The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel
The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel is in Gulf Shores, AL, in the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach part of the Gulf Coast. Listed as: beachfront resort hotel. Sunset here runs from 4:53 PM in December to 7:55 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 2:58 PM in December and 6:00 PM in June.
Pick your date
Sunset and ceremony timing by month
| Month | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Golden hour | Start ceremony |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4:37 PM | 5:13 PM | 35 min | 3:18 PM |
| February | 5:07 PM | 5:40 PM | 33 min | 3:45 PM |
| March | 6:28 PM | 6:59 PM | 32 min | 5:04 PM |
| April | 6:46 PM | 7:18 PM | 32 min | 5:23 PM |
| May | 7:04 PM | 7:38 PM | 34 min | 5:43 PM |
| June | 7:20 PM | 7:55 PM | 35 min | 6:00 PM |
| July | 7:20 PM | 7:55 PM | 35 min | 6:00 PM |
| August | 7:01 PM | 7:34 PM | 33 min | 5:39 PM |
| September | 6:26 PM | 6:58 PM | 32 min | 5:03 PM |
| October | 5:49 PM | 6:21 PM | 32 min | 4:26 PM |
| November | 4:21 PM | 4:55 PM | 34 min | 3:00 PM |
| December | 4:17 PM | 4:53 PM | 36 min | 2:58 PM |
Mid-month, local time (Central). Calculated for Gulf Shores 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 Gulf Shores from 2016 to 2025 show the driest month is November (rain of 1 mm or more on 26% of days) and the wettest is July (64%). 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 | 31% | 127 mm |
| February | 37% | 99 mm |
| March | 37% | 124 mm |
| April | 34% | 122 mm |
| May | 38% | 138 mm |
| June | 54% | 163 mm |
| July | 64% | 132 mm |
| August | 62% | 166 mm |
| September | 39% | 146 mm |
| October | 29% | 102 mm |
| November | 26% | 93 mm |
| December | 37% | 126 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 Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel in different months?
In April sunset is around 7:18 PM, in June around 7:55 PM, in October around 6:21 PM and in December around 4:53 PM (calculated for Gulf Shores, local time).
What time should a ceremony start at The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel?
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 2:58 PM in December and 6:00 PM in June. Use the date picker above for any specific day.
How long does golden hour last at The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel?
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 Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel?
Over the last ten years, November was the driest month in Gulf Shores (rain of 1 mm or more on 26% of days) and July the wettest (64%). That is history, not a forecast.
Does The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel have a rain plan?
Policies differ and change, so ask The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel 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 Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
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You're in the guide. Put this badge on your site — it links couples to this page, with the ceremony timing and rain tools on it.
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 Gulf Shores, 2016–2025. Listing details come from the venue's own public information. Last built 2026-10-07.