Why Golden Hour Hits Different in Cabo vs. Cancun
We need to talk about the sun. When couples book a destination wedding, they obsess over the venue, the menu, and the guest list, but they often overlook the one factor that dictates the look of every single photo I take: the geography. Mexico is massive, and the lighting conditions on the East Coast (Cancun/Riviera Maya) are radically different from the West Coast (Los Cabos). As a photographer, I don't just chase light; I plan your entire timeline around it. Understanding the difference between a Cabo vs. Cancun sunset is the key to avoiding squinty ceremony photos and nailing those dream portraits.
Here is the simple truth: Light is not created equal. The "Golden Hour"—that magical window before sunset where the light turns soft and flattering—behaves differently depending on which ocean you are facing. In Cancun, we are on the Caribbean Sea, facing East. In Cabo, we are at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, facing the Pacific (mostly South/West). This geographical shift changes the angle of the light, the duration of the sunset, and ultimately, the "vibe" of your golden hour destination wedding gallery. Let’s break down what this means for your big day.
Cancun and Riviera Maya: The Soft, Dreamy Glow
In Cancun, Tulum, and the Riviera Maya, the sun rises over the ocean and sets over the jungle. This means that during your evening ceremony, the sun is actually behind the hotels or the tree line, not over the water. This creates a phenomenon called "open shade." As the sun drops behind the resort buildings in the late afternoon, the beach falls into shadow while the sky remains bright. This is fantastic for ceremonies because it means your guests aren't staring directly into the blinding sun, and you aren't squinting at your partner while saying your vows. The light becomes soft, even, and incredibly flattering on skin tones well before the actual sunset time.
The trade-off, however, is that you rarely get those photos where the sun is dipping directly into the water behind you. Instead, we get what I call the "cotton candy" sky. Because the harsh direct light is blocked by the land, the sky over the ocean turns into a soft gradient of pinks, purples, and blues. It creates a pastel, romantic aesthetic that defines the classic Caribbean wedding look. It also means we lose light a bit faster on the East Coast. Once the sun dips below the jungle horizon, twilight sets in quickly, so we have to be efficient with your couple portraits to catch that lingering ambient light before it goes pitch black. You can see examples of this soft lighting on my Cancun destination wedding photographer portfolio.
Los Cabos: The Dramatic, Fiery Finish
Los Cabos is a completely different beast. Here, the sun sets directly over the Pacific Ocean (or behind the famous Arch, depending on where your venue is). This means the light stays harsh and direct for much longer. If you schedule your ceremony too early in Cabo, you will likely have full, blasting sunlight hitting you sideways, creating hard shadows and causing everyone to reach for their sunglasses. The "Golden Hour" here is intense, warm, and rich. It’s not the soft pastel of the Caribbean; it is a deep, burning gold that reflects off the desert sand and the deep blue ocean.
Because the sun hits the water, we get that cinematic silhouette shot that couples love. However, the timing is critical. In Cabo, we often push the ceremony start time a bit later than we would in Cancun to ensure the sun has dipped low enough to be manageable. The transition from bright sun to sunset is dramatic. One minute you are bathed in gold, and the next, the sun sinks into the ocean and the light vanishes. It requires a photographer who can work fast and handle high-contrast situations. The result is a gallery that feels edgier, bolder, and warmer—perfect for the "desert chic" vibe. For a deeper dive into my style and how I handle these lighting extremes, check out my About page.
When Should You Walk Down the Aisle?
Because of these lighting differences, a 5:00 PM ceremony in Cancun is not the same as a 5:00 PM ceremony in Cabo. In the Riviera Maya, I often suggest starting the ceremony about 90 minutes before official sunset. This allows us to catch the soft light during the vows and still have plenty of time for family photos and couple portraits before we lose the light completely. If you wait too long in Cancun, your ceremony might be beautiful, but your portraits will be in the dark. It is a balancing act of ensuring we have enough light left for the romantic shots after the "I dos."
In Cabo, we can often afford to start closer to sunset, perhaps 60 to 75 minutes before the sun goes down, because the light remains strong until the very last second. However, you have to factor in the heat. Direct sun in Cabo is hotter than the shaded beach in Cancun. I help my couples build their timeline by looking at Time and Date’s sun calculator specifically for their venue's orientation. If your venue faces due West, we need to be very careful about not blinding your guests. If it faces South, we have more flexibility. Planning these logistics is part of the service I offer to ensure we aren't rushing against the clock.
The "Blue Hour" Factor
There is a secret phase of twilight called "Blue Hour" that happens right after the sun disappears, and it looks totally different on each coast. In Cancun, Blue Hour is magical. Because the water is shallow and turquoise, it glows even in low light. The sky turns a deep royal blue, and the white sand acts as a natural reflector, bouncing light back onto your faces. It creates a clean, ethereal look that is perfect for those final wide-angle shots of the environment before we head to the reception. It feels serene and pure.
In Cabo, the ocean is darker (deep Pacific blue/black), and the desert rocks don't reflect light the same way. Blue Hour in Cabo can feel moody and mysterious. Understanding these color palettes helps you decide which location fits your personal style better. If you are torn between the two, looking at full galleries on my main page might help you decide which background speaks to you.
Choosing Your Destination Based on Light
Ultimately, your choice between Cabo vs. Cancun shouldn't just be about the tacos (though both are excellent); it should be about the visual story you want to tell. Do you want the soft, dreamy, teal-and-pink palette of the Caribbean? Or do you crave the high-contrast, gold-and-deep-blue drama of the Baja desert? Both are spectacular, but they require different photographic approaches and different timelines.
Don't leave your wedding photos to chance or a rigid hotel schedule that doesn't account for the sun. I specialize in reading the light and crafting a timeline that maximizes the beauty of your chosen destination. Whether it’s the jungle or the desert, I make sure the light works for you.
Let’s Chase the Sun
Your wedding photos are the only thing that lasts after the champagne is drunk and the flowers wilt. Make sure they are lit perfectly. I am ready to help you plan the ultimate golden hour destination wedding, whether that’s on the white sands of Tulum or the cliffs of Los Cabos.
If you are ready to talk about timelines, lighting, and capturing your love story in the best possible light, I would love to hear from you.