Best Time of Day for Big Sur Elopement?
what is the Best Time of Day for a Big Sur Elopement?
Planning an elopement in Big Sur!? There is a 90% chance you are coming from out of the area and are looking for a Big Sur area local to make your elopement perfect!
Your elopement is is as unique as you two and the time of day is 100% up to you. My goal is to give you comprehensive understanding of when the best time of day is for photos.
Golden Hour
Golden Hour is the time of day that stretches from the hour before sunset until sunset. Photographers love this time of day because the light is dynamic. To us this word means there is character and dimensions to it. I’m going nerdy here. So for example, here is a photo shot during the middle of the day vs a golden hour photo. 👇
Golden Hour
Mid Day
☝️ These photos were shot on the same day at Garrapata Beach and the photo on the right is the photo on the rock in the background of the shot in the left image. NOW, I don’t mean to toot my own horn but I think they are both dang good photos. The difference is visible though. The golden hour photos on the left is *ahem golden for sure, but also look at the shadows. They are softer and less harsh. You can tell by looking at the shoulders an eyes.
Another reason why Golden Hour is a preferred time to photograph is because of its versatility. Look at this image from a Golden Hour proposal. The ability for cameras to retain information in the distance as well as in the subject is easier when the light is softer. I am sure there’s some legit science using particles and debris and stuff but to me it’s simple to me that when the light is soft like this it’s easier to capture all the details in your image.
One thing to note about Big Sur, having photographed elopements and proposals in his area since 2018m the light changes throughout the year!
For example, in the winter, like literally after daylight savings in november, the light sits low for like an extra hour. So Golden hour seems to extend and then become even more dramatic closer to the sunset.
Golden is definitely not the only time preferred to take photos. Lots of people sleep on the Blue Hour.
Blue Hour
Blue hour is the 20-60 minutes after the sunset of extra light you get. The light completely changes and in some cases you get these epic pink skies! Not to mention skin tones completely change and become almost rested and natural looking in the camera. Look at this 👇
See what I mean? The sky in the back is fully pink and the skin tones are calmer and more true to what you would see in real life in the shade.
There are two ways to achieve this type of look. The first is to begin your elopement about 60 minutes before sunset. This will allow for this blue-hour feel to happen. The second is to wait for sunset!
So When Is The Best Time?
If you’re planning on incorporating the beach at golden hour here are two sample timelines that would work for your elopement!
2 Hour Elopement
🌅Sunset 8:30 pm
6:30 pm Vow Exchange / Cermeony at Garrapata State Park
7:15 - Photos at Garrapata
7:30 - Head to Garrapata Beach / Calla lily Valley to finish at the beach
8:30 we still get a few minutes of Blue Hour and you're off to dinner!
3 Hour Elopement
🌄Sunset 8:30 pm
5:30 pm - Finishing touches / Getting ready details
6:15 pm - Head to first look/ceremony
6:30 pm Vow Exchange / Cermeony at Garrapata State Park
7:15 - Photos at Garrapata
7:30 - Head to Garrapata Beach / Calla lily Valley to finish at the beach
8:30 we still get a few minutes of Blue Hour and you're off to dinner!
If you’re interested in using the redwoods as your ceremony or vow exchange as well as a beach setting for another scene I would suggest the following timeline for your Big Sur Elopement:
2 Hour Elopement
🌅Sunset 8:30 pm
6:30 pm Vow Exchange / Cermeony at Glenn Oaks Big Sur
7:00 - Head to Pfeiffer Beach
7:30 - Photos at Pfeiffer to finish the last hour
8:30 we still get a few minutes of Blue Hour and you're off to dinner!
A note on time and the big sur redwoods
The sun might say it is going to set at 7pm that evening in Big Sur but that is only true for the beaches. If you are in Big Sur proper the sun will set an hour earlier so think about your proposal time! If you’re planning to incorporate redoods into your proposal I say feel free to go any time of day besides 12-1 pm!
How does weather fit in here?
Big Sur is wild. It’s crazy. Like, for example, the summertime in the USA is hot and like sunny usually. Not so in Big Sur. If you want to achieve a moody vibe plan for the summer ✅
Well let me start with golden hour. In the summer I am going to be real with you. You might not get that warm Golden Hour look.
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That doesn’t mean your photos and experience won’t be amazing, memorable, romantic, and epic. In fact, one of the reasons my wife and I moved here in 2014 was for the fog and Big Sur vibe.
So what does this have to do with the time for elopement?
If you are planning for a summer elopement you might want to check with your vendors to on their time change policy. For example, if you book me for your Big Sur Elopement, your afternoon is blocked out for me. The reason I do this is in case the weather changes and it’s going to be sunny, we can push the elopement back an hour to catch the golden hour rays. That’s true for me but might not be true for your other vendors such as your officiant and maybe car rental. Check with them!