Capturing the perfect portrait of you and your new husband on your wedding day isn’t just about the right pose or the perfect smile—it’s also about harnessing the magic of light. And when it comes to light, there’s no better time than during golden hour, which is why I normally steal all of my couples away for a few minutes to capture romantic golden hour wedding day portraits during that time.
All your images are important, but I’ve found that the series of images we capture during golden hour will be the ones featured most prominently in your wedding album and the ones you choose to print and hang or display in your home!
Why Golden Hour for Romantic Portraits?
The golden hour, that fleeting period shortly after sunrise or just before sunset, bathes everything in a warm, ethereal glow. It’s a time when the sun sits low on the horizon, casting soft, flattering light that adds a touch of romance and whimsy to any photograph.
Golden hour offers unparalleled natural light. Unlike the harsh light of midday, the soft, diffused glow of golden hour creates a flattering, almost magical atmosphere. Shadows are softer, colors are richer, and everything seems to glow with a warm, golden hue. This soft, even light helps to minimize harsh shadows and highlights, resulting in photographs that are both dreamy and timeless.
Moreover, golden hour provides endless opportunities for creativity. Whether you’re posing against a backdrop of towering trees, a picturesque beach, or a sprawling cityscape, golden hour lends an air of romance and sophistication to any setting. Couples can play with light and shadow, experiment with different poses and compositions, and let their love shine through in every frame.
Golden hour allows couples to capture genuine moments of connection and intimacy. With its warm, flattering light and relaxed, unhurried atmosphere, golden hour encourages couples to let their guard down, relax, and simply be themselves. Whether you’re stealing a kiss as the sun dips below the horizon or laughing together as you stroll hand in hand, golden hour provides the perfect backdrop for authentic, heartfelt moments that will be cherished for a lifetime.
In most cases, golden hour occurs during a couple’s reception so we will build in a 10-15 minute block of time to head outside for a quick portrait session. Don’t worry though! I will work with your planner and your DJ so they know to hold off on any events during that time period. This opportunity is not only great for light, but couples are normally more relaxed since they are already married! This chunk of time is so good to just get away with your new husband to have a few moments to reflect.
Irene and Adam had the most beautiful light for their golden hour wedding day portraits. You can see their images by clicking HERE!
When is Golden Hour?
Golden hour is technically the two-hour chunk of time before the sun sets and depends on the time of year. This is also useful information to have since we will schedule your engagement session during this chunk of time as well!
- WINTER (December until the time change in March) 3 PM – 5 PM
- SPRING (April to May) the sunset times vary as days get longer, so plan anywhere between 5:30 PM – 8 PM depending on the month
- SUMMER (June to August) 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
- FALL (September to November) sunset times will vary drastically during these months as well because of the time change! Plan for anywhere between 3 PM – 7 PM
When in doubt, you can look up the sunset time for your wedding day or engagement session and count back two hours. This will give you the best available light window for the day!
While there are many factors to consider when planning your wedding portraits, few things can rival the magic of golden hour. With its soft, flattering light, endless creative possibilities, and ability to capture genuine moments of connection, golden hour truly is the best time to get photos taken.
We scheduled Tori & Ian’s engagement session during golden hour and it was MAGIC! Click here to see all the images from their session at Rich Farms!
