Best Wedding Ceremony Time in Seattle, WA for Golden-Hour Photos (2026)
What time should a Seattle, WA 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 Seattle, WA in 2026 (all times local).
| Month (2026) | Sunset | Ideal ceremony start |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4:46 PM | 3:16 PM |
| Feb | 5:34 PM | 4:04 PM |
| Mar | 7:16 PM | 5:46 PM |
| Apr | 8:00 PM | 6:30 PM |
| May | 8:41 PM | 7:11 PM |
| Jun | 9:09 PM | 7:39 PM |
| Jul | 9:02 PM | 7:32 PM |
| Aug | 8:20 PM | 6:50 PM |
| Sep | 7:19 PM | 5:49 PM |
| Oct | 6:19 PM | 4:49 PM |
| Nov | 4:31 PM | 3:01 PM |
| Dec | 4:18 PM | 2:48 PM |
Sunset times computed from NOAA solar formulas for Seattle, WA. 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 Seattle, WA has sunset around 9:09 PM, so an evening ceremony starting near 7:39 PM puts your portraits in perfect light. A December wedding has a much earlier 4:18 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 Seattle, WA?
Golden hour is the ~60 minutes before sunset. In Seattle, WA thatโs roughly 9:09 PM in June and 4:18 PM in December โ see the full month-by-month table above.
What time should my Seattle, WA ceremony start?
About 90 minutes before sunset for an evening wedding. For a June Seattle, WA wedding thatโs around 7:39 PM; use the table for your month.
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