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True story: Whenever I think back to my favorite first looks, this photo immediately comes to mind! Erin and Steve’s first look was so emotional… I remember taking this photo and as soon as Erin’s eyes welled up with tears, so did mine! Thank you so much, Erin and Steve, for sharing your sweet story with the rest of us!<\/p>\n
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We chose the Roots (obviously) because we wanted to ensure that our wedding\u2019s archival record was every bit as beautiful as our memories of the celebration. \u00a0For us, the decision to have Nate and Jensey capture our first look, away from all of our guests with plenty of time for creative compositions and makeup tweaking, was easy. \u00a0Neither of us held any superstitions about seeing each other before the actual ceremony and, frankly, we looked forward to a few minutes alone before taking our place in front of all our friends and family.<\/em><\/p>\n I waited with Nathan in a small sitting room at Disney\u2019s Boardwalk Resort while Patricia LeJeune\u2019s amazing-beyond-words team of artists<\/a> finished Erin\u2019s makeup. \u00a0Every time I heard a voice, a swell of excitement would wash over me, only to give way to anxiety and Compulsive Watch Checking when I realized it wasn\u2019t her. \u00a0But then her voice was unmistakable, and with my back turned to the doorway, I heard her walking into the room, sniffling uncontrollably. \u00a0Of course, this started me sniffling uncontrollably, and when I turned around and saw how absolutely beautiful she was, well, we were both a mess. \u00a0That first kiss, more than any other, was probably the most intimate moment of the entire day; I still well up every time I see the photographs.<\/em><\/p>\n Beyond the intimacy of those first few moments together, there turned out to be some pretty practical advantages to our First Look session. \u00a0All of Erin\u2019s jewelry was safely secured in her room\u2019s safe; just before our first look, however, the key was nowhere to be found. \u00a0Search of the room: nothing. \u00a0Father-in-law\u2019s mad dash to the rental car: not there either. \u00a0Maid of honor\u2019s call to every family member that had been in contact with Erin in the past twenty-four hours: no one has the key. \u00a0Jensey whisked Erin away for the first look, while her father called Disney\u2019s maintenance crew. \u00a0By the time the photographs were completed, the safe was drilled open and Erin\u2019s jewelry rescued. \u00a0So, not only does a first look session provide for beautiful photographs of a lasting memory, but it also gives you a little bit of extra time to deal with those last-minute (but hardly unexpected) emergencies.<\/em><\/p>\n And when Erin appeared at the far end of the aisle, she looked even more beautiful than the first time I saw her.<\/em><\/p>\n Previous First Looks on the 1st :<\/strong><\/p>\n