If you are planning a summer wedding, follow our seasonal wedding tips for warm weather weddings to keep you and your guests happy and comfortable throughout the day.
Loosen up the dress code
If your wedding day is set to be a scorcher, then you may have to – literally – loosen up the dress code, encouraging your guests to wear looser, free-flowing fabrics to stay cool. Your friends might be put off wearing anything too pale for obvious reasons so it may put them at ease if you instruct them to dress in lighter colour clothing to avoid absorbing too much light and heat. On the plus side, all those shades of white and pastels will make lovely photographs!
It might be worth considering a warmer weather option when shopping for bridesmaid dresses or groomsmen suits, even if it just means the men leave behind their formal jackets and ties or opting for extra floaty dresses and open sandals for the ladies.
If it’s set to be uncomfortably hot, then you might want to suggest that your bridesmaids (and even groomsmen!) have some flip flops to slip into when the ceremony is over to make them as comfy as possible for the remainder of the day.
Avoid peak sunlight
It can be very hard to avoid the hottest part of the day, especially when you plan to get married outside at 1pm, for instance. Of course you want the glorious sun to be shining down on you as you exchange your vows – it’s just like you always dreamed! – but what about your poor guests who might have been sitting outside exposed to rays for up to an hour waiting for your appearance?
As such, you might want to discuss moving your ceremony back or forward with your wedding coordinator. Even just a marginal change might make all the difference – just remember that this needs to be prearranged with the registrar.
Failing that, you can be prepared to protect your guests and wedding party from the roasting heat with shade and other devices. See below.
It can be very hard to avoid the hottest part of the day, especially when you plan to get married outside at 1pm, for instance. Of course you want the glorious sun to be shining down on you as you exchange your vows – it’s just like you always dreamed! – but what about your poor guests who might have been sitting outside exposed to rays for up to an hour waiting for your appearance?
As such, you might want to discuss moving your ceremony back or forward with your wedding coordinator. Even just a marginal change might make all the difference – just remember that this needs to be prearranged with the registrar.
Failing that, you can be prepared to protect your guests and wedding party from the roasting heat with shade and other devices. See below.
Create shade
As much as you might want to soak up as much sun as possible and get all those endorphins, it’s set to be a long day and with all the distractions you’ll be faced with you will no doubt neglect your wellbeing.
Think of the effect of the sun on your skin (nobody wants to go to bed with painful sunburn on their wedding night) and hydrate What’s more, you don’t want to be a sweaty mess when it comes to having your photos taken, so it’s best to steer clear from too much direct sunlight.
For your guests as well, there should be something in place to stop them from overheating. Perhaps a tent, sombreros or an outside space with lots of dappled shade from trees might help to set the perfect summer scene for your wedding.
Keep the menu fresh
On a hot day, no-one really feels like a steaming roast dinner… so the key is to keep your menu light and fresh to match the surroundings. Think also about dishes that won’t go off in the warmer temperature, such as food that is meant to be eaten lukewarm (like tasty salads).
When it comes to pudding, a summer fruits sorbet will surely go down a treat or a refreshing lemon tart or cheesecake and for the very sweet tooth a rhubarb pavlova is a special treat.
Reconsider your floral displays
Sadly, cut flowers and heat do not mix well. Although your florist will do all they can to set up your flowers on the day with extra care to give them plenty of water (they might even spray them occasionally to keep the blooms as fresh as can be!), if they are placed under the sun for many hours then you risk them wilting and looking very sad indeed.
Single stems decorating garlands might do better when connected to a tube of water, which will just prolong their vibrancy a little.
If your wedding is due to take place in the hotter months, your florist will advise you on which species are in season and those that can withstand the most humidity. Or consider silk flowers a huge trend currently and they will look gorgeous all day.
Opt for summer-friendly hairstyles
When making plans with your hairstylist, you might like to research updo options to give you and your bridesmaid’s a better chance at staying cool on the day. It seems wild but having your hair down can really impact your body’s ability to cool down, and the sheer weight and warmth of it on your neck will only leave you feeling unpleasantly sticky.
Consider ponytails, messy buns, and other styles that will keep your hair up and away from your skin.
Provide fans and sunscreen
Finally, the best thing you can do during a heatwave is to try to make your wedding guests happy by providing gadgets to help them stay cool. Handheld fans are a great wedding favour for summer weddings, as you can get traditional paper fans made up or you can pay for personalised battery-operated fans.
And since your guests may be too preoccupied with getting ready than applying sunscreen on the morning of your wedding day, it is worth providing sun cream for those who need it the most.
We hope that these tips help you to keep your wedding day in the beautiful outdoors even when temperatures soar, but do remember that as a last resort you will likely be able to move your wedding inside and avoid being exposed to extreme weather.