It happens all too often. The newlyweds wait with nail biting anticipation to see their wedding day images. Their photographer had worked absolute magic and their engagement photos gave them all the "hottest couple on the red carpet" sort of feels.
So of course they are expecting their wedding photos to be even BETTER than that!
And then they receive their image gallery. There are obvious positives to the photos. All the feelings of love and sheer joy are still there and those feelings were documented beautifully and romantically! But...for some reason, their skin doesn't have the same sort of Jessica Alba, sun-kissed glow, and, instead, looks a bit washed out and dare I say pale? They also notice that their eye colors just aren't popping with the same sparkle of true love and, instead, seem to have dark circles underneath them.
They sadly feel that their images are lacking the same sort of magic that their engagement photos had evoked, and they can't quite put a finger on why.
And then, it hits them. Their photographer had guided them into scheduling their engagement session at a very specific time, for a very specific reason. She had communicated to them that the absolute most breathtaking light would be right around sunrise or sunset! Golden hour.
And then...they realize that they had foolishly scheduled their wedding ceremony exactly at high noon. The brightest, most harsh and unforgiving light of the entire day.
I mean, sure, it had made sense to space things out a bit to make sure they had pleeeeeenty of time for a luncheon...and then a nap?...and then the reception after that....but wait...had that actually made any sense? Or had they just done the same thing that all of their friends had done...because they thought that was the best way to do it?
Sadness sets in. They realize that they had carefully chosen every. single. element. of their wedding day; their attire, the location, the backdrop for the ceremony, the table settings, even the cake knife and serving spoons. They spent hours ensuring that all of these elements would be absolutely perfect. But they had somehow overlooked the fact that the time of day would be the most influential factor for how all of those stunning, perfectly selected elements would be documented for them to look back on for the rest of their lives!
Why hadn't anyone told them there was a better way?!
Well friend, I'm here to save you from making the same dreadful mistake!!
Here's the down low:
Every couple's wedding day will have a unique timeline, for obvious reasons. But you can ensure that your very first portraits as husband and wife will be nothing short of red carpet worthy.
Read on to find out how!
If you are planning a temple sealing ceremony:
Plan for the ceremony time to begin 2-3 hours before the scheduled sunset time.
(*Tip: Just google "sunset time on ______ [fill in the blank with your wedding date] in ________ [fill in the second blank with your wedding location city].
Google will tell you exactly what time the sun will be setting on your big day.
Then subtract 2-3 hours and you have your time!)
This time frame will give your photographer plenty of time to take Friends & Family Portraits in GOOD light while reserving your Husband and Wife Portraits for the absolute BEST light of the day! And (if you've chosen an outdoor location for your reception) as long as the reception location is relatively close to the temple you are sealed in, they will also be able to document every stunning element of your decor in that soft, pretty golden light as well!
If you are planning an outdoor ceremony:
You have a lot more unique elements to work with and there are so many options for you!
Your photographer can gladly take all of the Family Portraits and Wedding Party Portraits before the wedding ceremony and before the rest of the guests arrive! This will free up your close friends and family members to mingle and celebrate with guests after the ceremony. In this case, plan to begin your actual ceremony 2 hours before the scheduled sunset for that day. And then after the ceremony while guests are at cocktail hour, your photographer can steal you away for your Husband and Wife Portraits in the perfect, glowy, golden light.
(*Tip: Just google "sunset time on ______ [fill in the blank with your wedding date] in ________ [fill in the second blank with your wedding location city].
Google will tell you exactly what time the sun will be setting on your big day.
Then subtract 2 hours and you have your time!)
If you would rather take all of the Friends and Family Portraits as well as Husband and Wife Portraits after the ceremony, plan for the ceremony to begin 3 hours before the scheduled sunset, and that will give your photographer time for all of the group photos as well as your freshly married, Husband and Wife Portraits!
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