Summer Wedding Essentials For Your Guests To Beat The Heat
There is no denying that summer is a great season for weddings, but sometimes keeping your guests comfortable in rising temperatures can feel like an uphill battle. We’ve got some helpful tips and tricks to help your guests beat the heat!
PHOTOGRAPHY | Oliver Fly Photography
1. Keep it Indoors
No matter where in the world you’re getting married, if it’s summer, chances are it’s going to be hot! The easiest way to ensure that you and your guests are as comfortable as possible is to have your entire wedding indoors in a space that has air conditioning. We know that sounds easy in theory, but depending on the size of your venue, this could get tricky. If you haven’t locked in your venue yet, express your concerns about the heat to your wedding planner and search for a venue that has enough space inside for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. If you already have your venue and it isn’t possible to host the entire wedding indoors, consider doing a “flip”. A “flip” is when your planner and their team transform your ceremony location into a reception space, preferably while your guests are enjoying cocktail hour elsewhere. This technique will ensure that your guests are in a climate-controlled space for the majority of your wedding and only have to brave the elements for a brief window of time.
PHOTOGRAPHY | Katie Lopez Photography
2. Keep them Hydrated
It’s always important to make sure that your guests stay hydrated, but even more so if your wedding is outdoors. Make sure that water is available during every part of your wedding. For the cocktail hour, and the reception, this is easy because your caterer will likely have waitstaff passing or refilling drinks, or guests can help themselves by going to the bar. Don’t forget about the ceremony. Depending on what time your guests arrive at your ceremony location, they may be outdoors for an hour or more by the time cocktail hour rolls around! Consider having a water station near the entrance where guests can help themselves to a small bottle of water or perhaps some fruit infused water on ice. If the thought of having your guests sipping bottles or even glasses of water during your ceremony makes you cringe, ask your caterer or wedding planner if they can arrange to have the waitstaff collect the glasses or bottles fifteen minutes before the ceremony begins–win, win!
PHOTOGRAPHY | Sophie Epton Photography
3. Get Shady
If any portion of your summer wedding is being held outdoors, it’s important to throw shade (in a good way). Some shade may be built into your venue like an awning or an overhang. If your venue does not provide shade naturally - bring it in. Shade comes in many different shapes and sizes depending on your needs. Umbrellas and tents are great coverage options for larger outdoor spaces. To make sure that you have all of your guests covered, you may even consider giving out parasols that can function both as a shield from the sun and a sweet wedding favor!
PHOTOGRAPHY | Luna de Mare Photography
4. Fans
Fans are a great way to keep the air circulating, minimizing the impact of soaring temperatures. If your venue is designed for outdoor ceremonies, like a patio or a courtyard, they may have fans built-in. If not, talk to your wedding planner about renting fans. Electric fans will offer your guests the most airflow, some may have mist capabilities (which is a definite plus). Paper fans are another great way to help your guests stay cool. Some printing companies even offer packages where they print your wedding program onto fans–you gotta love a 2-in-1!
PHOTOGRAPHY | Jose Villa
5. Get a Late Start
Timing is everything when planning a wedding. For summer weddings, we always recommend starting later in the day when things have cooled down a bit. Consider having your ceremony just before sunset and your reception in the evening. The photos of the sun setting while you’re exchanging vows are guaranteed to be swoon-worthy and your guests will be SO grateful!
PHOTOGRAPHY | Rebecca Yale Photography
6. Offer Transportation (even if it’s walking distance)
Standing or sitting outside can be rough if it’s hot, walking is even tougher. Even if your ceremony and your reception are what you would normally consider “walking distance” from one another, we recommend providing transportation for your guests between the venues. It can be something as simple as golf carts or a shuttle. Your guests will be thankful that you spared them the walk.
PHOTOGRAPHY | O'Malley Photographers
7. Tone Down the Dress Code
If you’ve got your heart set on an outdoor summer wedding, opt for a less formal dress code, like dressy casual or just plain casual. This allows your guests to dress comfortably for the weather, rather than having to suit up in the sweltering heat. Encourage the men to wear light fabrics like linen and cotton and the women to wear comfortable sundresses or dressy separates.
PHOTOGRAPHY | George Pahountis
8. Frozen Refreshments
What better way is there to keep your guests cool than serving frozen cocktails? From margaritas and piña coladas to champagne with a popsicle garnish–these frozen treats are sure to help your guests cool off. It’s a good idea to offer one or two non-alcoholic options to make sure that none of your guests feel left out of the frozen festivities.
PHOTOGRAPHY | Amanda K Photography
