As you start planning your elopement, the inevitable question of what time of day you should have your elopement ceremony will be something you’ll need to decide. Should you choose a sunrise elopement or a sunset elopement? How do you make this decision? Look no further – you’re in the right place for answers.
At Ascend Together, we work with our couples to help them choose a time that aligns with their elopement vision and values and fits perfectly within their timeline! We wanted to create this guide to help make your decision easier.
Read on to learn more about the pros and cons of either a sunset or a sunrise elopement!
Time of Day and Your Elopement Photos
You might be wondering why we have only mentioned planning your ceremony at sunrise or sunset and not any other time of day—and there’s a reason for that. The truth is, the time of day you choose is going to significantly affect how your elopement photos turn out.
The lighting at sunrise and sunset is best for your photos, as, at these times of day, the lighting will be softer and much more flattering than trying to take photos in mid-afternoon or late morning hours.
Making this decision also depends on what else you want to do on the day of your elopement and where your elopement is taking place. For example, if you plan a sunrise elopement, you’ll have the entire day after your ceremony to enjoy additional elopement activities and explore the location you chose for your celebration!
This decision will also be impacted by your elopement logistics, the amount of photography coverage you want, and your elopement timeline!
Is a Sunrise Elopement Ceremony Perfect for You?
Let’s break down the pros and cons of choosing to elope at sunrise!
A sunrise ceremony is the perfect choice for you if:
- You don’t mind getting up early on the day of your elopement
- You want the rest of your elopement day to go on adventures, explore, and spend time with your elopement guests (if you’ll be having any)
- You want to have a more secluded, private ceremony. If you’ve chosen a really popular spot for your elopement, most tourists won’t want to get up super early in the morning!
- Better weather – of course, this isn’t something we can promise, but if you choose a location where it rains a lot, there is a higher chance that it will rain in the afternoon vs the morning
On the other hand, a sunrise ceremony might not be right for you if:
- You don’t want to have to worry about getting up early on the day of your elopement, and you want to have more time to get ready
- You know you’ll have less energy because you’ll be running on less sleep, or you aren’t someone who operates very well on fewer hours of sleep
- You are eloping with guests and don’t want everyone to have to get up early
- You are planning a hiking elopement, and you are worried that you might have to trek part of the way to your elopement ceremony location in the dark
If you choose to elope at sunrise, you’ll have the opportunity to work with incredible lighting, such as blue hour, which happens just before sunrise and creates stunning cool tones such as blues, purples, and pinks. You’ll also have golden hour lighting, which takes place just after the sun rises above the horizon, and daylight light.
6 six-hour sunrise elopement timeline example:
3:30 am – Get ready; photographer arrives
5:30 am – Head to ceremony location
6:00 am – Sunrise first look and couple portraits
6:30 am – Ceremony
7:00 am – Couple portraits to follow and post-celebration (champagne toast + pastries) and sign your marriage certificate
8:00 am – Head to another location for more couple photos / pick up coffee along the way
8:30 am – Grab some additional couple portraits at second location
9:30 am – End of elopement coverage
Is a Sunset Elopement Ceremony Perfect for You?
Now, let’s break down the pros and cons of choosing to elope at sunset!
A sunset ceremony is the perfect choice for you if:
- You want to sleep in on the day of your elopement and catch some more zzz’s
- You want to have time to enjoy your elopement day and not feel rushed
- Sunset holds a special meaning to you and your partner
What are the cons of a sunset ceremony?
- You might encounter large crowds of people at your elopement location
- You will have to wait around all day for your elopement ceremony
For a sunset ceremony, you will still have gorgeous light to work with, usually from about 1 ½ hours after the sun sets! Furthermore, you’ll have that famous golden hour glow and warm and soft lighting to frame you and your partner.
6 six-hour sunset elopement timeline example:
2:30 – 4:00 pm Getting Ready – Photographer arrives
4:00 – 4:30 pm Travel to your elopement location
4:30 – 5:00 pm Ceremony and Vows
5:00 – 6:00 pm Couple Portraits
6:00 – 6:30 p.m. Travel to a second location
6:30 – 7:30 pm Sunset Couple Portraits
7:30 – 8:30 pm Enjoy a private picnic with your partner
8:00 – 8:30 pm Return to your accommodations – coverage ends
Before making your final decision, some other things we want you to consider:
The time of year of your elopement
Depending on the time of year that you choose can influence whether a sunrise or sunset elopement would be the best option. For instance, if you were planning a winter elopement in Northern California, we would suggest a sunrise elopement because the days during this time of year are colder and shorter.
Also, if we work together, we will help you decide whether to plan a sunrise or sunset elopement and explain the pros and cons of each option!
Your elopement timeline
As you start creating your elopement vision/ day, think about where you would like your ceremony to fall in your timeline. If having an early ceremony doesn’t sound like something you want to do, don’t! You get to write the rules of your elopement – this day is yours to do whatever the heck you want!
Which time best aligns with your values and vision
If you and your partner value an elopement at one time of the day over the other, then we want to encourage you to choose that option! Maybe sunset is incredibly important to both of you because that’s when your partner proposed, or maybe your first date together involved a sunset hike!
You both get to decide which option feels like the perfect fit for this incredibly special day in your lives.
Which One Will You Choose – A Sunrise or Sunset Elopement?
We hope you found this guide helpful in choosing either a sunset or a sunrise elopement and that it made your decision easier. Remember, there’s no right or wrong choice—it all comes down to what you want your elopement to look like!
And…if you’re ready to move forward with planning your California elopement, we’d love to help you get started!
Don’t settle for a thrown-together day that should honor your love story. We can help you plan your elopement in as little as 30 days!
We provide you with everything you need, all in one place, including an experienced elopement photographer, an expert planner, a mindful budget and vendor booking strategy, unlimited elopement support, consults, and more! Go here to check out our all-inclusive elopement packages, or you can get in contact with us here.
Happy wedding planning!
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