Dealing With The Heat At Summer Weddings

Wedding season is upon us and whether your own wedding or a friend’s is being held outdoors, you’re going to want to be prepared for the heat. Some weddings get lucky — unseasonably mild weather or early morning rain showers before the ceremony can cool the event down considerably — but if your location is in the middle of a dry spell and you’re hitting temperatures of 80 or 90 degrees, you’re going to want to have a few ideas on how to keep cool.

If you think your guests are capable of toughing out the warm weather for the most part, you may want to opt for a really simple solution — individual fans. Decorated in your colors or theme, with a few embellishments such as embossed script or ribbons, individual fans can not only make a nice decorative piece, but can also be a great favor for your guests to take home.

Don’t make your guests wait until after the ceremony for refreshment! Cure their parched throats with a before-ceremony refreshment bar of infused ice water, ice teas and lemonades. Allow them to take their drink to their seat for some quiet ceremony sips. Get creative and use drinking vessels that fit the rest of your décor, or add fruits (or even veggies) to the infused water that match your colors.

If your cocktail hour will be outdoors as well, choose a few chilled options to be passed among your guests. Gourmet sorbet, chilled pasta dishes and even cool seafood can be great options. Just be sure your caterer follows all of the correct food handling practices to avoid any heat-related food safety disasters.

When planning the wardrobe for your bridal party, take the heat into consideration. Groomsmen with sweat stains and red faces from heavy tuxedos won’t look so great in the photos. Choose light and airy fabrics for your bridesmaids, preferably a shorter or strapless style.

If all else fails, choose a fun sun-themed favor to hand out before the ceremony. Stylish sunglasses with frames in your colors with your date and name emblazoned on the side or sunscreen in mini personalized bottles are both fun, appropriate ideas.