Post # 1
Member
1235 posts
Bumble bee
Hi Bees,
We’re getting married in a field that is mostly surrounded by woods. Our ceremony will be at 6 pm and will be very short (15 min max), and sunset on our wedding date is scheduled to be 6:45 pm.
We’re doing first look/portraits beforehand, so leaving enough time for good lighting after the ceremony should not be an issue. What I’m concerned about is whether the sun will be in our guests’ eyes (or ours!) during the ceremony, as the most logical/scenic way to face the ceremony guests is to the southwest, approximately.
Anyone (married bees, photographers, etc) have any input about the best direction to orient a sunset wedding ceremony for everyone’s comfort?
Post # 3
Member
1358 posts
Bumble bee
I would put it so that the sun is behind your guests. That way, there is no sun in your or your guests’ eyes, and you are well lit for photos.
We got married outside just before sunset and realized our issue at our rehearsal: the sun was to the right of our guests, or right in my eyes (we decided to face each other at the “altar” so our guests could hear and see us, but we could still see each other and our officiant). It blew out my face in photos, made DH’s face dark, and blinded me.
Luckily, the day of our wedding, the sky was partly overcast, and our lighting problems were solved.
One thought: My ceremony was at 4, and the sun was kind of low in the sky at that point, just starting to dip behind the trees. I think sunset was scheduled to be at 6:55 that night. If you are getting married in an area where the horizon in blocked by any sort of trees or buildings, the sun will likely already have disappeared behind them by 6.
Post # 4
Member
2515 posts
Sugar bee
@brlabrat: can you set it up so the sun will be to the side of everyone? that way it’s not in anyone’s eyes.