Summer evenings
Say your last speaker finishes at 7.30 pm. I’d pick a spot we can walk to in a minute, then keep 8–8.15 pm free. Leave your bouquet on the table if you like. A walk with your arms around each other is plenty, and you’ll be back for an 8.30 pm first dance.
If the sun is still high at eight, have your first dance at 8 pm and duck out afterwards. That works especially well if you want the sky just as the sun drops below the horizon. Let the DJ know you’re stepping out so they can keep everyone else dancing.
Winter evenings
At a June wedding with a 3 pm ceremony, I’d take your family groups first and head out for couple portraits around 4.30 pm. On a clear evening you might start with soft light on your faces and finish with the last colour over the paddock, all before your reception entrance.
If you love the idea of another photo at 6 pm in midwinter, we can use the glow of the reception windows or light the two of you against a dark sky. In late August, the same slot may still have twilight. For either plan, let the caterer seat you for dinner at 6.15 pm and ask the MC to move the speeches to 7–8 pm. You’ll be there when the first person takes the mic.
Light by the date
These Saturdays are examples for New Plymouth in 2027, in local time. Sunset is when the sun drops below a clear horizon. Civil dusk marks the end of the brighter part of twilight. Trees, hills and thick cloud can take the light off your faces earlier.
| Date | Sunset and portrait timing |
|---|---|
| 16 January | Sunset 8.51 pm. Civil dusk 9.22 pm. At 8 pm there are still 51 minutes until sunset. |
| 19 June | Sunset 5.08 pm. Civil dusk 5.38 pm. Plan your daylight portraits before dinner and treat 6 pm as an after-dark option. |
| 21 August | Sunset 5.51 pm. Civil dusk 6.18 pm. At 6 pm look for twilight colour or a silhouette with an open view of the sky. |
Local sunset and twilight predictions from the US Naval Observatory for 16 January, 19 June and 21 August.
Choose your spot
When you visit the venue, walk from your dinner seats to the spot you have in mind. Can you reach it easily in your wedding shoes? Look west. If a hedge or hill fills the view, ask when the sun actually leaves that part of the property.
Tell the MC which speech or song we’ll head out after, and when you want to be back. If the sky stays grey, we can make a soft portrait in the doorway or stay inside for the party. Put the break into your 3 pm wedding timeline and check the finish against your photography coverage.