The summer months are the most popular time of year to have a wedding. The weather is warm and the days are filled with hours upon hours of sunshine. While summer weddings are ideal for a variety of reasons, they also come with their own set of challenges.
Summer Weddings: Be Prepared to Beat the Heat
While it sounds ideal to have an outdoor wedding in the summer sunshine, guests will be sure to want easy ways to beat the heat. If holding a summer wedding outside, plan to set up several areas of shade, such as tents or canvas canopies. Brides and grooms should also consider renting outdoor air conditioning units or fans to place in the cooling areas for extra benefit to their guests.
Decorated tubs filled with bottles of water or hydrating beverages are another way to keep wedding guests cool in the summer heat. Many wedding vendors have customizable fans that can be made available to guests to use during the ceremony, and water should be easily accessed throughout the dancing and celebration, as well.
If the summer wedding will be held indoors, make sure the wedding venue has adequate air conditioning to support the room throughout the events of the day. While the air conditioning might seem like it is enough for dinner, it may not work well enough when the dancing begins. Discuss additional cooling options with the venue wedding coordinator, such as adding fans, or keeping doors open once the sun goes down.
When Should Save-the-date Cards be Sent for a Summer Wedding?
Summer is popular for weddings, but it is also one of the most traveled times of the years. Children are out of school, making it easier for families to get away. While save-the-date cards aren't always necessary, any couple planning a wedding for the summer months should send advanced notice to their guests at least six months prior to the date of the wedding.
Even with plenty of advanced noticed, some guests may not be able to make it to a summer wedding. Brides and grooms should be understanding of this, especially if a wedding around a holiday such as Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, or Labor Day is planned.
Plan the Wedding Start Time With the Sun in Mind
It may not be at the front of the mind of every couple, but when the wedding will start and end can have a major impact on the comfort of the wedding guests. If hosting an outdoor ceremony, brides and grooms should opt for a wedding start time in the late afternoon, when the sun is not as strong as it would be during the mid-day. The wedding photographer may also need to be consulted in advance of the wedding start date to make sure that the lighting conditions for an outdoor wedding will be appropriate.
One of the easiest ways to plan a summer wedding around the strong sun is to plan for the meal to start around the time of the sunset. Then, work the rest of the wedding details around that time frame.
Create an Outdoor Wedding Backup Plan
Though many brides and grooms cannot imagine it raining on their big day, those that do will be better prepared in the case of inclement weather. Rental tents that serve as cooling areas for outdoor wedding can also double as cover should the need for it arise. Having a contingency plan in place prevents a lot of stress should the unexpected occur on the day of the wedding.
Serve Lighter Fare for the Wedding Reception
Summer is a time when people lighten their food choices, and the wedding meal should reflect that. Lighter foods like gazpacho, grilled fish, and fruit skewers are all much lighter in taste and texture than heavy pastas and warms soups. Lighter foods keep guest satisfied without making them feel lethargic.
Keep the lighter food in mind when it comes to cocktails, too. The heat and exposure to the sun can intensify the effects of alcohol. Make sure there are plenty of non-alcoholic beverage options for guests, and that plenty of water is readily available.
While summer weddings are often an ideal setting for a memorable day, taking the guests' perspective into consideration can go a long way toward making the wedding memorable and enjoyable for everyone.
Annalise Kaylor - Annalise Kaylor is a freelance writer, editor, and consultant specializing in search engine optimized content for the web. As a writer, ...
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