A Photographer’s Guide to Sunset Timelines in Southern California Weddings

For couples marrying in Los Angeles, Orange County, or San Diego, nothing shapes your photography gallery more than the timing of sunset. The “golden hour” is what gives Southern California weddings their glow—skin tones soften, skies ignite with color, and ocean backdrops shimmer. But golden hour is brief, and every region has its own timing quirks. Here’s a guide to planning your wedding timeline around the sun, built from years of photographing across the coast.

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Bride and groom sharing a kiss during golden hour wedding photos in Southern California
Golden hour in Southern California: the most flattering light for portraits and candid moments.

What Is Golden Hour?

Golden hour occurs roughly one hour before sunset and lasts until the sun dips below the horizon. The light is warmer, shadows lengthen, and everything feels cinematic. Photographers love this window because it creates flattering portraits with natural glow, even without artificial lighting.

Los Angeles Weddings

In Los Angeles, sunset shifts noticeably through the year—setting as early as 4:45 PM in December and as late as 8:00 PM in June. Venues in the Hollywood Hills, Malibu, and Santa Monica each capture different qualities of light. Hillside venues lose sun earlier because of mountain shadows, while oceanfront ceremonies glow until the last drop of light. Use tools like the Time and Date Sunset Calculator for accuracy.

Orange County Weddings

Orange County offers coastal cliffs and wide beaches that thrive in sunset light. Laguna Beach coves, Newport terraces, and San Clemente estates are most photogenic about 45–60 minutes before sunset. Because hills and bluffs cut off the sun earlier, couples should plan ceremonies at least 90 minutes before official sunset to guarantee golden portraits afterward.

Sunset over mountains at a Southern California wedding venue with warm light
Venues surrounded by hills lose sun earlier—plan timelines accordingly.

San Diego Weddings

San Diego weddings enjoy some of the most reliable sunsets in California. From La Jolla cliffs to Coronado beaches, the light is open and uninterrupted. Winter sunsets arrive around 5:00 PM, so plan earlier ceremonies. Summer evenings stretch to 8:00 PM, allowing long golden sessions. Balboa Park also shines in twilight, when architecture glows under soft ambient light.

Building Your Wedding Timeline

To balance guest comfort and photography, many couples design their timeline backward from sunset. Here’s a sample approach:

  • First Look: 2–3 hours before sunset in shaded courtyards or hotel terraces.
  • Ceremony: 90 minutes before sunset for golden vows and post-ceremony portraits.
  • Cocktail Hour: While guests mingle, we capture couple’s golden-hour portraits.
  • Reception: Transition indoors or to a lit terrace as twilight deepens.
Bride and groom sunset silhouette at a Southern California beach wedding
Plan ceremonies 60–90 minutes before sunset to balance guest experience with stunning portraits.

Tips for Getting It Right

  • Use the NOAA Solar Calculator for precise times at your venue’s coordinates.
  • Check terrain—hills or tall buildings can block sunlight early.
  • Always add a 15-minute buffer for portraits in case the schedule shifts.
  • Consider a short portrait session after the ceremony and a second during cocktail hour for variety.

Internal Resources

See our Southern California wedding portfolio and explore venue spotlights for ceremony locations that thrive in sunset light. For detailed planning, read our timeline creation guides.

In Southern California, sunsets define your wedding’s atmosphere. With a well-planned timeline, your gallery will capture both romance and light at their peak.

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