hold hands and have that moment together while still saving the first time they actually saw each other for the aisle.
There's something really special about it.
Wedding mornings can be busy. There are people everywhere, timelines to follow and a million little things happening around you.
A first touch gives you a few minutes to reconnect with the person you're actually there for.
Why I Love First Touches So Much
As a wedding photographer, I get to see the parts of a wedding day that couples sometimes don't even realize are happening.
I see the nerves before the ceremony. I see how quickly the morning goes by. And I see how much couples relax when they finally get a chance to connect with each other.
That's why I love first touches.
You get to hear their voice.
You get to hold their hand.
You can have that "Okay. You're here. We're doing this together." moment.
But then you walk away without ever seeing each other.
So when those ceremony doors open — or you start walking down the aisle at your outdoor Maine ceremony that moment is still completely untouched.
First Look vs. First Touch: Which Should You Choose?
Think about what is most important to you.
A first look might be perfect for you if:
- You want more time together on your wedding day.
- You want to get as many portraits done before the ceremony as possible.
- You'd really like to enjoy cocktail hour with your guests.
- You're nervous about seeing each other for the first time in front of everyone.
- You want a private moment where you can actually talk and react to each other.
A first touch might be perfect for you if:
- You've always dreamed about seeing each other for the first time at the ceremony.
- You want to keep that traditional aisle moment.
- You still want a private moment together beforehand.
- You'd like to exchange letters, private vows or pray together.
- You think connecting before the ceremony would help calm your nerves.
And if you're reading those thinking, "I have absolutely no idea" — that's okay too.
That's part of what I'm here for.
Your Wedding Timeline Should Fit YOU
One of the things I really want my couples to understand is that your wedding photography shouldn't take over your wedding day.
You're not spending thousands of dollars and inviting all of your favorite people to a beautiful Maine wedding venue just to spend the entire day taking pictures.
The photos matter.
But so does actually experiencing the day they're documenting.
Whether you choose a first look, first touch or decide you don't want either, we'll build your photography timeline around what's important to you.
If enjoying cocktail hour is important, we'll plan around it.
If keeping your aisle reveal completely traditional is non-negotiable, we'll protect it.
If you want tons of couple portraits, we'll make time for them.
There isn't one "correct" way to plan a wedding day.
Planning a 2027 Wedding in Maine?
If you're currently searching for a Maine wedding photographer for 2027, now is a really good time to start reaching out.
Popular Maine wedding dates — especially Saturdays during summer and fall — can be requested by multiple couples, and once a date is booked, I have to turn other weddings on that date away.
My approach to Maine wedding photography is a mixture of candid, documentary-style moments and the posed portraits you'll want to hang on your walls.
I'll help with your timeline, family photo planning and all of those little photography-related questions that come up along the way so that when your wedding day finally arrives, you can actually enjoy it.
Whether you're planning a wedding in Skowhegan, Waterville, Augusta, Bangor or somewhere else in Maine, I'd love to hear what you're planning.
Planning your Maine wedding for 2027? Reach out through my website to see if your date is available and tell me a little about the day you're dreaming up.
