I am Ashley, a destination wedding photographer based in Wilmington, NC and I am here to help you plan your wedding ceremony time based on the time of year you want to get married. One of the most important (yet often overlooked!) factors when planning your wedding day timeline is the time of year you’re getting married — especially when it comes to your ceremony time. As a light and airy destination wedding photographer based in Wilmington, NC, natural light plays a huge role in how your wedding photos will look. The changing sunset times throughout the year can significantly impact your ceremony timing, the flow of your day, and the type of light captured in your photos.

Why Sunset Time Matters for Your Wedding Photos

The hour before sunset — known as golden hour — is the most magical time of day for photos. The soft, warm light creates that dreamy, romantic glow that makes light and airy photos so beautiful. Whether you’re planning an intimate elopement or a large wedding celebration, the timing of your ceremony directly affects how much natural light we’ll have for portraits after you say, “I do.”

How Sunset Times Change Throughout the Year

Sunset times can vary drastically depending on the season and location of your wedding. Here’s a general breakdown for Wilmington, NC and most coastal destinations:

• Spring (March – May): Sunset ranges from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM — making late afternoon ceremonies ideal.
• Summer (June – August): Sunset ranges from 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM — perfect for those dreamy golden hour portraits after a 6:00 or 6:30 PM ceremony.
• Fall (September – November): Sunset ranges from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM — meaning earlier ceremonies around 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM work best.
• Winter (December – February): Sunset can be as early as 5:00 PM — requiring ceremonies to start by 3:00 PM to allow enough time for portraits in natural light.

If you’re planning a destination wedding, it’s important to consider that tropical locations closer to the equator often have consistent sunset times year-round, while European or mountain destinations may have later sunsets in the summer months.

How to Choose Your Wedding Ceremony Time

When deciding on your ceremony time, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. What time is sunset on your wedding day? Check the exact sunset time for your wedding date and location to help determine the best ceremony start time.
2. Do you want a first look? If you’re planning a first look, you’ll have more flexibility with timing and can schedule portraits before the ceremony — allowing for a later start time.
3. How long is your ceremony? Religious or traditional ceremonies tend to last longer, while non-religious ceremonies are typically shorter. Factor this into your timeline to ensure we have enough daylight for portraits.
4. Your vision for portraits: Do you want glowing golden hour couple portraits? Would you prefer family photos in soft daylight? Let’s work together to build a timeline that makes the most of the natural light available.

Trust Your Photographer and Your Planner

Every wedding day is unique, and I always work closely with my couples (and their wedding planners!!) to create a timeline that maximizes natural light and ensures no special moments are missed. Whether you’re planning a sunset beach wedding in Wilmington, downtown Charleston wedding or a destination wedding in Jamaica, we’ll design your timeline together to make sure your photos are filled with that soft, romantic glow.

Emma and Landon Summer Wedding

Emma and Landon had a 5PM wedding ceremony time. See more from their day planned by Jerrye Gordon Events below.

Bella and Cole’s Fall Wedding

Cole and Bella had a 3:30PM wedding ceremony time. See more from their day planned by Brittanie Raquel Events below.

Rose and Eston’s Winter Wedding

Rose and Eston had a 3PM wedding ceremony time at Timberlee Farm. See more from their day below.

Madeline and Adam Spring Wedding

Madeline and Adam had a 4:30PM wedding ceremony time at Wrightsville Manor. See more from their day below.

Let’s Plan Your Wedding Day Timeline!

If you’re dreaming of light and airy wedding photos that feel timeless and full of joy, with a blend of documentary and editorial posing, choosing the right ceremony time is key. I’m here to help guide you every step of the way — from choosing the perfect engagement session location to crafting a wedding day timeline that makes the most of every moment.

Let’s create something beautiful together! 💕

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