Golden hour calculator.
See golden hour, blue hour, sunrise and sunset for any date — preloaded with Utah’s favorite elopement spots and dream destinations.
Golden hour = sun between 6° above and 4° below the horizon. Blue hour = 4° to 6° below.
Why golden hour matters for wedding photos
Golden hour is the stretch of time just after sunrise and just before sunset when the sun sits low in the sky. Its light travels through more atmosphere, so it turns warm, soft and directional — it wraps around faces instead of carving harsh shadows under eyes. Blue hour follows sunset: the sky goes cool and even, perfect for moody portraits and sparkler exits.
In Utah, the landscape changes the math. Deep canyons like Zion lose direct light long before official sunset, while open overlooks like Dead Horse Point keep it until the last minute. Mountain ridges to the west of the Wasatch Front can steal 20–30 minutes from the evening. That’s why we always pair this calculator with a scouting visit or satellite map.
Ready to turn the numbers into a plan? Try the wedding day timeline builder, or read how to plan your wedding around golden hour.
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