New York

Golden hour and ceremony times in Manhattan, New York

The table below gives the computed sunset, golden hour, and a suggested ceremony time for every month in Manhattan. Plan couple portraits inside that window, and pull them earlier through the colder months when the light closes fast.

Golden hour by month

Month	Sunset	Golden hour	Suggested ceremony
January	4:52 PM	4:11 PM – 5:12 PM	2:52 PM
February	5:30 PM	4:53 PM – 5:48 PM	3:30 PM
March	7:02 PM	6:27 PM – 7:20 PM	5:02 PM
April	7:35 PM	6:59 PM – 7:54 PM	5:35 PM
May	8:07 PM	7:28 PM – 8:26 PM	6:07 PM
June	8:29 PM	7:49 PM – 8:50 PM	6:29 PM
July	8:26 PM	7:46 PM – 8:46 PM	6:26 PM
August	7:53 PM	7:17 PM – 8:12 PM	5:53 PM
September	7:04 PM	6:29 PM – 7:21 PM	5:04 PM
October	6:14 PM	5:38 PM – 6:32 PM	4:14 PM
November	4:36 PM	3:56 PM – 4:55 PM	2:36 PM
December	4:28 PM	3:45 PM – 4:48 PM	2:28 PM

Suggested ceremony time by season

Spring: 5:35 PM
Summer: 6:26 PM
Fall: 4:14 PM
Winter: 3:30 PM

These times set the ceremony so the couple reaches golden hour with time to spare. Shift them with your date on the timeline page, which recomputes against the real sunset.

Why the light behaves this way in Manhattan

Spring: 55 min
Summer: 59 min
Fall: 55 min
Winter: 60 min

In Manhattan, the golden window stretches to about 59 minutes at midsummer and tightens to roughly 60 minutes in deep winter. Plan couple portraits inside that window, and pull them earlier in the colder months when the light closes fast.

Venues in this area

How the day comes together

Start with the venue and the portrait spots in Manhattan. The light table on this page is that first pin: sunset, golden hour, and a suggested ceremony time so portraits land in the window that actually holds.

Then add the getting ready address, home or hotel. Travel between those pins is what shapes the morning, not an optimistic guess at drive time.

Aisle & Time turns those pins plus the real sunset into the day: ceremony, family formals, golden hour, and a crew brief everyone can open. Built for Solo, Studio, and Couples.

Inclement weather

Wedding day

The ceremony happens. Rebuild the timeline around the indoor backup and the real sunset in Manhattan. Ask the venue for the rain plan. If none is on file, we list it as no inclement weather alternative listed.

Engagement and portraits

Different rule. If the forecast is ugly, reschedule. No extra fee. Watch rain over 40 percent, temperatures under 35 F or over 90 F, and wind over 20 mph. Rain from 20 to 40 percent, 35 to 45 F or 85 to 90 F, or wind from 15 to 20 mph means proceed with caution.

What to put in the plan now

Venue, portrait spots, getting ready address, and the indoor backup as a second pin so travel still works if you move inside.

What nobody can control

Sun, wind, and rain. We control timing and where we stand. The published timeline is a recommendation and will flex on the day.

Full inclement weather guide

Keep planning

Pages for this place

Build your real timeline in Aisle & Time

These are the computed defaults. Aisle & Time turns them into your exact day — ceremony time, first look, family formals, and crew briefing in minutes.

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