The short version
Winter is a good season for a wedding film in Toronto, as long as you plan around the light. In December the sun sets around 4:40 pm, so most outdoor portraits need to happen by mid-afternoon, usually with a first look. Keep outdoor time to one short stretch, pick a venue with good windows or a view, and let the evening do the rest: candles, city lights, and warm rooms look great on film.
Yes, you can get a great wedding film in the middle of a Toronto winter. The trade-off is daylight: from early December into January the sun sets before 5 pm, at its earliest around 4:41 pm. Plan the outdoor parts of your day around that, and winter gives you things summer cannot: early city lights, candlelit rooms, snow if you are lucky, and guests who are genuinely happy to be somewhere warm.
We filmed Tory and Grant's wedding at Hotel X the Saturday before Christmas, and it is a good example of how a winter day can work. Here is what we would tell any couple planning one.
How early does it get dark in Toronto in winter?
Earlier than most couples expect. Toronto's earliest sunsets land around 4:41 pm, from roughly the start to the middle of December, and on the shortest day of the year the sun is down by about 4:43 pm. It does not set after 5 pm again until late January. Usable light outdoors fades a little before that, so treat 3:30 to 4 pm as your realistic cut-off for outdoor portraits in December.
For a wedding film, that changes the order of the day more than anything else. Anything you want filmed in daylight, from couple portraits to the wedding party outside, needs to happen before the ceremony if your ceremony is in the late afternoon.
Should we do a first look for a winter wedding?
In winter, a first look is the simplest way to get daylight portraits without rushing. You see each other privately a couple of hours before the ceremony, take your photos and video while the light is still good, and the rest of the day can run on its own time. Tory and Grant had two first looks before their 5 pm ceremony, one with her dad and one with Grant, and by the time she walked down the aisle the sun had already set.
If you would rather keep the aisle as the first time you see each other, that works too. Plan a morning or early afternoon ceremony instead, so portraits can follow while it is still light. Our guide to planning a wedding day timeline for better video walks through how to build the day around moments like these.
How long should we spend outside?
Less than you think. Ten to fifteen minutes outdoors is usually plenty, especially in a gown and a suit in January. Short bursts look better on film anyway: real reactions to cold air and falling snow read as genuine, and nobody is visibly shivering through a long session.
Our films are mostly documentary, with a little editorial mixed in. We film most of those composed shots while your photographer is taking your portraits, so in winter you only go outside once, for one short stretch, instead of doing photos and then video separately. Keep a coat or a blanket close, have someone hold a warm drink, and head back in the moment you are cold.
What makes a good winter venue for a wedding film?
Light and views matter more in winter, because so much of the day happens indoors after dark. A few things we look for:
- Big windows or a view. A skyline, a lake, or a snowy garden through glass gives every indoor shot depth, day or night.
- Everything in one place. When the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception share a venue, nobody is driving icy roads between locations and your timeline has room to breathe.
- Warm, layered light. Candles, string lights, fireplaces, and trees give the evening a glow that looks warm on film. A room lit only by overhead lights looks flat.
- A short walk to somewhere outside. A courtyard, a terrace, or the venue's own grounds makes those ten minutes of outdoor portraits easy.
Hotel X is a good example. New Fort Hall held both Tory and Grant's ceremony and their reception, and cocktail hour at The View on the 27th floor put the whole skyline behind their guests as the city lights came on. For more ideas, see our guide to the best GTA wedding venues for a documentary film.
What about travel and weather on the day?
Toronto winters can change plans quickly, so build a little slack into the day. Leave extra time between locations, keep the ceremony and reception close together if they are not under one roof, and have an indoor backup for anything you planned outside. Tell your planner and venue early which parts of the day depend on the weather, so nobody is improvising at 3 pm in a snow squall.
Can you still fly a drone at a winter wedding?
Often, yes. Drone footage is included in every one of our packages, and a snowy estate or a frozen shoreline can look striking from above. Winter weather has the final say, though. Wind, falling snow, and very cold temperatures can keep the drone on the ground, so in winter we treat aerial shots as a bonus rather than a promise. Our guide to whether you need drone footage at your wedding covers the rest, including the rules around Toronto's airspace.
Do winter weddings film differently from summer ones?
A little. Summer films lean on golden hour and long stretches outdoors. Winter films lean on interiors, evening light, and the small details of the season: a coat over someone's shoulders, snow on a veil, guests coming in from the cold. The way we work does not change. We still follow the day as it happens and never ask you to repeat a moment for the camera. The evening just starts earlier. You can see how that comes together in our highlight films.
When should we book a videographer for a winter date?
Winter is a quieter season for most Toronto venues, so dates are often easier to get than in June or September. Weekends around the holidays still go quickly, and your photographer and planner will want to lock in early too. We are currently booking 2026 and 2027 weddings. For more on timing, see how far in advance to book a wedding videographer, or compare what is included in each of our packages.
FAQ
Is winter a good time for a wedding video in Toronto?
Yes. Winter weddings film well in Toronto as long as the day is planned around early sunsets. Outdoor portraits happen by mid-afternoon, and the evening brings candlelight, city lights, and warm interiors that look great on film.
What time is sunset in Toronto in December?
Around 4:41 pm for much of early and mid December, and about 4:43 pm on December 21. Sunset does not move past 5 pm again until late January, so plan outdoor photos and video for before 3:30 or 4 pm.
Should we do a first look at a winter wedding?
It helps. A first look lets you take portraits in daylight before a late-afternoon ceremony. If you want the aisle to be the first time you see each other, choose an earlier ceremony so portraits can still happen in daylight.
How long should we be outside for winter wedding photos and video?
Ten to fifteen minutes is usually enough. We film editorial shots at the same time as your photographer's portraits, so you only need one short stretch outdoors.
Can you use a drone at a winter wedding?
Often, yes. Drone footage is included in every Silver Leaf Weddings package, but wind, falling snow, and extreme cold can ground it, so aerial shots in winter depend on the weather on the day.
Planning a winter wedding in Toronto or the GTA? Tell us about your date and your venue, and we will help you plan the day around the light.
Get in touchLast updated: November 2026