Start Time for 10/19 Outdoor Ceremony?

LCWedding1012

We've been putting off finalizing the invitations because we still can't pick a start time for our outdoor ceremony. Anyone else having an outdoor ceremony in mid- late October?

Sunset on 10/19: 6:09pm

I've been watching the sky for the past two weeks. If it's nice out, then it's decently bright from 30 min before sunset to 20-30 minutes afterward. If it's cloudy, then it starts getting dark much earlier.

The place has lighting, but it's more mood lighting than anything significant. Not sure yet if we'll string lights in the trees or around the pergola pillars.

http://theprimavera.com/images/0195.jpg (photo of random people at the site after dark, obviously taken with flash)

What time does your outdoor ceremony start and will you have extra lighting available?

music11

Our wedding is 10/13, and we are planning our ceremony start time around 3 PM.  Since we are not doing a first look, it was important to us that we had enough time with natural light to do photos.

Ividian

I'm hoping to be outdoors and my ceremony is starting at 4:30, very short ceremony and no first look. However, our reception is in the hotel so not all of our photos will be or have to be outside.

islandmonkey8

I'm a 10/12 bride. Our Ceremony is at 5. Talked with the photographer Whois very familiar with the venue and light there and he said we'll have plenty of time. Definitely ask your photographer. They are the pros and should know how much light/time you need. Plus we really love the lighting in "sunset" photos.

xxjen015

I agree, ask your photographer. It will depend on if you're having a first look. My ceremony is at 5:30 outdoors on October 13th. Our sunset is supposed to be around 6:18. We are having a first look beforehand. If you're having a first look, IMO you should do 5:30. 

futuremrsjdmartin

We are having our ceremony at 3:28 to have plenty of time in the evening for light as well as make sure we have the wedding at a warmer part of the day. Ceremony and reception are both outdoors. 

Also we are date twin. 10/19

LCWedding1012

Thanks so much for all of your input! You bring up some good points I forgot to mention...

- we're doing the bulk of the photos before the ceremony.

- ceremony & reception are at the same place so reception starts immediately after, but we can always go back out for sunset/evening photos. We originally estimated 6pm - 11pm for the reception.

Still need to confirm with the FI, but I think we will go with the earlier time on the invites, and then wing it the day of-- if the weather looks dark, start on time at 5pm; if it's bright, start around 5:15, take 20min for ceremony, receiving line... we could stretch it out until 6pm and keep the reception at the original time.

Thanks again, ladies!

jenny&will2014

I am on 10/7 and we are starting at 5.

Blambert01022010

Our wedding is the day after yours and we are starting it at 2:30pm. We will have to add extra lighting, so we will be buying lanterns to string across the area or we are renting a tent and having something like this picture!

LDubHawksFan

10/20.  Our sunset is at 6:10 also, so we are starting at 4:30 so there is enough time after.  Ask your photog what his recommendation is because ours said the sun would be in my eyes if we started at 5

lisagatto85

my wedding is the same day and i am hoping the weather will be nice enough to have an outdoor ceremony.  i saw you were in NJ...i live there too but we are getting married in hudson valley, NY. we saw that the sun sets at 6:11 but our ceremony will start around 4:30. our venue advised that we would want as much of the cocktail hour as possible outdoors and in the sun.  good luck!