FREE Wedding Planning Tools: Sunrise /Sunset Calculator

A lot of our job depends on light.  Knowing when sunrise and sunset will occur is important to our decision making for portraits.  Any bride planning an outdoor wedding should make it a priority to figure out what the ANGLE of the light will be on their wedding day, in their exact LOCATION and at the EXACT time they are choosing.  Try to visit your location within the same WEEK as your wedding (if possible) and LOOK at the lighting situation.  Sunset weddings are good in theory as long as the sun is not blasting your eyes.  Keep in mind that difficult lighting situations = less photos because it will take your photographer LONGER to set up, meter and makes changes for each shot.  Also… as nice as the the sun “setting” behind you is… that is TOUGH for photographers.  Especially if you are not allowing them the use of flash during the ceremony.  Keep in mind that your guests may have sunglasses but the cameras do NOT!

Another thing to think about with ANY wedding is planning your photography during the BEST light of the day.  Photographers call the last hour before sunset the “golden hour” or the “sweet light”.  THAT last hour is the best light of the day.  It is even diffused, warm and easy.  It is both romantic and flattering.  If you are planning your ceremony at sunset and NOT planning to see each other until AFTER the wedding ceremony, it will be DARK by then.  Think of moving your ceremony back an hour or seeing other before hand for pictures.  I understand tradition and respect it but at the end of the day, all that you have left are your vows, your rings and your photos!!!

Here is our favorite “Sunrise / Sunset Times” Calculator for Lexington / Central Kentucky times.

You can look up your wedding date and find out the sunset time for the day.  If you are having a wedding near the daylight savings time change be sure to take that into account also.

For the upcoming year we will SPRING Forward on March 13, 2011, FALL Back November 6, 2011.

We use this almost DAILY and hope that it helps our brides out!