This is 100% the most important thing you can pay attention to in planning your wedding.
Since the sun moves across the sky, it plays a large roll in the way your images look and also the feeling of your wedding day.
Typically the hours between 10-4 are the worst lighting during the summer and 11-2 during the winter. The sun is mostly overhead and creates harsh shadows under the eyes. This also means that your dress is going to be a lot brighter in photos due to the fact it’s usually bright white.
Two hours before sunset during the summer and the hour right before sunset during winter is the best time for photos. So you can use this to guide when your ceremony should be. If you’re doing a first look, your ceremony can be right before sunset and vice versa. These pictures allow the sun to be directional in lighting up everything.
For your ceremony, you don’t want the sun coming from the side, this means one of you will be shaded and the other one sunny. This makes for photos that tend to not look as polished as the rest of your day. If you do have to have it to your side. Try to have it at more of a 45 degree angle, or get as close to sunset as possible, then the light will not be as harsh. You also don’t want the sun to be directly behind you, this means that you will be competing with the sun not only for your guests but also for the camera. If you the sun is behind you, it’s best to be standing in front of a lot of trees or a wall. This helps to break up the sunshine.
If you aren’t sure about lighting times, ask me ahead of time before making the time plans. I can help you determine the right time to ensure everything looks perfect.
