Planning for Sunset

TIP: When you plan your wedding day timeline, think about the sun and how it will affect the day.

There are lots of things to consider, but I recommend planning the day with the sunset in mind. Check out this fantastic tool to find out what time the sun will set on the day of your wedding.

Portraits will turn out best if we can make the most of the daylight and plan for the majority of the photo time to take place during that magic hour before the sun sets–when the sunlight is at its most beautiful. The examples below show gorgeous, even lighting without any harsh shadows.

You can then back the ceremony up to that time (allowing a little extra time so that it doesn’t get too dark). This sunset schedule also makes for a perfect nighttime reception. The dark sky allows for candlelight ambiance during dinner and mood lighting for dancing. It’s best if it isn’t too bright while people are dancing or they can feel more self-conscious and shy away from the dance floor.

An outdoor ceremony is especially affected by the daylight and, in the summer, the heat. Planning a ceremony for later in the day, about two hours before sunset, will give you more shade, and it will be more comfortable outside for you and your guests because the hottest part of the day will be over.

If you are planning a first look, I suggest having as many portraits as possible taken before the ceremony, and then saving the portraits of just the bride and groom for after the ceremony. It’s best to save the magic hour for bride and groom photos because we will be walking around more and taking advantage of more locations that will be affected by the lighting. The family and bridal party portraits will take place in one single location that will be easier to adjust in the brighter light of day.

If you have any questions about how to plan your day, please ask me! I would love to help.