When to Get Married in San Antonio: A Month-by-Month Guide From a Wedding Photographer
Most couples start with a season. Some start with a venue date that happens to be open. Either way, the month you choose shapes the day in ways that are easy to overlook: when the light is soft, how warm the afternoon feels, and how much time you have between the ceremony and sunset.
We photograph weddings in San Antonio, the Texas Hill Country, and along the coast, and the question of timing comes up in nearly every first conversation. This guide walks through the year one month at a time, with approximate sunset times, typical daytime highs, and what each stretch means for your wedding photographs.
A note on the numbers. Sunset times below are rounded and move by a minute or two each day, so check the exact time for your date. Daytime highs are typical, not guaranteed.
Why Sunset Time Matters More Than the Calendar
In San Antonio, sunset moves by just over three hours across the year, from around 5:35 PM in early December to around 8:40 PM at the end of June. That single number affects when a ceremony can start, how long the evening light lasts, and how much of your day happens in warm light rather than flat midday sun.
A useful starting point is to plan the ceremony so it ends an hour or so before sunset. That leaves room for portraits while the light is soft, and it keeps the reception from starting in the dark with nothing photographed in between. Our golden hour guide goes deeper on this.
January and February
Sunset runs from about 5:45 PM in early January to about 6:35 PM by the end of February. Daytime highs are typically in the low to mid 60s, and evenings cool off quickly.
Short days mean a compact schedule. Ceremonies often work best in the middle of the afternoon, and a first look earlier in the day gives you unhurried time together before the light starts to drop. Indoor and covered venues make these months easier to plan. If you are considering a cooler-season date, our guide to planning a winter wedding in San Antonio covers the details.
March and April
Daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday of March, and sunset jumps by an hour overnight, from about 6:35 PM to about 7:35 PM. By the end of March it is close to 7:55 PM, and through April it runs from about 7:50 PM to 8:10 PM. Highs move from the mid 70s into the low 80s.
This is wildflower season in the Hill Country, and the longer evenings give you room for a late ceremony and portraits afterward. Spring weather can change quickly, so a rain plan belongs in the schedule from the start. We saw how this works on a proposal at Hotel Emma this fall, where a covered backup spot was chosen ahead of time and the rain held off until after the yes. Our guide to having a rain plan for your San Antonio wedding photos explains how to set one up.
May and June
Sunset runs from about 8:10 PM in early May to about 8:35 PM through June, and the latest sunset of the year falls at the end of June. Highs climb from the upper 80s into the low 90s. May tends to be among the wettest months of the year.
The long evenings are the draw. A ceremony around 7:00 PM still leaves more than an hour of warm light afterward. Midday is when the heat builds, so we like to keep the middle of the day light on photographs, with getting ready indoors and portraits saved for later.
July and August
These are the hottest months, with highs typically in the mid to upper 90s. Sunset starts around 8:35 PM in early July and slips to about 7:50 PM by the end of August.
Outdoor ceremonies work well when they are held late in the day, once the sun is lower and shade has spread across the venue. Couples who are comfortable look relaxed in photographs, so we plan the timeline around the cooler end of the day wherever we can. Air-conditioned spaces for getting ready, water for the wedding party, and a shaded area for guests all make a difference.
September and October
September stays warm, with highs in the low 90s and sunset running from about 7:50 PM to 7:10 PM. October brings highs closer to the low 80s, and sunset moves from about 7:10 PM to 6:45 PM.
According to data, October is the most popular month to get married in San Antonio. That tends to mean venues and photographers book earlier than usual, so our guide on how soon to book a wedding photographer in San Antonio is worth reading if October is on your list.
The shorter evenings also change how a day is built. At the Alamo wedding of Lana and Steve this fall, guests gathered for a group photograph at 5:45 PM, the ceremony began at 6:30 PM, and the exit happened as the light dropped. The schedule was built around the sun. On the coast, at Clarice and Nathan’s South Padre Island wedding, rain began as the ceremony ended and the day moved indoors. Fall can bring either, so it helps to have a plan for both.
November and December
Daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday of November, and sunset moves back by an hour overnight, from about 6:45 PM to about 5:45 PM. By early December it falls close to 5:35 PM. Highs run from the low 70s down to the mid 60s.
With so little daylight, ceremonies usually start in the mid to late afternoon, and portraits happen before or just after the ceremony rather than at sunset. Holiday travel can affect guest counts, so confirm dates with your closest family early.
Choosing Your Month and Time of Day
Three questions tend to settle most timing decisions:
What time does the sun set on your date, and where does your ceremony fall in relation to it?
How many hours of coverage does your schedule call for? Our guide to how many hours of wedding photography you need can help you decide.
What is your plan for heat or rain, and who decides when to use it?
If you are comparing dates, we are glad to talk through how a month and time of day would work for your photographs. You can learn more about how we work on our wedding photography page, or reach us through our contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular month to get married in San Antonio? According to WeddingWire data, October is the most popular month for weddings in San Antonio, which means venues and vendors often fill early for that month.
What is the hottest month for a San Antonio wedding? July and August are typically the hottest, with afternoon highs in the mid to upper 90s. A late-day ceremony and shaded or air-conditioned spaces make those months more comfortable.
What time does the sun set in San Antonio on a wedding day? Sunset ranges from about 5:35 PM in early December to about 8:40 PM at the end of June. The exact time depends on your date, so check it when you set your ceremony start.
Does it rain on wedding days in San Antonio? Rain is possible in any month. Spring and early fall tend to bring more of it than winter, so a covered backup and an agreed time to decide are worth building into the schedule.