Everything you need to know about having a sunset wedding

You know what the weddings of celebrities Alia Bhatt, Athiya Shetty and Priyanka Chopra had in common? All had stunning, golden sunlight as the backdrop. Weddings are magical, and what can make them even more so is the warm, buttery glow of a sunset. If you’re forever chasing the golden hour, can stare at sunsets for hours, or just want a dreamy setting for your big day, you should consider having a sunset wedding. 

Read ahead to discover all the things you need to keep in mind when planning a sunset wedding. 

It’s all about the timing 

Imagine planning a whole sunset wedding only for you to miss the main event! Inarguably, the most important step is to get the time (and location) of your wedding down pat so there is plenty of opportunity to get gorgeous photos. This means you’ll need to plan everything to the T and avoid delays. Make sure that the festivities start a little before the actual sunset and the ceremony lines up with golden hour, as post sunset the lighting can get dark really quick.

Pick an outdoor setting with open views 

Needless to say, it’s essential to pick a location from where you can get stunning views of the sunset—outdoor landscape settings are your best bet. Whether it is a beach location or a mountain venue, make sure to do a recce of the place beforehand so you can be rest assured that it gets proper views of the sunset, in addition to ample of natural lighting. 

Choose the right photographer

In order to have the best experience and capture it on camera for eternity, you need the right photographer. Go through portfolios of wedding photographers and see if they’ve shot in similar settings and lighting before—you wouldn’t pick a photographer who only does indoor weddings! If you can’t find sunset or golden hour pictures, ask them to send you samples. Once you’ve zeroed on a photographer, it’s important to discuss your vision with them so your big day pictures turn out exactly how you want them to. 

Details, details, details

Small details to enhance your guests’ experience will make the day memorable not only for you, but everyone who attends as well. Since the ceremony is going to be held against the backdrop of the sun, it will be a nice touch to hand out sunglasses to guests, so they can enjoy the ceremony without squinting. Also, if the wedding is at a location that gets colder once dark, consider keeping shawls and cover-ups handy for guests to keep warm.

The decor can be sunset-themed too!

This isn’t entirely necessary, but you can lean on the whole sunset theme and add elements of it in your decor as well. Try a warm palette of orange, yellow, pink, and gold—you can get flowers, table decor, and lanterns in these shades. You could even get an ombré cake that mimics the tones of a sunset and add illustrations of the sun to your wedding stationery, be it the invitations, welcome signs, or menus.

Lead image: Athiya Shetty/Instagram (clicked by Rohan Shrestha)