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6 Tips You Should Know When Planning a Summer Wedding
Summer weddings are probably the most popular among young couples these days. Every Bride (and Groom) wants that picture perfect outdoor event with blue skies, lush green gardens with a ton of colorful flowers. But did you think about your guests overheating in the sun? The sweat running down all over your dress? Or hundreds of flies attacking your wedding cake? There’s a lot to think about when planning a Summer Wedding. In this post, we discuss 6 tips that you should consider when planning the BIGGEST day of your life.
1. Choose the Best Part of The Day
As the summers become hotter with climate change, you should avoid a ceremony that starts at 2 pm or 3 pm (when the sun is usually the strongest and the heat is cruel), unless you want your guests to curse you for years to come (“it was the hottest wedding I’ve ever been to!”).
For a “safe” summer wedding, plan your ceremony for the middle of the day, or even better – late evening, which is the safest in terms of heat. Why not go for the perfect sunset wedding? This way you make it nice and cool for your guests, and it’ll also make it easier for your photographer to get those perfect pictures.
The basic guideline here is that you don’t want your guests standing outside during the hot parts of the day.
In case the sun still burns hard during the event, prepare small spray bottles of sunscreen at each table. You don’t want guests coming back from your wedding with sunburns…
2. Dress For The Summer
The fact that it’s a hot summer wedding doesn’t mean you or your bridesmaids need to settle on how awesome you’ll all look. It’s a tricky balance game in which you don’t want your bridesmaids to suffer from a sweaty dress, but you still want them to look good!
If you want the most important people in your life to look great and feel cool and comfortable at the same time – choose short bridesmaid dresses for summer.
Light and breezy clothing like short dresses could be a “life-saver” tip when planning a summer wedding, so keep it in mind. As for the groom and his men friends, advise them to wear cool and breathable shirts. You should also know that some fabrics are lighter and more comfortable to wear in the summer, like silk, Merino wool, or chiffon.
Also, don’t forget to put on a summer-friendly hairstyle that will keep your head cool and refreshed. The best is to keep your hair up and off your neck and shoulders.
Dress for Summer. Photo by Zoriana Stakhniv on Unsplash.com
3. Add Some Magic with Outdoor Lights
Outdoor lights can add a magical touch to any wedding, creating a beautiful and memorable atmosphere for guests. Whether you’re hosting your wedding in a garden, on a beach, or in a backyard, adding outdoor lights can help enhance the natural beauty of the space and create a warm, romantic ambiance.
According to lighting experts at Lights4Fun, one of the most popular ways to incorporate outdoor lights into a wedding is by using string lights or fairy lights. These lights can be hung from trees, wrapped around pillars or draped over canopies to create a twinkling, ethereal effect. They can also be used to highlight key areas of the venue, such as the dance floor or the dessert table, creating a focal point that draws guests in.
Outdoor festoon lights are a type of string lighting that is commonly used to add a decorative and functional touch to outdoor spaces. They are made up of a series of light bulbs that are strung along a cable, which can be hung between trees, draped over fences or used to line pathways or patios.
Festoon lights typically feature larger bulbs than traditional string lights, giving them a more vintage or retro look. They can come in a variety of shapes, including round, teardrop or globe-shaped, and can be used to create a warm, ambient light that is perfect for outdoor gatherings or events.
Outdoor festoon lights is that they are highly versatile and can be used in a variety of settings. Photo courtesy of Lights4Fun
One of the key benefits of outdoor festoon lights is that they are highly versatile and can be used in a variety of settings. They can be hung in a straight line to create a classic look, or draped in a more random pattern for a more whimsical effect. They can also be used to highlight specific areas of a space, such as a garden or patio, or to create a focal point for outdoor events such as weddings or parties.
4. Keep a Backup for Rain
As climate change intensifies, the weather is becoming more unpredictable by the day. Rain can surprise you in the hottest days of summer, so you better have a backup plan. Some couples prepare a backup indoor venue, but this can be costly. When selecting your venue for your summer wedding, find one that has an indoor space reserved for the case of sudden rain.
Make sure your vendors have solutions (tents, big umbrellas, etc) in case they need to protect their items from the rain. You can also rent a big tent that you can actually protect your guests and items both from the rain, and the strong sun – if you need to do the ceremony in the hot part of the day.
5. Prepare Cooling Solutions
If you really want to ensure your guests have a GOOD time – rent a few big mobile A/C units or portable fans, or maybe lots of little personal hand-held fans. Remember, even if you get a big tent to protect your event from the grueling sun, the heat could still be tough to cope with, especially when it comes to the older guests.
When you select your cooling gadgets, be sure to test them out beforehand (in the store) to see if they’re not too noisy. You don’t want noisy A/C units ruining the entire ceremony because no one could hear the toasts or music.
6. Make a Solid Food Strategy
You really don’t want your guests to have a heavy meal on a hot summer day. It will make them exhausted and weary, and that’s the last thing you want, right?
According to Bridal Guide, when planning your summer wedding with your food vendor, make sure to choose yummy light dishes, like Mediterranean or greek food, fish and vegetables, fresh fruits, salads, and more. There are plenty of light food options that will make your guests feel content and energized for the event.
In addition to serving lots of ice water (with slices of lemon or orange!), add some frozen drinks to your drinks assortment, it will boost energy among your guests.
Next, make sure your caterer has the right storage tools to keep your food cool and fresh. This is especially important when it comes to seafood, cheeses, and meat. You don’t want guests returning from your wedding with food poisoning…
As for desserts, choose the refreshing ones, like fruit cakes, frozen yogurt, ice cream, etc.
Don’t forget the flies, bees, and mosquitos, who love to visit summer weddings as well. Cover your food platters with adequate tools to keep all these flying insects away from attacking your guests. Too many flowers on the buffet table can attract bees, so decorate the tables smartly.
6. Choose the Right Flowers and Wedding Decor
One of the most important factors when planning your summer wedding are the decorations and flowers. As with the other factors mentioned above, the decor also needs to be light and made of breezy elements.
As for the flowers, some do not like the heat and will dwindle pretty quickly if left in the sun. If you’re not getting a florist, make sure to do some research on the best heat-resistant flowers for a wedding.
Another great option for your summer wedding bouquet is roses. They come in a variety of colors and can add an elegant touch to your wedding look. You can also pair your rose flower bouquet with other summer blooms, like sunflowers or daisies, for a bright and cheerful look.
When you get your wedding bouquet, store it in the venue’s refrigerator so it doesn’t lose moisture or color. For some flowers DIY – check out this post.
Conclusion…
Don’t let global warming, or just another hot summer, ruin your beautiful wedding day…If you follow these tips, you should be all ready for a perfect summer wedding day!
Great tips. Choosing the right time of the day is so important. Don’t plan a long ceremony (from the start of the processional through to the recessional), so guests don’t have to sit in the hot sun too long. Also, provide cool, non-alcoholic beverages for guests to sip on while they’re sitting in the heat.