Best Wedding Ceremony Time in Phoenix, AZ for Golden-Hour Photos (2026)
What time should a Phoenix, AZ 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 Phoenix, AZ in 2026 (all times local). Note: Arizona does not observe daylight saving time.
| Month (2026) | Sunset | Ideal ceremony start |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5:44 PM | 4:14 PM |
| Feb | 6:13 PM | 4:43 PM |
| Mar | 6:36 PM | 5:06 PM |
| Apr | 6:59 PM | 5:29 PM |
| May | 7:22 PM | 5:52 PM |
| Jun | 7:39 PM | 6:09 PM |
| Jul | 7:38 PM | 6:08 PM |
| Aug | 7:13 PM | 5:43 PM |
| Sep | 6:33 PM | 5:03 PM |
| Oct | 5:53 PM | 4:23 PM |
| Nov | 5:25 PM | 3:55 PM |
| Dec | 5:22 PM | 3:52 PM |
Sunset times computed from NOAA solar formulas for Phoenix, AZ (no DST). 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 Phoenix, AZ has sunset around 7:39 PM, so an evening ceremony starting near 6:09 PM puts your portraits in perfect light. A December wedding has a much earlier 5:22 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 Phoenix, AZ?
Golden hour is the ~60 minutes before sunset. In Phoenix, AZ thatโs roughly 7:39 PM in June and 5:22 PM in December โ see the full month-by-month table above.
What time should my Phoenix, AZ ceremony start?
About 90 minutes before sunset for an evening wedding, so the ceremony ends as golden hour begins. For a June Phoenix, AZ wedding thatโs around 6:09 PM; use the table for your month.
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