Best Wedding Ceremony Time in Chicago, IL for Golden-Hour Photos (2026)
What time should a Chicago, IL wedding ceremony start for the best photos? The answer changes every month, because sunset does. The trick photographers use: start the ceremony about 90 minutes before sunset so it ends right as golden hour begins and you shoot couple portraits in that warm, soft light. Below is the month-by-month timing for Chicago, IL in 2026 (all times local).
| Month (2026) | Sunset | Ideal ceremony start |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4:45 PM | 3:15 PM |
| Feb | 5:24 PM | 3:54 PM |
| Mar | 6:58 PM | 5:28 PM |
| Apr | 7:32 PM | 6:02 PM |
| May | 8:04 PM | 6:34 PM |
| Jun | 8:27 PM | 6:57 PM |
| Jul | 8:23 PM | 6:53 PM |
| Aug | 7:49 PM | 6:19 PM |
| Sep | 6:58 PM | 5:28 PM |
| Oct | 6:07 PM | 4:37 PM |
| Nov | 4:29 PM | 2:59 PM |
| Dec | 4:20 PM | 2:50 PM |
Sunset times computed from NOAA solar formulas for Chicago, IL. Golden hour = the ~60 minutes before sunset. โIdeal startโ assumes a ~30-minute ceremony ending as golden hour begins; adjust ~30 min later for a short ceremony, earlier for a long one.
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How to use these times
A June wedding in Chicago, IL has sunset around 8:27 PM, so an evening ceremony starting near 6:57 PM puts your portraits in perfect light. A December wedding has a much earlier 4:20 PM sunset โ plan a mid-afternoon ceremony and a candlelit reception. Whatever the month, the rule holds: find sunset, count back ~90 minutes, start there. Get ready at the venue, build a buffer hour into the morning, and keep the ceremony unplugged for clean aisle shots.
Frequently asked questions
What time is golden hour in Chicago, IL?
Golden hour is the ~60 minutes before sunset. In Chicago, IL thatโs roughly 8:27 PM in June and 4:20 PM in December โ see the full month-by-month table above.
What time should my Chicago, IL ceremony start?
About 90 minutes before sunset for an evening wedding, so the ceremony ends as golden hour begins. For a June Chicago, IL wedding thatโs around 6:57 PM; use the table for your month.
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