Wedding Tip for Light
The light on your wedding day is most likely the last thing on your mind at the moment… however, we can guarantee that it will affect more than just the photographs. So here is a wedding tip for light at your wedding.
In general, you need to think about the time of your ceremony. If you are getting married in the church we suggest starting your Wedding Mass at least 3hrs before sunset. This way the church will be filled with an abundance of natural light. With most Catholic Weddings being an hour or a little longer, your Wedding Mass will end perfectly timed with the sweet light making for gorgeous lighting for Bridal and Romantic photos.
If you are having a Christian wedding outside you will want to make sure the location is shady with out harsh backlighting at ceremony time. Typically the best lighting is going to be an hour before sunset with the sunset to the back right or left side of the ceremony location (not directly behind the officiant – as this would blind you). It would be very uncomfortable to have a piercing beam of light in your eyes as you exchange your vows.
With outdoor weddings we highly suggest doing a first look 2hrs before your ceremony, then romantic photos for 30mins. This will bring you to bridal party photos 1hr and 15mins before the ceremony. At 1 hr before the ceremony we take immediate family photos. This will allow for your ceremony to take place 1hr before sunset with all your main photos taken in advance. After the ceremony there will be large family photos for 30mins then it’s off to the cocktail party.
A Shady Spot
If the timing does not workout for a sunset wedding then a shady spot is the best option. Most wedding venues (who know their business well) will place their ceremony location behind the reception building, using the building to block the sun making a picture perfect location for the wedding. Some Venue locations use tree top canapés to create gorgeous ceremony locations keeping guest and you comfortable with plenty of shade.
What time should we start?
If you choose to forego the first look and bridal party photos in advance then you will need to start about 2 hours before sunset. Having a wedding ceremony at 2pm in July will generally mean sweaty guests, a lot of squinting eyes, and harsh shadows. Don’t be afraid to start later into the day.
Did you find this tip helpful? We have plenty more to help you prepare for your big day. Take a look below.
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