In June, golden hour in Austin starts around 7:40 and lingers. In November it starts at 4:50 and is gone by 5:30. If your ceremony starts at 3:30, family photos are done by the time that light arrives. Start at 4:30 and you will still be doing family photos while it fades.
The math
Sunset in Austin runs from about 8:40pm in late June to 5:30pm in early December. Work backward from it: couple portraits want the last 40 minutes of sun, which means a winter timeline needs the ceremony done by 4:15, and a summer one can push to 7:30.
Last 20 minutes of sunHill Country, November
A November timeline that works
- 1:30 · First look, while the light is still even
- 3:30 · Ceremony, sun low but warm
- 4:15 · Family photos, fast
- 4:50 · Couple portraits in the golden window
- 5:30 · Sunset toast, candles on, party inside
Winter light is short, but it's also the warmest light of the year. Low sun all afternoon means the whole day looks like golden hour.
Sunset toast, candles on5:30pm, December
If you can't move the ceremony
We steal you for ten minutes instead. A short portrait window in real golden light is worth more than forty minutes in flat shade, and your planner can usually find the ten minutes.