Best Time for Wedding Photos in Greece: Sunset & Golden Hour Planner

Light is the Invisible Language of Your Wedding Story

It dictates the texture of your gown, the mood of your portraits, and the atmosphere of your celebration. As visual storytellers capturing love across Greece, we believe that orchestrating your timeline around the sun is just as essential as selecting your venue.

To achieve that effortless, cinematic aesthetic you see in our portfolio, we do not simply take photos; we chase the light.

Designing Your Narrative: The Two Timelines

The most frequent question we receive from couples traveling from around the world is: “What time should our ceremony start?” To ensure you have ample light for editorial portraits, we recommend one of these two primary strategies:

Option A: The “First Look”

Choosing to see each other before the ceremony allows you to complete your main portrait session early, creating a relaxed flow for the evening. This is ideal for couples who value intimacy and want to join their guests for the full cocktail hour.

  • The Strategy: Plan your ceremony to begin approximately 1 to 1.5 hours before sunset.
  • The Result: You exchange vows during the softest, most romantic light. Immediately after, we capture final “Golden Hour” shots for 15 minutes before you rejoin the celebration.

Option B: The Traditional Flow

If you cherish the tradition of meeting at the altar, we must prioritize the light after your vows. Because the sun in Greece drops quickly, timing is critical to ensure you aren’t left in the dark.

  • The Strategy: Schedule your ceremony 2 to 2.5 hours prior to sunset.
  • The Result: This creates a perfect sequence: 45 minutes for your ceremony and family photos, leaving us a full hour for your couple portraits during the peak Golden Hour window.

Beyond Time: The Geography of Light

Knowing when the sun sets is only half the equation. You must also know where it sets relative to your specific venue.

The Athens Riviera Example

Not all “sea view” venues see the sunset the same way. At the Four Seasons Astir Palace, the sun melts directly into the sea. However, at venues like Island Art & Taste, the geography is deceptive. The sun often sets behind the peninsula or mountains 30 minutes earlier than the official sunset time.

For venues with obstructed horizons, we recommend starting your ceremony 2.5 hours prior to sunset to catch the luminous light reflecting off the sea before the sun hides behind the terrain.

The Islands: Santorini & The Ionian

In Santorini, the white architecture acts as a natural reflector. In places like Oia, the sun disappears behind the caldera wall earlier than the horizon, requiring a precise, high-fashion timeline. Conversely, in Corfu, the light is filtered through lush greenery, creating a dappled, soft ambient glow.