The Gulf on Okaloosa Island
The Gulf on Okaloosa Island is in Fort Walton Beach, FL, in the Destin · Fort Walton · Miramar · Sandestin part of the Gulf Coast. Listed as: Gulf-front beach restaurant & private event venue (Okaloosa Island). Sunset here runs from 4:48 PM in December to 7:51 PM in June, and the golden-hour window — the soft, warm light just before sunset — lasts about 34 minutes. A ceremony that finishes in time for family portraits and still leaves the couple in golden light usually starts between 2:53 PM in December and 5:56 PM in June.
Pick your date
Sunset and ceremony timing by month
| Month | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Golden hour | Start ceremony |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4:33 PM | 5:08 PM | 35 min | 3:13 PM |
| February | 5:02 PM | 5:35 PM | 33 min | 3:40 PM |
| March | 6:23 PM | 6:55 PM | 32 min | 5:00 PM |
| April | 6:42 PM | 7:14 PM | 32 min | 5:19 PM |
| May | 7:00 PM | 7:34 PM | 34 min | 5:39 PM |
| June | 7:16 PM | 7:51 PM | 35 min | 5:56 PM |
| July | 7:16 PM | 7:51 PM | 35 min | 5:56 PM |
| August | 6:57 PM | 7:30 PM | 33 min | 5:35 PM |
| September | 6:22 PM | 6:54 PM | 32 min | 4:59 PM |
| October | 5:45 PM | 6:17 PM | 32 min | 4:22 PM |
| November | 4:16 PM | 4:51 PM | 34 min | 2:56 PM |
| December | 4:12 PM | 4:48 PM | 36 min | 2:53 PM |
Mid-month, local time (Central). Calculated for Fort Walton Beach rather than the exact address, which is accurate to about a minute for the town. "Start ceremony" is a 30-minute ceremony ending with time for family formals and the couple's best light.
How often does it rain?
Weather records for Fort Walton Beach from 2016 to 2025 show the driest month is October (rain of 1 mm or more on 23% of days) and the wettest is July (76%). The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, so couples marrying in those months commonly keep a flexible plan.
| Month | Days with rain | Typical monthly rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 34% | 153 mm |
| February | 35% | 113 mm |
| March | 35% | 137 mm |
| April | 30% | 124 mm |
| May | 38% | 142 mm |
| June | 63% | 165 mm |
| July | 76% | 163 mm |
| August | 71% | 203 mm |
| September | 45% | 163 mm |
| October | 23% | 99 mm |
| November | 23% | 94 mm |
| December | 35% | 155 mm |
A "day with rain" is 1 mm or more. History is not a forecast — use the date picker for the next two weeks.
Common questions
What time is sunset at The Gulf on Okaloosa Island in different months?
In April sunset is around 7:14 PM, in June around 7:51 PM, in October around 6:17 PM and in December around 4:48 PM (calculated for Fort Walton Beach, local time).
What time should a ceremony start at The Gulf on Okaloosa Island?
A common rule is to start about 2 hours before sunset for a 30-minute ceremony: it leaves time for family formals afterwards and still puts the couple in golden light. That works out to roughly 2:53 PM in December and 5:56 PM in June. Use the date picker above for any specific day.
How long does golden hour last at The Gulf on Okaloosa Island?
About 34 minutes on average, measured as the time the sun spends between 6° above the horizon and sunset. It varies a little by season — see the table above.
When is it least likely to rain at The Gulf on Okaloosa Island?
Over the last ten years, October was the driest month in Fort Walton Beach (rain of 1 mm or more on 23% of days) and July the wettest (76%). That is history, not a forecast.
Does The Gulf on Okaloosa Island have a rain plan?
Policies differ and change, so ask The Gulf on Okaloosa Island what their indoor option is and how late they need the decision. The rain tool above shows the odds hour by hour for any date within the next two weeks, and when to call it for a given setup time.
Other venues nearby
Planners in Destin · Fort Walton · Miramar · Sandestin
Wedding planners who work in this part of the coast:
Getting married at The Gulf on Okaloosa Island?
8nfinity Photography photographs and films weddings along the Gulf Coast, from Pensacola to 30A and Gulf Shores. If you're planning a wedding at The Gulf on Okaloosa Island, I'd be glad to hear about it.
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How this page is made: sunset and golden-hour times use the standard solar equations for the coordinates shown (accurate to about a minute); rain history is Open-Meteo weather-model data for Fort Walton Beach, 2016–2025. Listing details come from the venue's own public information. Last built 2026-10-07.