A temple sealing day is one of the most meaningful days in a couple’s life. It is sacred, emotional, family centered, and often filled with a lot of moving pieces. Between coordinating family members, planning portraits outside the temple, choosing what to wear, and deciding how much photography coverage you need, it helps to work with a photographer who understands the pace and importance of an LDS temple sealing.
If you are looking for a Newport Beach LDS Temple sealing photographer, this guide will help you know what to expect, what to wear, and how to plan your photos so the day feels peaceful instead of rushed.
Gilmore Studios has photographed weddings, sealings, missionary portraits, baptisms, families, and milestone sessions throughout Orange County since 2002. The Newport Beach California Temple is one of our favorite locations because it offers clean architecture, beautiful gardens, bright flowers, fountains, palm trees, and meaningful spaces for both couple portraits and family photos.
What Should the Bride and Groom Wear for Sealing Day Photos?
One of the most common questions couples ask is, “What should we wear for sealing day photos at the Newport Beach Temple?”
The best answer is to choose clothing that feels polished, comfortable, timeless, and respectful of the sacred setting. Since sealing photos are usually taken outside the temple after the ordinance, the bride and groom often choose outfits that feel special without necessarily being a traditional wedding gown and tuxedo.
For brides, a white, cream, light blue, pale floral, or soft pastel dress photographs beautifully against the warm stone of the Newport Beach Temple. Dresses with texture, sleeves, subtle movement, or a flattering waistline work well because they create shape without feeling too formal. A midi dress, simple white dress, or modest bridal style outfit can all be perfect.
For grooms, a dark suit, navy suit, charcoal suit, or black suit photographs beautifully and keeps the look classic. A white shirt and simple tie are always timeless. If the bride is wearing a softer color, a groom’s suit can add contrast and help the couple stand out against the bright gardens and temple grounds.
What should you avoid? Anything too casual, overly busy, uncomfortable, or hard to move in. You will likely be walking, standing, hugging family, and taking a variety of portraits, so choose pieces that allow you to enjoy the day.
A Peaceful Plan for Photos After the Sealing
Wondering how photos work after an LDS temple sealing?
Since photography is not done inside the temple, the portraits are usually taken outside afterward. This is when the bride and groom come out, greet family, take group photos, and then step away for couple portraits around the temple grounds.
A simple portrait plan usually includes:
- Bride and groom walking out together
- Reactions, hugs, and family greetings
- Large family group photo
- Smaller immediate family combinations
- Grandparents, siblings, and important guests
- Bride and groom portraits around the temple
- Candid walking photos in the gardens
- A few quiet portraits near the fountains, flowers, and temple architecture
The biggest key is organization. Before your sealing day, make a list of the family groupings you want photographed. This helps the portrait time move quickly and keeps relatives from wandering off before their turn.
Why the Newport Beach Temple Is Beautiful for Sealing Portraits
The Newport Beach California Temple is one of the most recognizable LDS temples in Southern California. The grounds offer a variety of portrait locations without needing to leave the property.
Couples love the Newport Beach Temple for sealing photos because it has:
- Soft pink stone architecture
- Clean archways and temple steps
- Tall palms and cypress trees
- Bright bougainvillea and seasonal flowers
- Reflecting water and fountains
- Walkways that work well for candid portraits
- Large open areas for extended family photos
- A peaceful garden setting that feels meaningful and classic
Can you take beautiful photos in bright midday sun? Yes. Many sealings happen during the day, which means your photographer needs to understand harsh light, open shade, reflective surfaces, and fast family portrait organization. This is especially important at the Newport Beach Temple because the light can be bright, but the grounds also offer beautiful shaded areas when you know where to look.
How Much Time Should You Plan for Sealing Day Photos?
How long do you need for photos after a temple sealing?
Most couples should plan for at least 60 to 90 minutes after the sealing for portraits. If you have a very large family or want a lot of couple portraits, plan closer to 90 minutes.
Here is a simple timing guide:
- 10 to 15 minutes for greetings and candid hugs
- 20 to 30 minutes for large and small family groupings
- 20 to 30 minutes for bride and groom portraits
- 10 to 15 minutes of buffer time for walking, gathering people, and unexpected delays
If you are planning a lunch, dinner, or reception afterward, leave enough space in the schedule so you are not rushing out of temple portraits. The portraits outside the temple are often the only professional images you will have from the sealing day itself, so it is worth giving them breathing room.
What Family Photos Should We Take at the Temple?
Are you worried about forgetting an important family photo?
This is one of the reasons a written photo list matters so much. Temple sealing days often include parents, grandparents, siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends. It is easy to miss someone if there is not a plan.
A helpful family photo list may include:
- Bride and groom with both families together
- Bride and groom with bride’s immediate family
- Bride and groom with groom’s immediate family
- Bride and groom with parents
- Bride and groom with grandparents
- Bride and groom with siblings
- Bride and groom with nieces and nephews
- Bride and groom with close friends
- Individual family units
- Large group photo of everyone who attended
For extended families, I always recommend doing the largest group first. Once that photo is done, older relatives, families with young children, and guests with other plans can be released.
What If We Do Not Want a Full Wedding Package?
Not every sealing day needs an all day wedding package. Some couples are planning a simple temple sealing, an intimate family gathering, or a smaller celebration instead of a traditional wedding day timeline.
A shorter temple sealing photography session can be a great fit if you only need coverage for:
- Temple exit photos
- Family portraits
- Couple portraits
- A small lunch or dinner afterward
- A simple reception later in the day
If you are planning something small, reach out through the Gilmore Studios contact page and we can talk through what kind of coverage makes the most sense.
What Should Guests Wear for LDS Temple Family Photos?
What should family members wear for temple photos?
Guests do not need to match perfectly, but they should look coordinated. The Newport Beach Temple photographs beautifully with soft, classic colors. Think navy, cream, white, light blue, blush, sage, tan, gray, and subtle florals.
For large family photos, try to avoid everyone wearing the exact same outfit. Coordinated colors photograph better than matching outfits because they add depth while still looking polished.
A few helpful wardrobe tips for guests:
- Choose Sunday best or wedding appropriate clothing
- Avoid neon colors that reflect onto skin
- Skip large logos or distracting patterns
- Wear comfortable shoes for walking
- Bring sunglasses, but remove them for portraits
- Keep phones, keys, and wallets out of pockets during photos
- Make sure children are fed and comfortable before portraits begin
If your family is large, send a simple wardrobe guide ahead of time so everyone knows the general color palette.
Where Should We Eat After a Newport Beach Temple Sealing?
Many families plan lunch or dinner after sealing photos. Since the Newport Beach Temple is close to Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Corona del Mar, and Irvine, there are several nearby restaurants that work well for a celebratory meal.
A few local options to consider include Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens, A Restaurant, Gulfstream, Bandera, and Five Crowns. For something more casual before or after photos, Haute Cakes Caffe and Rose Bakery Cafe are also loved by local families.
If you are hosting a larger group, call ahead and ask about reservations, private dining, or timing for your group size.
Why Hire a Photographer Who Understands LDS Temple Sealings?
An LDS temple sealing day is different from a traditional wedding timeline. There are no ceremony photos inside the temple. There are often large families waiting outside. The couple may come out into bright midday light. Guests may be emotional, excited, and ready to congratulate everyone at once.
A photographer who understands LDS temple sealings can help by:
- Knowing where portraits are allowed and appropriate
- Moving quickly through family combinations
- Watching for meaningful candid reactions
- Giving gentle direction without taking over the day
- Finding flattering light even in the middle of the day
- Making sure the couple still gets quiet portraits together
- Respecting the sacred nature of the temple experience
The goal is not to make the day feel like a photoshoot. The goal is to document the people, the place, the commitment, and the feeling of the day in a way that feels natural and timeless.
Planning Your Newport Beach LDS Temple Sealing Photos
The best sealing day photos come from a mix of planning and flexibility. You want enough structure to make sure the important family portraits happen, but enough space for real moments too.
Before your sealing day, think through these questions:
- How many family members will be attending?
- Do you want one large group photo of everyone?
- Which smaller family combinations matter most?
- Do you want mostly family photos, mostly couple portraits, or both?
- Are you going to a lunch, dinner, or reception afterward?
- Do you want photos at the temple only, or additional coverage at another location?
- Are there grandparents, small children, or mobility needs to consider?
Once those details are clear, your photo timeline becomes much easier to plan.
If you are looking for a Newport Beach LDS Temple sealing photographer, Gilmore Studios would love to help you create a calm, organized, and meaningful photography plan for your day.
And if you are a photographer wanting to learn how to photograph weddings, portraits, and client experiences with more confidence, Jennifer also teaches through Learn with Gilmore Studios.
Frequently Asked Questions About Newport Beach LDS Temple Sealing Photos
1. Do you photograph LDS temple sealings at the Newport Beach Temple?
Yes. Gilmore Studios photographs LDS temple sealing portraits at the Newport Beach California Temple. Since photography is not done inside the temple, the focus is on the moments after the sealing, including the couple exiting the temple, family greetings, group portraits, couple portraits, and meaningful candid moments on the temple grounds.
2. When should we take photos after our temple sealing?
Most couples take photos immediately after the sealing. This usually includes greeting family, photographing everyone who attended, taking smaller family combinations, and then spending time on bride and groom portraits around the temple grounds.
3. How much time should we plan for Newport Beach Temple sealing photos?
Plan for about 60 to 90 minutes after the sealing. A smaller family may only need an hour, while a large extended family or couple wanting more portraits should plan closer to 90 minutes.
4. What should the bride wear for sealing day photos?
A bride can wear a white dress, cream dress, soft pastel dress, floral dress, or a modest bridal style outfit. Choose something comfortable, flattering, and easy to walk in since photos will be taken outside around the temple grounds.
5. What should the groom wear for sealing day photos?
A groom usually photographs best in a classic suit. Navy, black, charcoal, and dark gray are timeless choices. A simple tie and polished shoes help the portraits feel finished without looking overly formal.
6. Can we take family photos at the Newport Beach Temple after the sealing?
Yes. Family photos are one of the most important parts of sealing day photography. We usually begin with the largest group photo first, then move into immediate family, parents, grandparents, siblings, and any other important combinations.
7. Should we make a family photo list before the sealing?
Yes. A family photo list helps the portraits move quickly and makes sure no important combinations are missed. This is especially helpful when there are grandparents, large families, young children, or guests who need to leave soon after the sealing.
8. What areas of the Newport Beach Temple are best for sealing photos?
The Newport Beach Temple has several beautiful outdoor areas for portraits, including the temple steps, gardens, fountains, walkways, flowers, palm trees, and shaded areas near the building. The best spots depend on the time of day, lighting, and how busy the grounds are.
9. What if our sealing is in bright midday sun?
Many temple sealings happen during bright daytime hours. An experienced temple photographer knows how to work with harsh light, find open shade, position groups correctly, and use the temple grounds in a flattering way.
10. Can we take couple portraits even if our family is waiting?
Yes. It is important to plan time for bride and groom portraits. Family photos can move quickly with a good list, then the couple can have a few quiet minutes for portraits together around the temple grounds.
11. Do you photograph candid moments after the sealing?
Yes. Some of the most meaningful images happen right after the couple exits the temple. Hugs, tears, laughter, family greetings, and quiet moments are all part of the story.
12. What should family members wear for LDS temple sealing photos?
Family members should wear Sunday best or wedding appropriate clothing. Soft colors, neutrals, navy, blush, sage, cream, gray, and light blue photograph beautifully at the Newport Beach Temple. Avoid neon colors, large logos, and very busy patterns.
13. Can we include grandparents and extended family in the photos?
Yes. Grandparents and extended family are often a big part of sealing day photos. We recommend photographing older relatives early so they do not have to stand or wait too long.
14. Do you photograph small temple sealings without a full wedding package?
Yes. If you are having a smaller sealing day and only need temple exit photos, family portraits, and couple portraits, a shorter photography option may be a good fit.
15. Can we add reception or dinner coverage after the temple?
Yes. Some couples add coverage for a lunch, dinner, backyard gathering, or reception after the temple sealing. This can be a great way to document speeches, family interactions, cake, details, and more candid moments.
16. What restaurants are near the Newport Beach Temple for a sealing lunch or dinner?
Popular nearby options include Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens, A Restaurant, Gulfstream, Bandera, Five Crowns, Haute Cakes Caffe, and Rose Bakery Cafe. For larger groups, call ahead to ask about reservations or private dining.
17. Can we bring children to the family portraits?
Yes. Children are welcome in family portraits. It helps to photograph families with young children early in the timeline before they get tired, hungry, or ready to leave.
18. What should we bring for temple sealing photos?
Bring comfortable shoes, touch up makeup, water, a family photo list, and anything sentimental you want photographed. Keep phones, keys, sunglasses, and wallets out of pockets before portraits begin.
19. How far in advance should we book a Newport Beach LDS Temple sealing photographer?
Book as soon as your sealing date and time are confirmed. Temple sealing days can overlap with weddings, family sessions, and weekend events, so the earlier you inquire, the better.
20. Why hire a photographer who understands LDS temple sealings?
LDS temple sealings have a unique flow. The ceremony is sacred and private, the photography happens outside afterward, and family portraits often need to move quickly. A photographer who understands temple sealings can help the day feel calm, organized, respectful, and meaningful.
Similar LDS and Wedding Sessions from Gilmore Studios
If you are planning a sealing, temple wedding, baptism, missionary session, or family session at the Newport Beach Temple, these related Gilmore Studios posts may help:
