There you are in your fancy gown, the love of your life staring lovingly into your eyes. Your closest friends and family there to bear witness to your commitment of life and love. The officiant proclaims "I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss your bride."  At last!  

Your FIRST KISS marks the beginning of your journey into married life.  Brides love to have this iconic moment to share on social media, announcing their marriage officially.

Here is a list of photographer approved tips to help you ROCK your first kiss and get the perfect first kiss photos.

* Make sure your hair is out of your face - nothing ruins a 1st kiss photo like not being able to actually see the kiss!  The bride traditionally stands on the left side which means the right side of your face will be to the camera.  Be sure to ask your hair stylist to keep any hair that will be down to the left side.  If you will be having an outdoor ceremony don't forget the possibility of WIND. I highly encourage my outdoor brides to have their hair styled up or half up.

* Have a 2nd photographer - there are a plethora of reasons having more than one photographer at your wedding is important and your first kiss is one of them. Having a photography team means more angles to choose from. This moment happens so quickly we only get one shot at catching it. Which brings us to the next tip.

* Take it SLOW - take a moment before going in for the kiss... take a breath, move in slowly, and kiss longer than 3 seconds. Not only will this help your photographer get to take a couple more shots but your guests will be taking pictures as well and cell phone camera shutter speeds are much slower. You will get clearer sharper photos if you limit moving in and out quickly!  If you aren't comfortable with a long slow kiss with such a large audience, opt for a 2nd kiss or a 3rd. It is your wedding afterall!

* Just the 2 of You - Before the ceremony ask your officiant to move to the side before the kiss. Having them in the photo doesn't always ruin it but many times if they stay behind we end up with unidentified limbs coming out from behind the kissing couple.

*Mind your hands - the most successful 1st kiss photos have the couple with their hands purposefully placed. Hands grabbing the face always looks romantic in the movies but in the real world and for photo purposes they look much better when gently placed on the hips, upper arm, or chest of your significant other. Keeping them away from the face ensures we get a clear shot of that marriage sealing kiss.

I hope this leaves you feeling confident and ready for YOUR 1st kiss. Don't be scared to practice. I'm sure your fiancé wont mind.

Check out more wedding images at the KLP wedding gallery: