Sunrise, Sunset, or Midday? The Best Time of Day To Elope and Why It Matters
There are so many important details that go into planning the perfect elopement — the location, the date, the guest list, the catering menu, the vows — that all too often couples overlook one of the most important and essential aspects of their entire wedding: The time of day. What is the best time of day to get married? Should you elope at sunrise, midday, or sunset? It might seem like a simple question, but your choices can have a big impact on your entire elopement. Choosing the best time of day to elope isn’t just a matter of convenient scheduling or personal preference — it affects every aspect of the day in ways both large and small.
The time of day affects the lighting and atmosphere, which has a huge impact on the presentation and style of your wedding photos. It also can strongly influence the energy of your wedding, and even play a role in how private and intimate your elopement can be.
Since choosing the best time of day to elope is an essential part of planning your perfect wedding, I’ve put together this handy guide outlining the pros and cons of eloping at sunrise, midday, or sunset. Here’s how to pick the time of day for your elopement ceremony.
Pros & Cons Of Eloping At Sunrise
Sunrise Elopement Benefits
An early start: Many couples consider sunrise to be the best time of day for an adventure elopement because it gives you a head start on the day and allows you plenty of time to explore your surroundings, dive into the unknown, and really make the most of the entire day. When you get started early, you have the whole day ahead of you, with all the possibilities and opportunities it brings.
Blue Hour Lighting: One of the most important elopement timing tips I give all of my couples is to consider how the time of day will impact the type of lighting we have to work with for elopement photos.
When you elope at sunrise, you have the opportunity to take advantage of some of the day’s best lighting. In the very early morning, you have Blue Hour, which begins an hour before sunrise. During this fleeting early-morning window, the lighting is uniquely cool, soft, and ethereal.
If you’re looking for a truly one-of-a-kind atmosphere for your elopement photos, I’d definitely recommend a Blue Hour photoshoot.Golden Hour Lighting: As dawn breaks, Blue Hour lighting gives way to Golden Hour, which begins one hour after sunrise. Golden Hour offers soft, warm, diffused light that is both incredibly flattering and stylistically versatile. It creates a dreamy, romantic glow that is hard to replicate at any other time of day. Skin tones look beautiful, and shadows are long and soft.
Increased Seclusion And Intimacy: Getting an early start on your wedding day means you’ll deal with fewer crowds. An early morning elopement offers a level of seclusion and intimacy that is completely unrivalled throughout the rest of the day.
This can be especially important to consider if you’ve chosen an elopement location that attracts heavy crowds or is a popular landmark — while the rest of the world is still sleeping, you can be fully immersed in your breathtaking surroundings, exchanging vows as if you’re the only two people on Earth.
Cons Of Eloping At Sunrise
Very Early Wake-up Time: A sunrise elopement requires you to literally be up with the sun (and sometimes even before the sun!). This necessitates a very early wake-up time, which can be quite challenging.
Limited Time To Get Ready: You'll need to plan your getting ready process very carefully to ensure you're ready by the time the light is good. You’ll be working on a slightly tighter schedule with slightly less flexibility. It’s also important to note that your hair and makeup artists might charge a premium for such early hours.
Limited "Re-dos" for Lighting: The magical light of sunrise is fleeting. Blue Hour and Golden Hour are brief windows of the day, so if something goes wrong (wardrobe malfunction, unexpected cloud cover, etc), you’ll have a very narrow window to capture the elopement shots you want.
Like any conscientious wedding photographer, I’ll be prepared for anything and ready to adapt if something unexpected happens, no matter the time of day. It’s important to keep in mind that the magic of early morning lighting doesn’t last forever, and we won’t have unlimited chances at perfection.
Pros & Cons Of Eloping At Midday
Midday Elopement Benefits
Less Hectic Schedule: When you plan your elopement for midday, you have more time in the morning to get ready at a leisurely, relaxed pace. If something unexpected happens, you have plenty of time to adapt and adjust your plans to ensure that your day continues to go smoothly and you get the perfect wedding you deserve.
Easier To Coordinate With Vendors: The logistics of a midday elopement are simply more manageable than a sunrise or sunset elopement. You have a much wider window of time to coordinate with your vendors and make sure everyone’s schedules match up.
Maximum Accessibility: Some elopement venues have strict hours of accessibility throughout the day. Depending on your elopement location, you might find that certain areas are off-limits before sunrise or after sunset. A midday wedding helps ensure you have access to all the sites you want to visit throughout your elopement.
Cons Of Eloping At Midday
Potential Lighting Challenges: When comparing lighting for elopements at different times of day, it’s important to note that eloping in the middle of the day can often provide the least favorable lighting conditions for wedding photos.
Midday elopement photos can be particularly challenging because when the sun is directly overhead, we risk dealing with harsh shadows and washed-out colors. While I’ll be able to adjust to any lighting challenges to make sure your elopement photos are still stunning, you do miss out on that magical Golden Hour lighting that you get at sunrise and sunset.Altered Atmosphere: When considering what time of day is best for elopement photos, it’s essential not to overlook the role that atmosphere and vibes can play in crafting that one perfect shot. The lighting at midday is a bit more mundane than sunrise and sunset, and while the photos can still be stunning, you might be missing out a bit on that fairy tale atmosphere that Golden Hour naturally brings to any photoshoot.
Heavier Crowds: The middle of the day is peak tourist time for many high-traffic elopement destinations. If you choose to elope at this time, you might find yourself contending with a large crush of strangers, with a diminished feeling of intimacy and privacy.
Pros & Cons Of Eloping At Sunset
Sunset Elopement Benefits
The Return Of Golden Hour Magic: In the hour just before sunset, the magical atmosphere of Golden Hour returns, and lighting conditions are once again ideal for the most stunning possible wedding photos.
Sunset elopement photos are imbued with a romantic, dreamy glow, and the incredible lighting enhances skin tones and adds a beautiful, ethereal quality to your photos. Shadows are long and soft, adding depth without harshness.
A golden hour elopement is a true treasure, and always worth considering when planning your adventure elopement.Unbeatable Romantic Atmosphere: Evening elopements are infused with a bewitching, romantic atmosphere that makes your special day truly unforgettable. The fading light and often vibrant colors of the sky create a naturally romantic and intimate setting for your vows.
Natural Transition to Celebration: A sunset ceremony flows seamlessly into an evening celebration, whether it's a romantic dinner for two, a small gathering with close family, or heading straight to a reception.
Cons Of Eloping At Sunset
Tight Window For Lighting: While Golden Hour provides excellent lighting conditions for elopement photos, it’s also a narrow window before the sun goes down completely and those lighting conditions are lost.
While you can still take amazing photos after the sun goes down, you might feel a bit of a time crunch as you try to take advantage of the brief window of Golden Hour.Artificial Light Sources Might Be Required: Once the sun dips below the horizon, it gets dark quickly. If you want more photos after the sun has set (getting into a car, walking away, etc), they might need to be taken in very low light or with artificial lighting.
Let The Adventure Begin!
If you’re currently planning an adventure elopement and are looking for a Washington elopement photographer who can deliver stylish, unique, and beautiful elopement photos no matter what time of day you choose to elope, we should definitely have a chat.
Get in touch and we can start figuring out when, where, and how your dream elopement should unfold. I can’t wait to hear what you’re planning and to work with you to create something truly special and memorable!
Hey, I’m Sally! I’m a destination adventure elopement photographer based in Washington, but traveling worldwide!
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