Let’s Be Real
There are better times of the day to elope.
But am I saying you can’t elope at a different time of day? Absolutely not. Each time-slot presents it’s own aesthetic that may speak more to you than what wedding and elopement experts might claim is the “perfect” time of day.
You’ll just want to keep in mind that there are certain times of the day that have better lighting quality. Harsh lighting can create harsh shadows. But at the same time it can create a more dramatic, bright look. Another thing to keep in mind is that each time of day will yield different results with photographer’s editing styles (i.e golden hour creates softer, warmer hues, while midday creates bright hues with more contrast). My best bit of advice when searching for your dream elopement photographer is to research and scout through some of their portfolio. See how they edit throughout different times of the day and if they are comfortable enough to shoot at different hours. This might sound obvious but the more experienced your elopement photographer, the better. You won’t regret that midday elopement if your vendor knows what they’re doing.
Below I’ve listed the perks of each time of day and how best to approach each circumstance.
Morning Elopement
There are two ways to approach morning elopements.
The first is sunrise. Yes, getting up super early for the day is a struggle and you will have to prep makeup, hair, and travel all into the early hours. But you cannot beat the vibrant, and most fresh time of the day. You get to start off your elopement day by saying your vows as the sun rises and greets the rest of the world. A huge plus side to this is you’ll have most things to yourself and won’t have to deal with any crowds or traffic. The stillness of the morning will be utterly tranquil. You’ll hear the birds awake and sing to one another as your first kiss takes place without dealing with any laughter or noise in the distance. From there the rest of the day is yours to do as you wish. Hike, relax, get more photos of your adventurous elopement day together, or just start your honeymoon straight from there. The list is endless.
If you want a little more time to rest before saying your “I dos”, later into the morning would work best for you. When looking at locations, you’ll want to keep in mind what direction the sun is rising from. If you want a mountain-scape or lake as the backdrop, make sure the sun is behind you while saying your vows or closest to it. This helps with shadows across faces and keeps the glow of the morning behind you rather than directly on to you both.
Midday Elopement
This is by far the harshest lighting of the day. You and your elopement photographer will have to coordinate and plan what angles and placement will work best during this time and how you can incorporate it into your day.
The first is to move directly into the shade. This way you won’t have any harsh shadows on your faces or squinty eyes in your photos. Any backdrop that might be behind you out of the shadows will look very bright in comparison.
The second is to make sure the lighting is as best behind you as possible. Even when the sun is directly above you, you’ll want to keep in mind how the sun is going to start setting. Make sure as time goes on, it keeps behind you and your partner. You don’t want to be completely at an angle from the sun. It will, again, create harsh shadows or harsh sun beams across your faces.
In the complete opposite direction, you can fully embrace the harsh sun and have it be directly on you. There will be a completely different look to it, but it also presents a fun, summery setting. The main thing you will have to pay attention to is keeping eyes closed, wearing sunglasses, or keeping away from the light. It is possible, there will just be more creative posing.
Evening Elopement
Of course the best time of day to elope would be around sunset during the ‘golden hour’. You would ideally start an hour or two before the sun sets on the horizon. But be aware that a location with mountains or any tall range will make the sun set earlier than you might think. A great way to check this is on Google Earth. They offer a sunlight slider option to see what time and where the sun will be setting in the sky. Not much compares to the premium lighting of sunset.
Take a look at this golden hour adventure elopement.
Finally, a personal favorite of mine is blue hour. This is the hour directly after the sun goes down behind the horizon which creates dramatic, moody blue hues. This is a great option to mix with golden hour. As a bonus, if there are sporadic clouds around, the sunset will be extremely dramatic with deep oranges and reds as dusk hits.
Many couples choose to have a little of both during their adventure elopement so they have the creamy, warm lighting of sunset directly leading into the cooler, more dramatic lighting of blue hour.
What If the Weather Isn’t Ideal?
Sometimes you just can’t control the weather. Clouds roll in or rainfall takes over. Luckily cloudy weather makes for more even lighting. You won’t have to hide in any shadows or worry too much about which standing position is better. There might still be lighter parts to the sky to watch, but overall cloudiness can still yield amazing results.
And in terms of the rain, I always say to embrace it! Run along together enjoying the rain with a fully wet photoshoot, or use see-through umbrellas that your elopement photographer should be able to provide. With this option, your photographer will capture some truly romantic moments, plus you’ll be able to be a little creative together.
Take a look to see how this we handled this cloudy adventure elopement day.
Working Into Nighttime
If you want that dark starry evening aesthetic, ending your elopement with star photos would be the dream. For many stargazers, they crave the darkness and want the epic view of the night sky. For this beautiful venture, make sure you hire a photographer that knows how to capture that astrophotography sky. You can also add extra lighting like lamps or a campfire for a fun, romantic accessory to your elopement photos.
No Matter What You Decide
Don’t let any trend or person make you feel less for what time of day you pick. Every person has a preference and a look they want to achieve on their elopement day. Or maybe you don’t have an option as to what time of day is best due to time restrictions with a venue or weather complications. Don’t fret. Get creative and communicate with your elopement photographer for what you’re looking for. Any time of the day will yield some incredibly amazing results.
If my work speaks to you, I’d love to help document your dream elopement day.
