The best hour of a wedding day often falls in the middle of the reception. Knowing when it comes lets you step outside for fifteen minutes and be back before anyone misses you.
When the light comes
Best light starts about 40 minutes before sunset. On Cape Cod it comes more than two hours earlier in October than in June.
| Date | Mayflower Beach, Cape Cod | Palm Beach, Florida | Destin, Florida |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 15 | 7:52 PM | 7:59 PM | 7:32 PM |
| June 21 | 8:18 PM | 8:16 PM | 7:50 PM |
| August 15 | 7:42 PM | 7:57 PM | 7:28 PM |
| September 15 | 6:51 PM | 7:25 PM | 6:52 PM |
| October 15 | 6:00 PM | 6:52 PM | 6:15 PM |
Sunset times calculated for 2027. Check your own date and place.
Building the day backward
- Start with sunset. Mark it on your timeline before anything else.
- Hold fifteen minutes for portraits. About 40 minutes before sunset, between courses or before the dancing.
- Tell your planner and your DJ. They need to know you will be back.
- Think about an outdoor ceremony. A ceremony late in the afternoon is softer on faces than one at noon.
- In the fall, move everything earlier. An October ceremony at 5 PM on the Cape runs out of light quickly.
If it rains
We keep the plan flexible and go outside when the sky gives us a moment. A misty sky over a lake can make a beautiful photograph.
Ewerton Decastro