Wedding Photo and Film Guide
Sunset and Send-Off Photos: How to Plan the Last Light and the Exit
By Vitor Lindo, wedding photographer and filmmaker (vitor-lindo.com)
Published October 31, 2026
The Short Answer
Slip out for ten minutes right before sunset for portraits, then plan the send-off for when it is dark enough for sparklers or bright enough for petals. Line guests up in two tight rows, light everything at once, and walk slowly. A slow walk is the whole trick.
Sunset Portraits in Ten Minutes
You do not need to leave dinner for long. Ten minutes in the last light before sunset gives you a handful of frames that look nothing like the rest of the day. Ask your planner to cue you, and pick the spot during the day so you are not walking around looking for it.
On the coast, water and marsh catch the sky. A dock, a lawn facing west or the edge of the marsh all work.
Sunset Times on the Georgia and Carolina Coast
Sunset on the 15th of each month in 2027 for Oldfield in Okatie, South Carolina and the Jekyll Island Club in Georgia, worked out with the NOAA solar equations. Jekyll sits farther south, so its winter sunsets come about four to five minutes later than Oldfield's, while summer sunsets land within a couple of minutes of each other. Check your exact date on the NOAA Solar Calculator.
- Jan5:42 / 5:46
- Feb6:10 / 6:14
- Mar7:32 / 7:34
- Apr7:54 / 7:54
- May8:15 / 8:15
- Jun8:33 / 8:31
- Jul8:32 / 8:31
- Aug8:09 / 8:09
- Sep7:30 / 7:32
- Oct6:52 / 6:55
- Nov5:24 / 5:28
- Dec5:21 / 5:26
Worked out with the NOAA solar position equations. Check your date on the NOAA Solar Calculator.
Send-Off Ideas That Photograph Well
- Long sparklers, at least 20 inches, so they last the whole walk
- Dried petals or lavender for a daytime exit
- Bubbles for a covered or indoor exit
- Ribbon wands or bells where the venue bans anything thrown
- A slow drive away in a decorated car, shot from the front and back
Run the Send-Off in Ten Minutes
- Ask the venue what is allowed. Many ban sparklers, confetti or rice.
- Have the planner line guests up in two tight rows with a clear path between.
- Hand out sparklers and lighters to a few people at the front of each row, then light down the line.
- Wait until most are lit, then walk slowly. Stop halfway for a kiss.
- Do it twice if guests are game. The second pass is usually better.
- Put a bucket of water at the end for spent sparklers.
A Fake Exit Before the Real One
If you want to dance until the last song, do a staged send-off an hour before the end while everyone is still there. The photographer and videographer get the shot, and you go back inside. Some couples like this better than ending the night outside.
See how the night ended at Oldfield at the getaway stop on the walk.
Questions Couples Ask
What is the exit of a wedding ceremony called?
After the ceremony it is the recessional, when the couple walks back up the aisle. At the end of the night it is the send-off or grand exit.
What time should a sunset wedding start?
End the ceremony at least an hour before sunset if you want golden hour portraits. Look up sunset for your exact date and count back from there.
What is a sundown wedding?
A wedding timed so the ceremony or reception lines up with sunset. Plan portraits before the sun goes down, since the light drops fast after.
What can I do instead of a sparkler send-off?
Petals, lavender, bubbles, ribbon wands, bells or a slow drive away in a decorated car. Ask your venue first, since many ban sparklers or anything thrown.
On Wedwalk
Meet the People Behind a Real Wedding
- Walk to the Getaway Stop
- Jekyll Island and St. Simons Vendors
- Hilton Head and Bluffton Vendors
- Beachview Events, Rentals and Production
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Sources and Credits
Sources
Photo Credits
All photographs on this page: Vitor Lindo, from Jordan and Blake's wedding at Oldfield, Okatie SC. Walk the full wedding.
