Why This Simple Moment Can Become the Heart of Your Film
For many couples, the first look has become a special part of wedding traditions — that private moment when you see each other for the first time before the ceremony.
But does it make sense to include a first look in an elopement, where everything is already intimate and personal?
Our answer:
Absolutely. If you want it, it might become your favorite moment.
Here’s why.
💫 First Look = Pure Emotion (No Audience)
An elopement is about keeping things simple, personal, and meaningful.
A first look fits perfectly into this mindset:
No guests. No staged reactions.
Just you and your partner, seeing each other with no filters.
A moment where you can be fully yourselves.
We've filmed first looks in forests, on cliffs, in city alleys, even on quiet beaches.
And every single one felt different — because it was about the couple, not the location.
🎥 Why We Love Filming First Looks
From a filmmaking perspective, the first look is a goldmine of genuine reactions:
Nervous smiles
Tears you didn’t expect
Spontaneous hugs and laughter
The way you breathe when you finally see each other
Unlike the ceremony, where there’s a structure, a first look is free. You can take your time, talk, laugh, cry — and we simply follow from a respectful distance.
This gives us the most honest, emotional footage of the entire day.
📝 But Isn’t an Elopement Already Intimate?
Yes — but even in an elopement, the first look creates a special emotional shift.
Before:
You’re both getting ready, feeling anticipation separately.
The first look becomes the moment of release.
The moment everything becomes real.
For some couples, it's when they truly relax.
For others, it's when the emotions hit hardest.
We often see this as the emotional starting point of the final film.
📸 First Look Ideas for Elopements
Some of our favorite setups include:
Forest Pathway — walking towards each other in silence, nature all around
Seaside First Look — one partner waiting barefoot in the sand, the other approaching
Urban Alley First Look — small streets in old towns, intimate and cinematic
Mountain Overlook — dramatic backdrop, simple, genuine reactions
It doesn’t need to be complicated.
It just needs to feel right for you.
🎬 A Real Story
One couple eloped in Switzerland.
They chose to meet on a quiet trail with snowy peaks behind them.
No music. No guests. Just the sound of snow under their boots.
The groom’s reaction was simple:
He smiled, his eyes watered, and he said:
“I can’t believe we’re here.”
That one sentence — unscripted, honest — became the emotional anchor of their wedding film.
📽 Want to see how the first looks in our films? → Portfolio
🕊 Final Thought
A first look isn’t a trend.
It’s a moment.
A moment that belongs only to you two.
In an elopement, where every detail is chosen with intention, a first look can be the emotional highlight — and the most powerful part of your story.
📩 Thinking about including a first look in your elopement? Let’s plan it → Contact
📦 See how our films capture these moments → Packages