Couples pick a ceremony time months before they think about light, and then we spend the rest of planning working around that decision. So here is the information up front, where it is actually useful.
Approximate Sunset in Tampa by Month
| Month | Sunset (roughly) | |---|---| | January | 5:45 pm | | February | 6:10 pm | | March | 6:30 pm (7:30 after DST) | | April | 7:50 pm | | May | 8:05 pm | | June | 8:25 pm | | July | 8:25 pm | | August | 8:05 pm | | September | 7:35 pm | | October | 7:00 pm (6:50 after DST ends) | | November | 5:45 pm | | December | 5:35 pm |
St. Petersburg and Clearwater run a few minutes later. Orlando runs a few minutes earlier. Always confirm your exact date, because that daylight saving jump in March is nearly a full hour overnight.
Why This Decides Your Timeline
The best light of the day is roughly the thirty minutes before sunset. Warm, soft, low, and flattering on everybody.
That window is fixed. Your ceremony time is not. So we place the ceremony where the light works, rather than hoping it lines up.
The Two Problem Scenarios
Winter, late ceremony. A 5:00 pm ceremony in December means the sun is gone by the time you walk back up the aisle. Every portrait happens in the dark.
Fix: move the ceremony to 3:30 or 4:00, or do a first look.
Summer, early ceremony. A 2:00 pm ceremony in July puts you in direct overhead sun at the hottest, harshest hour of the year.
Fix: move later, or find shade, or accept that we are using flash and finding cover.
The Sweet Spot
For an outdoor ceremony, aim to start two to two and a half hours before sunset.
That gives you: soft ceremony light, enough time afterward for family and wedding party photos, and you still land in golden hour for couple portraits.
Working examples:
- December: 3:15 ceremony
- April: 5:30 ceremony
- June: 6:00 ceremony
- October: 4:45 ceremony
Blue Hour, Which Nobody Plans For
The twenty minutes after sunset are underrated. The sky goes deep blue, venue lights kick on, and you get a completely different look from anything earlier in the day.
If your reception has string lights or neon anywhere nearby, ask me to steal you for five minutes at blue hour. It is a five minute investment for a genuinely different set of photos.
Beach Weddings Specifically
Gulf coast beaches face west, which means the sun sets directly over the water. Clearwater, St. Pete Beach, Anna Maria, Siesta Key.
That is fantastic and it comes with one catch. If your ceremony faces the water in late afternoon, you are looking directly into the sun and so are your guests.
Fix: angle the ceremony so the sun is to the side, or start about ninety minutes before sunset so it is high enough to not blind anybody.
The One Thing to Take Away
Look up your exact sunset time before you lock your ceremony time. It is a thirty second search and it improves your photos more than almost any other planning decision.
If you send me your date and venue I will do it for you and tell you the ideal ceremony start. More on the portfolio, and you can reach out here.