There’s a reason photographers refer to early morning and late afternoon as golden hour—and it’s because the light literally looks like we struck gold. So, in order to have that dreamy, romantic lighting for your portraits, is there a best time for a wedding ceremony?

Short answer: yes… and no.

Typically, you’ll want to schedule your ceremony about 2 hours before sunset if you’re sharing a first look, or 2.5 hours before if you’re skipping it. But here’s where things get tricky—and it’s the part that often gets overlooked:

If your venue is in a valley, surrounded by tall trees, or nestled against a mountain backdrop, you’re going to lose light much sooner than that official sunset time says. So while Google might tell you the sun sets at 7:30 PM, your venue might actually fall into shadow by 6:30.

That means your photographer’s golden hour dreams? Yep, they’re gone with the light.

Let’s break down what you should expect in each season—and how your venue’s typography can make or break your portrait plan when choosing the best time for your wedding ceremony.

Winter

🕓 Average Sunset: 4:50–5:30 PM

Winter weddings are gorgeous—romantic lighting, maybe even some dramatic clouds—but they do take extra planning.

Since the sun sets earlier and faster this time of year (especially in December and January), you’ll want to schedule as many of your portraits before the ceremony if you’re skipping a first look. And if your venue is tucked into a valley or behind the hills, that light could disappear closer to 4:00 PM.

💡 Pro tip:
If you’re not doing a first look and your ceremony is around 4:00 PM, consider heading straight into those romantic “just married” portraits while you still have even a hint of natural light left. That means family formals will likely be done after dark—with flash.

Totally doable, but it’s important to plan for that ahead of time—and to be at peace with how flash images look (they’ll be crisp, beautiful, and clean—just a different vibe than golden hour). You may also want to add extra coverage time if the day feels a bit tight.

Spring

🕕 Average Sunset: 6:00–7:30 PM

Spring is an ideal season in the Bay Area—not too hot, not too cold, juuuust right. Plus, the light is soft, and if we find any blooming trees or flowers, you better believe stopping for portraits is a MUST. 🌸

If allergies are your nemesis, I always recommend taking Claritin or Zyrtec a couple days before your wedding and keeping some on hand—because spring portraits and runny noses don’t pair well. I may or may not be speaking from experience on that one. 😅

The best time for your wedding ceremony in spring depends on your wedding date and venue layout, so consult with your vendors early to plan around both blooms and light. For example, Montalvo is known for its Wisteria blooms, so you’ll want to check in with them to see about the average season peak.

Summer

🕗 Average Sunset: 7:00–8:30 PM

Summer gives us all the light we could ask for (and then some). With the sun lingering in the sky until 8:30 PM, it’s the perfect excuse to sneak out during dinner or open dancing for those golden hour portraits without anyone even noticing you’re gone.

⚠️ But beware the heat. Summer weddings here can hit the upper 90s or even triple digits. So hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. No one wants to faint in formalwear. ‘Cause that would be embarrassing!

Even though it stays light later, the best time for a summer wedding ceremony still depends on your venue’s topography. That hillside sunset might come sooner than you think, so those sunset portraits absolutely need to be strategically scheduled.

Fall

🕖 Average Sunset: 7:30–7:00 PM (and getting earlier as the season goes on)

Fall in the Bay Area? Chef’s kiss. 🍂 Between the changing vines, softer temperatures, and the cozy vibes, this season is always a winner with vendors.

Just keep in mind—sunset starts to creep earlier every week as we head toward winter. Be sure to ask your planner and photographer to factor this in before finalizing your timeline. These two vendors are there for you, so rely on their knowledge of the area and expertise if you’re struggling.

Something to consider about the best time for a fall wedding ceremony, think about how early you’re willing to start and how much light you want for not only family formals, but your “just married” portraits before or after.

So… How Do You Actually Know When Your Venue Loses Light?

This is where it gets nerdy—in the best way.

One of my favorite tools for planning is SunCalc. It lets you plug in any location and see exactly when and where the sun will set on any day of the year. If you’re dreaming of golden hour, this is the cheat code.

Even better? You can use Google Earth Pro to view sun angles and light patterns at your venue as if you were standing there. I use it to location scout for every wedding and engagement session—before I ever set foot on site.

TL;DR:

• There’s no one-size-fits-all best time for a wedding ceremony
• Always check the sunset time for your wedding day
• Factor in topography: valleys, hills, mountains, and tree coverage = earlier shadows
• Use tools like SunCalc and Google Earth Pro to visualize your ceremony space on your exact wedding date and at your venue!
• Don’t guess—talk to your planner and photographer and plan early

Ready to keep planning like a pro?

Grab my free wedding planning checklist to stay organized and on track—plus get helpful reminders about everything from timeline tips to photo must-haves.

📋 Get the FREE Wedding Planning Checklist HERE

And hey, if you’re still searching for a photographer who knows how to keep things easy (and fun!) while making sure you don’t miss out on those golden hour portraits—I’d love to connect. Inquire below to schedule your no-pressure consultation call!