Best Wedding Ceremony Time in San Francisco, CA for Golden-Hour Photos (2026)
What time should a San Francisco, CA 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 San Francisco, CA in 2026 (all times local).
| Month (2026) | Sunset | Ideal ceremony start |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5:15 PM | 3:45 PM |
| Feb | 5:49 PM | 4:19 PM |
| Mar | 7:17 PM | 5:47 PM |
| Apr | 7:46 PM | 6:16 PM |
| May | 8:13 PM | 6:43 PM |
| Jun | 8:33 PM | 7:03 PM |
| Jul | 8:30 PM | 7:00 PM |
| Aug | 8:01 PM | 6:31 PM |
| Sep | 7:16 PM | 5:46 PM |
| Oct | 6:31 PM | 5:01 PM |
| Nov | 4:57 PM | 3:27 PM |
| Dec | 4:52 PM | 3:22 PM |
Sunset times computed from NOAA solar formulas for San Francisco, CA. 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 San Francisco, CA has sunset around 8:33 PM, so an evening ceremony starting near 7:03 PM puts your portraits in perfect light. A December wedding has a much earlier 4:52 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 San Francisco, CA?
Golden hour is the ~60 minutes before sunset. In San Francisco, CA thatโs roughly 8:33 PM in June and 4:52 PM in December โ see the full month-by-month table above.
What time should my San Francisco, CA ceremony start?
About 90 minutes before sunset for an evening wedding. For a June San Francisco, CA wedding thatโs around 7:03 PM; use the table for your month.
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