Best Wedding Ceremony Time in New Orleans, LA for Golden-Hour Photos (2026)
What time should a New Orleans, LA 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 New Orleans, LA in 2026 (all times local).
| Month (2026) | Sunset | Ideal ceremony start |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5:23 PM | 3:53 PM |
| Feb | 5:49 PM | 4:19 PM |
| Mar | 7:09 PM | 5:39 PM |
| Apr | 7:28 PM | 5:58 PM |
| May | 7:47 PM | 6:17 PM |
| Jun | 8:02 PM | 6:32 PM |
| Jul | 8:02 PM | 6:32 PM |
| Aug | 7:40 PM | 6:10 PM |
| Sep | 7:04 PM | 5:34 PM |
| Oct | 6:28 PM | 4:58 PM |
| Nov | 5:03 PM | 3:33 PM |
| Dec | 5:02 PM | 3:32 PM |
Sunset times computed from NOAA solar formulas for New Orleans, LA. Golden hour = the ~60 minutes before sunset. โIdeal startโ assumes a ~30-minute ceremony ending as golden hour begins.
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How to use these times
A June wedding in New Orleans, LA has sunset around 8:02 PM, so an evening ceremony starting near 6:32 PM puts your portraits in perfect light. A December wedding has a much earlier 5:02 PM sunset โ plan a mid-afternoon ceremony and a candlelit reception. Whatever the month: find sunset, count back ~90 minutes, start there. Get ready at the venue, build a buffer hour into the morning, hand the photographer a family shot list, and keep the ceremony unplugged.
Frequently asked questions
What time is golden hour in New Orleans, LA?
Golden hour is the ~60 minutes before sunset. In New Orleans, LA thatโs roughly 8:02 PM in June and 5:02 PM in December โ see the full month-by-month table above.
What time should my New Orleans, LA ceremony start?
About 90 minutes before sunset for an evening wedding. For a June New Orleans, LA wedding thatโs around 6:32 PM; use the table for your month.
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