What time of day is best for an outdoor ceremony?

If you’re planning to wed outdoors, mid-morning and late afternoon (close to sunset) are ideal times to hold your ceremony. If you schedule your ceremony at midday, the sun will be at its peak, making it hot, and possibly uncomfortable, for your guests (and you!).

Also consider where you want to stand during the ceremony and where the sun will be at that point in the day. You want to look straight into your groom’s eyes while you say your vows, not squint at him. You also don’t want to blind your guests. Once you decide on your location, visit a few times, at different times of day, so you get an idea of what it will look like.

During the summer months, dusk is prime time for mosquitoes and other pesky insects, so if you want a sunset outdoor wedding ceremony, leave bug spray at the end of each row of chairs.

Check out more summer wedding ideas. Sep 11, 2009