Hi there, Brides and Grooms! 💙
A question asked by 2020 Asheville Bride, Chloe:: What is the best time to schedule an outdoor wedding ceremony?”
Great question! And, a super important answer when it comes to your wedding photography. 💙 As your photographers we want to work closely with you to work in the most important images at the best time of day. And, the best time of day has much to do with the season in which you are getting married. As you begin to map out the day of your wedding these are a few things you will want to keep in mind when it comes to photos.
Times of Day –
MORNING :: Early morning can be a beautiful time of day for photos. But, once that sun pops-up over the horizon the ambient light becomes very bright, very quickly. If planning an outdoor morning ceremony, consider planning time to take all of your outdoor portraits before the ceremony for best lighting. Or, plan an indoor location for pictures to be held after your ceremony and save the outdoor images for a trash the dress or family session the morning after your wedding day when the sun is low and reflecting beautiful, gentle light.
MID-DAY :: Outdoor photos are be best avoided mid-day, especially in the summer when the sun is right overhead. And if you are getting married in or plan on having your wedding pictures taken in a public space such as a park, reserve, lakeside, or mountain retreat, remember that mid-day brings a higher number of people visiting the area- creating more onlookers and background concerns for your images. This time of day is a great time to take advantage of indoor photographs of details like your wedding dress and shoes, and you and your bridal party and the groom and groomsmen preparing for the big day.
AFTERNOON :: In the Spring and Fall, late afternoon is the optimum time for outdoor wedding photography in Knoxville, the light is golden and the sun isn’t quite so hot. In Winter, when the sun sets quickly, you will want to schedule your wedding so that portraits begin an hour and a half before sunset.
EVENING :: In the summer, when the sun doesn’t set until nearly 8-9pm, early evening light can be beautiful. Late Spring, Summer, and Early Fall are beautiful times to schedule a short time during your evening reception to step away from your guests for 15 minutes to capture a few sunset images with just the two of you.
One other consideration that effects lighting- WEATHER :: Of course in the days leading up to your big day you will be keeping your eye on the weather, remember – overcast days aren’t always a bad thing! They can allow for more flexibility in the timing of your photos. Pay attention to the forecasted wind speed and plan accordingly with extra bobby pins for your hair and someone designated to hold your veil if your ceremony will be outside. Before you choose your wedding date or even season you may want to look up the times of sunrise, sunset and average temperatures that time of year.
Please contact me when you’re ready with your date so that I can get you on our schedule as soon as possible. I am here to help plan the perfect timeline for perfect wedding pictures. 💙
Until Next Time~
Sarah Keenan, Knoxville Wedding Photographer
Westland Farms Studio | 865.599.4652
