Sunrise Vs. Sunset: The Best Time of Day to Elope

When you begin to think about eloping in Colorado, you probably start to think about the best time of day to elope. Is sunrise or sunset better? What if you need to elope at noon? What direction should we be facing? These are all standard questions I get from inquiring couples or couples I’m already booked with. I help all my booked couples with these logistics and what time of day is best for their locations, but this post will dive into the basics and things to consider when you’re looking at sunrise vs. sunset, and will reassure you that great photos can be made at any time of day if you know how:

Best Time of Day to Elope in Colorado

Here in Colorado and other mountainous areas we have a different golden hour timeframe than plains states where there is nothing on the horizon to alter the sunrise/sunset. With our mountains we have about one hour in the morning and one in the evening that we call “golden hour” where the light is golden and soft and glowing. These times can change at your specific location, too, based on what mountains are on the horizon at the time! The mountains also have an extra phenomenon beyond golden hour, called “alpenglow.” 

Sunrise

Eloping at sunrise offers advantages and some downsides, but it is clearly a beautiful option. Let’s talk about both the pros and cons of a sunrise elopement:

Pros of Eloping at Sunrise:

When you elope at sunrise, we will be meeting up while it’s still dark. Whether that’s to drive to a location, hike to the perfect spot, or just hang out until the sun comes up – we’ll be up well before the sun is. This early morning timeframe can be a great chance to get star photos, if the conditions allow. Alpenglow is when the light hits the tops of the mountains and turns them different colors, from bright yellow/orange to a glowing pink/purple. In the morning, this glow will be hitting those western mountains that face the sunrise in the east.

The east-facing backdrops are the best for sunrise photos for the way I photograph so we can make the most of the light as it gets harsher the higher it rises above the horizon.

The two biggest benefits to eloping at sunrise are weather and privacy. Being early in the morning you’re more likely to avoid the afternoon rains that most of the area is prone to in the summer. The months of July and August are “monsoon season” in the mountains and you’re often going to see rain showers move through between 1-4. Hitting the trails at sunrise allows you to, typically, avoid any rain showers like that. You will also have the most privacy for your location at sunrise, as not many people are willing to be up that early to see the sights.

Lastly, by eloping at sunrise you can start your day off with a fun time, amazing views, and then have the rest of the day to have fun and do whatever you want!

Cons of Eloping at Sunrise

If you’re not an early riser or morning person, you already know the biggest disadvantage to eloping at sunrise: the early start. Between how early you have to be up getting ready for the day, doing hair/makeup, getting dressed and caffeinated, eating breakfast, leaving to get to a location… it’s an early start! 

The light is also the other downside to sunrise… once the sun rises, the light becomes harsher and is changing pretty quickly within that hour after sunrise. Compared to sunset when the light is glowy for an hour or more, and you get that blue hour afterward, you just have a little less “prime time” at sunrise with the light.

Sunset

Eloping at sunset has some obvious and also surprising benefits. You might be surprised to hear there are also downsides. Let’s get into the pros and cons of eloping at sunset:

Pros of Eloping at Sunset

The biggest benefit to eloping at sunset is the lasting great light. From golden hour that starts at least an hour before sunset, to the blue “hour” that extends after the sun drops below the horizon, there is a ton of great light at sunset. Here on the west slope, we also get the benefit of alpenglow at sunset too! The eastern mountains that face our west horizon for sunset alight with rosy alpenglow as the sun approaches the horizon. Sunset is best for western facing backdrops (until blue hour, when you can use any backdrop you like!)

One obvious good thing about a sunset elopement is you can sleep in. You have more time to get ready, feel refreshed, and go at your own pace toward the sunset. You have time to get warmed up to having photos taken before the peak of the best light arrives too.

The least considered benefit to eloping at sunset in Colorado is that you can chase the light. With the mountains and valleys of the area, the sun sets behind the “horizon” at very different times even in one general area. It’s possible to move from one spot to another to get glowy light for over an hour!

You’re usually still more secluded at sunset than the middle of day, too, since most people head back to their lodging or dinner plans by mealtime.

Cons of Eloping at Sunset

Believe it or not, there are some downsides to eloping at sunset. In the summer the sun sets well after 8pm, which can be tricky to schedule a reasonable time for dinner plans. Planning around eating is the hardest part of a sunset elopement, usually! 

If you’re wanting star photos after sunset, it can be a bit of a long wait too — moreso than getting star photos before sunrise.

Sunset is also an easier time for landscape photographers, other eloping couples, or portrait photographers to be out capturing the great light, so it is usually a bit less private typically than sunrise.

Lastly, while it isn’t common to still be raining by sunset during monsoon season, it’s certainly possible. Waiting all day for good weather can be nerve wracking if you’re worried about that kind of thing!

What Other Times of Day Can We Elope?

Mid-Morning

Eloping mid-morning is a beautiful option if you’re not a huge morning person but you want some of the advantages of early morning. It’s still usually fairly private, and it’s a great time of day for valleys, canyons, or cloudy days. The light can be a little harsher but for eastern backdrops it’s totally possible to get amazing images well into the middle of the morning.

Midday

Midday elopements are the hardest light to work with for a photographer, but it’s still possible! Being a wedding and elopement photographer for so long, I had to learn quickly how to make any time of day work for great images. While the light is harsh and from above around noontime, creating more shadows on your faces, it also creates very vibrant colors! There are likely to be more people around and less privacy midday, but if it’s what works best for your plans it is totally possible to get beautiful photos.

Afternoon

As I mentioned earlier, summertime often sees rain storms moving through in the afternoon, so if you’re planning an afternoon elopement be sure to bring a Plan B of sorts, whether that’s a new location, tents, or umbrellas. While some people disperse in the afternoon if they have kids with nap times, it’s still a very busy time of the day for crowds. Eloping in the afternoon can be a great option if you have dinner plans to get to! If you’re eloping in the afternoon, the best backdrops are to the west where the sun is to your backs. The sun has gone down a bit from midday so it’s easier to get bright, vibrant, and even light in afternoon.

So What’s Best Time of Day to Elope?

So with all that said, what is really the best time of day for eloping? Whatever best fits your goals!

Don’t forget: when you elope there are no real rules. You can split your time between sunrise and sunset if you want to get the best of both!

Ultimately there is no “one size fits all” for timing your elopement. I help my booked couples plan the perfect time for their location and plans — if you are already booked with another photographer talk with them as they might have a totally different way of shooting and lighting their images! I hope this has overall got you thinking about the different times of day and reassured you that there is no “bad” time to elope.

If you found this helpful and want to keep working together to plan your big day, shoot me an email!

 

PIN IT: