A while back, our Kristen Marie Photography team talked about 3 Reasons You’ll Be Late For Your Wedding.
Our last blog touched on things that can affect getting you down the aisle on time. With this next blog, we’re going to talk about the timing of your wedding reception and photography.
Sunset and Florida Weddings
We work with lots of couples who travel here for Tampa Bay weddings. We shoot lots of outdoor weddings ranging from intimate elopements to larger weddings with lots of friends and family.
And one piece that affects couples’ Florida weddings more than anything else is sunset. Knowing what time the sun sets on your wedding day is key.
Did you know that sunset times vary more than three hours, depending on what time of year you are planning your wedding?
In November through February, the sun can set anywhere from 5:30 to 6:30. Looking at May, June, July, and August, it can be as late as 8:30!
Knowing sunset time for your wedding day helps you plan the start time of your wedding ceremony.
Where will the sun be? Will the sun be in your eyes during the wedding ceremony? This can mean that all of your ceremony photos have you squinting.
Are you starting too late for the sunset time? Will you be getting married outside in the dark? Or, if you are planning on a sunset wedding ceremony during the summer, did you consider that dinner may be as late as 10:00?
We love this Sunrise – Sunset tool, you can find the sunset time for any location and any day of the year!
Florida Weddings and the Beauty of Golden Hour
What is Golden Hour? It’s the hour leading up to sunset. It’s that time when the lighting is just perfect – especially for portraits.
It’s a warm, natural light that gives couples a natural glow and helps wedding photographers create beautiful wedding portraits. Knowing what time the sunset helps plan your wedding portraits to take advantage of this magical light.
Knowing this timing also ensures that we can get those awesome sunset photos that couples want on their wedding day!
Timing Family Photos
Family photos are a huge part of a wedding day. But without a bit of planning, they can be one of the most time-consuming parts of the wedding.
Everyone wants to get through family photos quickly. Couples want to move on to their portraits and spend some time together, and everyone else wants to join the cocktail hour. Poor planning means you’ll either miss out on essential photos, lose light for getting great images or push back into your wedding reception. You can throw off the timing of the rest of your evening.
Here are a few tips to make sure family photos on your wedding day go smoothly.
- Make a list of all the people you want to be photographed in each family group. Not just ‘cousins,’ but list everyone by name.
- Let us know about awkward situations or things we might need to know. From uncomfortable divorce situations to folks who might not be able to stand and require a chair, help us understand where to position people and prepare for seating.
- Remind family members about when photos take place! Most of these people will be at your rehearsal dinner – that’s the perfect time to spread the word.
And, one of the most important tips – assign a family member to direct people! Pick someone who knows the majority of your family. If necessary, pick someone from each of your families. We also recommend giving them the same family group list you prepared for us. This will help them know who is up next and find people who might wander off.
As you can see, planning out the timing for your wedding day means that your day will go much more smoothly. But, it also helps make sure we get you the best wedding photos possible!