Everything you should think about when planning a twilight destination wedding.

Twilight ceremonies set an insanely romantic mood for your destination wedding. A little creative lighting can go a long way against the slowing dimming hues of the setting sun. Even if it’s a bit cloudy or if you choose a destination spot on the opposite side of the setting sun – the colors cast all around are remarkable. Have you, however, considered everything that makes a twilight wedding look amazing, even well into the night? Just in case you haven’t, we have for you!

Consider Your Timing

Sunset real wedding at Beaches Turks and Caicos

This tip in an insanely important one a lot of brides tend to forget about. It’s very important to time your wedding events with the uncertainty of nature. Make sure that you check and double check the time of the sunset on your wedding day. Share your desired timeline with your wedding planner as he or she would be able to shepherd your guests to locations on time. If you’re trying to time the sunset for your photos, you will want to plan your wedding to begin at least 30 minutes before the timed sunset. This way your guests can enjoy a setting sun during your cocktail hour and you can capture those key hues of purple and pink during the sunset in your wedding photos.

If you want your ceremony to occur during the sunset, time the start of your wedding 15 mins before the scheduled sunset time. Talk to your wedding planner and officiant about the length of your ceremony before hand so you know exactly how much time you have to play around with. Remember the sun will take a bit of time to set and the sky will look different at varying times throughout the sunset. 

Consider Your Venue Location

Sandals Grande Antigua|Bartlett Pair Photography

Sure that pool side courtyard looks amazing during the sunset, but what about the transition from evening into the night? If you’re planning a reception longer than an hour and beyond 6 pm, you definitely want to see what it looks like at night. Visit your desired location during sunset, evening and night to see what it looks like and consider which lighting options you may want to use. Questions to consider when choosing your Twilight reception location – is the sunset blinding? Is the natural light overwhelming my decor lighting? Should I consider accent lighting in different colors?

Consider Your Lighting

See more from this real wedding at Sandals Royal Caribbean

Naturally you’ll want to choose lighting that matches the mood you want to set. For that soft, backyard party glow, Chinese Lanterns and stringed lighting would be your go to options. For a more intimate, warm and romantic mood (perfect for adult-only wedding guests) we suggest the soft glow of candlelight. Of course, you can always do both to combine these looks. If you’re feeling a bit festive, opt for color accent lighting. It’s amazing what a blue or purple tint can do for a sunset!

Consider You Candlelight Options

Not all candles are created equal. Soft tea lights are wonderfully intimate but not very bright. You definitely don’t want your guests to be unable to see each other or the food right in front of them. A group of large candles can provide a good deal of light in the beginning but not so much after they’ve burned down a bit. A little advice that we borrowed from The Knot is before you choose your candles, take some time out and test your wicks.

“On a day when you’ll be home for a while (we know you know, but never leave burning candles unattended), light them all at the same time — on the hour works best, since it’ll be easiest to remember — and see how long they burn. You need not sit there and watch, just check periodically to see how far they’ve made it. Once you know your votives, tapers, or columns can cut it through drinks, dinner, dancing and, of course, your grand departure, you’re safe to buy the quantity you’ll actually need. And you’ll be all set to light up the night.”

Great advice!

Traditionally, most Caribbean islands only recognize marriages as legally binding if they are performed before the sun sets. Twilight ceremonies at Sandals and Beaches Resorts usually take place around 5 p.m. to capture the setting sun without losing the significance of the tradition.

Consider Your Night Time Entertainment

Before you commit to your reception entertainment there are a few things you may want to consider. How big is my location? If you’re anticipating a large group in a large location, you may want to consider entertainment that is easy to see and moves such as fire dancers. You can ask your dancer to  move throughout the crowd, giving every guest a chance to see the entertainment without having to get up and block other guests. If you’re having a portable dance floor set up, consider adding additional lighting either over or around it so guests can party all night!

Planning a twilight wedding? What other considerations do you think we should add to our list?