Golden Hour – Sunset Photos on your Wedding Day

On a wedding day, it often happens that the gorgeous glowy light everyone (especially me) longs for just doesn’t align properly with your wedding day timeline. Once the warmer weather arrives, the sun is setting half-way through your reception instead of at the time we’ve set aside to capture some of your first moments as a married couple! This is unavoidable of course, and there is a solution that I always recommend to my couples…and do an internal happy dance when they decide to take advantage of it!

The ASK

I always request that my couples give me 10-15 minutes throughout dinner to sneak out for some extra portraits of just the two of them with the best light of the day.

The EXECUTION

I’ve found the trick is to time this properly so that my newlyweds aren’t missing out on any major events or delaying the reception timeline or next course. Prepping them before the big day, and then again ahead of when it will be perfect to sneak out is the best way to make this happen.  

I’ll also have a game plan and location ready for us to head to so that we find the best light and of course, don’t waste any time!

Not only do my clients love those sunset images, but also love the chance to step away from the celebration and enjoy a few quiet moments together too. #winwin

All this being said, sometimes there isn’t a magical sunset or there just isn’t any time to sneak away…and that’s fine. I’m just sharing these notes so that you think it over, make a little wiggle room and don’t regret passing on those few extra frames!

The EXAMPLE

Em + JD got married last September at the Beverly Golf + Country Club. A venue that was made for sunsets. Keeping an eye on the fading sun, I remember popping up to the head table after the second course to let them know that if we were going to grab a few golden hour shots, it should happen in the next few minutes. They thought it over for about 5 seconds at which point Em’s MOH/Sister/My Hero chimed in and insisted they do it (Thanks, Britt!!). Check out a couple of my favourite images below from that 10 minutes we were outside!

The moral of the story, if you have the chance to squeeze this in…you should.