We often get asked, “what’s the best time for my beach wedding?” As with many other things for your special day, the answer is “it depends.”
What you think will be “best” depends on your preferences and priorities. We have some tips to help you decide.
Before we get into details of the time of day, here are three things we’d like to mention:
- Our most important recommendation is to choose a weekday rather than a weekend or holiday. The beaches are significantly less populated at any time of day during the week, allowing more seclusion for your ceremony.
- If you’re wondering about the best time of year for a beach wedding, it’s literally any time here in Hawaii! Florida beach weddings are recommended in March, April, May, November, or December, but all twelve months in Hawaii are lovely. We have amazing Hawaii wedding-day weather year-round, so whenever you’re available, you can have a Hawaii destination wedding.
- The information below is based on typical lighting conditions for that time of day, but the weather matters. Mother nature can make a mid-day ceremony look like dusk, but our photographers and videographers know how to get the best shots in any weather conditions.
Morning Ceremonies – 8am-10:30am
Although it’s a nontraditional time for a wedding, many of our couples find this an excellent time for a wedding.
Generally, the morning is the least busy time of day in terms of beach population. It can also be a few degrees cooler, so it can be more comfortable.
The timing works well to head straight to a brunch or lunch reception afterward, which is a nice option for our couples with guests. Lunch with everyone to celebrate and just a romantic dinner for the two of you. There are lots of options!
Mid-Day Ceremonies – 11 am-3:00 pm
Mid-day ceremonies provide more time for getting ready in the morning, which works well if there are lots of ladies getting hair and makeup done, little ones who might need extra time to get ready for the big day, or if you just don’t want to wake up early.
There’s lots of light to bring out the color of the ocean, trees, flowers, and natural beauty. It’s also a good time to plan a time to head back to your room to change and freshen up before heading off to a dinner reception.
Many destination wedding locations experience much hotter temperatures in the summer months. In Hawaii, we are blessed with comfortable weather year-round. Although the middle of the day can get hot, it’s much more uncomfortable in Florida, the Caribbean, and Mexico. If you’re choosing a tropical location other than Hawaii, be sure to take the temperatures into consideration.
Late Afternoon Ceremonies – 3:30 pm-5:00 pm
Late afternoon is a traditional time for ceremonies, and this would allow you to head straight to a dinner reception.
The lighting during this time of day is often softer yet, at times, more direct, helping ease the natural shadows that can occur on the face when the sun is more overhead. It can be cooler than mid-day hours on certain days and times of the year.
Golden hour or magic hour falls during this time range, with the specific time varying depending on the time of the year.
Magic Island is our top recommendation for sunset, but it works during this time of day, too! Waialae Beach and Waikiki Beach are great late-day locations, as the light is soft and the sun falls across the beach nicely.
Sunset Ceremonies – 5:00 pm-6:15 pm
Let us know if you want to plan for sunset, and we can assist with checking the sunset time. It changes a bit throughout the year, and we usually start your ceremony about an hour before sunset to ensure enough light for your photos.
The lighting during this time of day is softer and less bright. It creates a romantic look for photos that lots of couples love. Keep in mind that sunset colors will all depend on Mother Nature that day, but the golden tones against the ocean are iconic for a beach wedding in Hawaii.
There are usually cooler temperatures during this time of day, which can be more comfortable for some. Like late afternoon weddings, you can easily head to a later dinner with a sunset wedding.
Magic Island is our recommendation for a sunset wedding or second-location photo shoot.
We don’t always get an amazing sunset, but it’s beautiful every time regardless.
What time will you have your Hawaii ceremony?
There is no best time, as it all depends on what is essential to the two of you. Let us know if you have questions; we’d be happy to offer our advice if you’re having trouble deciding.
