THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO ELOPE IN NORTH WALES

Couples often ask me when the best time of year is to elope in North Wales, and my honest answer is that every season has its own kind of magic. I'm based in Llandudno, and I've officiated and photographed elopements here in spring, summer and autumn, each one completely different. So here's my season-by-season guide, with real sunrise and sunset times and the practical bits that help you choose.

One thing first: whatever the month, the weather in the mountains can change quickly. That isn't something to fear. Changeable weather often makes the most beautiful images, so we plan around the light rather than hoping for a perfect forecast.

Spring (March to May)

Spring is when North Wales wakes up. The hills turn green, the woodlands come back to life and the days stretch out quickly. In Llandudno, sunset moves from around 6.30pm at the spring equinox to after 9pm by the middle of May, so you gain hours of soft evening light in just a few weeks.

Kayla and Nathan travelled all the way from Australia for their elopement in the spring of 2024 and had their ceremony officiated in a stunning woodland. It was an overcast day, and that gentle, even light was beautiful for photographs. You can see it for yourself in Kayla and Nathan's elopement.

Good to know: outside the Easter holidays, spring is often quieter than summer. If you're dreaming of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), the Snowdon Mountain Railway usually starts running all the way to the summit in May, and the Pen y Pass car park at the foot of the mountain switches to a pre-booking system around Easter.

Summer (June to August)

Photo: Jeff Buck, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Summer gives you the longest days of the year. Around the summer solstice, the sun rises before 5am and doesn't set until around 9.45pm in Llandudno. That means you can have a relaxed morning, a ceremony in the afternoon and still have golden hour photographs late into the evening.

Dean and Tori eloped in the summer of 2023 and enjoyed a luxury wedding amongst the rolling hills of Cwm Idwal, with a personalised ceremony and half day photography coverage. Take a look at Dean and Tori's story.

Summer is also the season for the coast. Whether you'd like to scrunch your feet in the warm summer sand or say your vows on a clifftop on Anglesey, the beaches are at their best.

Good to know: summer is the busiest time of year, especially during the school holidays, and popular paths and car parks fill early. A weekday, an early start or an evening ceremony gives you far more privacy. With the Ultimate Elopement you can choose multiple locations, so you could start in the mountains and finish by the sea.

Autumn (September to November)

Photo: Hefin Owen from Wales, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Autumn is a beautiful time to elope here. The bracken turns copper, the trees change colour and the light sits lower in the sky, which is wonderful for photographs.

Davinia and Joao were married amongst the mountains of Snowdonia in September 2024, with their family present from Spain. We had a mix of rain, dreamy clouds and sunshine, and I used every bit of it for iconic photos. A year later, Penny and James went for an autumn-themed elopement amongst the mountains of Llanberis next to a glass-like lake, with their ceremony script themed right down to their certification. Read Davinia and Joao's elopement and Penny and James's elopement.

Good to know: the days shorten quickly. In Llandudno, sunset is around 8pm at the end of August, around 7.30pm by mid-September, around 6.20pm by mid-October and around 4.20pm by mid-November, once the clocks have gone back. The Snowdon Mountain Railway's summit service usually finishes towards the end of October.

Winter (December to February)

Photo: I Love Colour, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If you'd love snow-capped peaks, quiet paths and a cosy evening by the fire afterwards, winter is worth considering. North Wales is at its most peaceful, and the popular spots are far quieter.

The days are short, though. Around the winter solstice, the sun rises at around 8.30am and sets at around 4pm in Llandudno, so we plan the whole day around the light. The high mountains can be serious winter terrain, so a winter elopement usually means a lower-level lake, a woodland or the coast, with the snowy summits as your backdrop rather than your destination.

So, when should you elope?

There's no wrong answer, only the right one for you. A few questions can help you decide:

• Do you dream of long, golden evenings? Choose late spring or summer.

• Would you rather have the paths to yourselves? Look at spring, autumn or winter, or a summer weekday.

• Mountains or coast? The beaches shine in summer, while the mountains are breathtaking in every season.

• Is family travelling to join you? Factor in their travel and accommodation, especially in the busy summer months.

Whichever season you choose, leave enough time for the legal side. You need to give notice at least 29 days before your legal ceremony, and I explain how it all fits together in Is eloping legal in Wales? If you'd like to see how the planning flows from enquiry to elopement day, have a read of How to Simply Elope.

And once you're married, summer becomes your season to celebrate. Every summer, Twilight Ceremonies brings couples together for sunset anniversaries and vow renewals across North Wales.

Found your season? Have a look at my elopement packages, then tell me about your love story and let's find the perfect date together.