If you’re lucky enough to have booked a summer wedding, you’re probably envisioning a clear blue sky, crisp and cool champagne and guests exclaiming that it’s the most beautiful wedding they’ve ever attended.
What you don’t want to see is guests who are hot, dehydrated and sweating, a cake that’s melting and flowers that are wilting. So don’t let Mother Nature put a downer on the biggest day of your life. Our top tips will ensure the comfort of your guests, the survival of your cake, and that your day is incredibly blissful.
Prepare for the weather
Whether you’ve already chosen your venue or not, a summer wedding means one thing: hot weather. Although with Britain’s reputation it could go either way, but chances are you’re due some warm weather on your big day, so let’s keep everyone cool and comfortable.
Make sure your guests are cool – If your wedding venue is going to be indoors, make sure it has high quality air conditioning units ready and waiting to blast some cold air onto your over-heating guests. If you’re taking things outside, even if it’s an outdoor space for guests to get some air, make sure there’s plenty of umbrellas and parasols available to provide some much-needed shade.
Keep them protected – It doesn’t matter whether the whole thing takes place outdoors or if you’ve just got a little outdoor space for guests to mingle, make sure you have sunscreen on hand for guests. Some may have thought ahead and brought their own, but those who haven’t will appreciate a little protection from the sun’s rays.
Up the ice – Your guests may be drinking something else, but that’ll make them even more parched, so make sure you provide them with some refreshing water throughout the day. Have ice by the bucketload on standby ready and waiting.
Look and feel cool
If you’re a groom in summer, you’ll be feeling a little hot under the collar for more than one reason. And no bride wants to sweat through her glorious dress. These tips will help keep you calm, cool and collected throughout the day.
Think about fabrics – Choose a lighter fabric for your dress; your stylist, dressmaker or even the owner of the dress shop will be able to advise on breathable fabrics. Crepe, chiffon, cotton organdy and voile are the preferred choices, as opposed to silk. The latter will be more likely to to result in sweat stains under your armpits or at the base of your back. The same goes for the groom and their suit or tuxedo. Opt for open-backed vests and waistcoats.
Don’t forget your hair – Although that perfect Pinterest updo may look great on screen, sculpted dos and curls don’t stand up well in hot and humid weather. They’ll likely drop out a great deal quicker than usual, and it’ll weigh heavy on your head and cause you to sweat. Discuss your summer wedding date with your hairdresser and ask them to experiment with sleeker and cooler hairstyles, such as a low ponytail or a simple chignon. Anything with height and weight won’t last long under the sun.
You also may want to rethink the flowers in your hair. They may look fantastic – and they are incredibly popular right now – but individual blooms tucked into strands of your hair won’t have a consistent water source and will wilt very quickly in the heat.
Keep things looking fresh
It’s not just the bride and groom who have to look their best on the big day. These tips will help you make the best choices for flowers and food that’ll last for hours.
Flowers – We’ve already talked about flowers wilting quicker in the heat; this applies to your bouquets, too. Any florist worth their salt will already know to provide an additional water source during their transportation, but don’t be afraid to ask if you need to.
Be smart about which flowers you choose to decorate with; again your florist should be able to give the best advice on this – they are the experts after all! A perfect example of forward planning is the hydrangea. It’s a stunning summer wedding flower, but it’ll wilt within minutes of being without water. That makes these beauties perfect for centrepieces rather than bouquets and lapels.
Food – If you’ve chosen an indoor venue then this won’t be much of an issue, but try to keep your food out of the sun and heat as much as possible. Even if you’re inside, make sure things that need to be kept cool are on ice – such as any meats, seafoods and cheeses – and away from any open windows. Now for the most important food of the day; the cake. Keep it chilled and refrigerated in the kitchen if at all possible to avoid bugs attacking it or the icing melting. Ask for it to be brought out for cutting and serving at the last possible minute.
Summer weddings are spectacular events. The weather’s on your side and your guests are guaranteed to have a fantastic day. Follow these top tips to ensure the most important day of your life goes off without a hitch.
Category: Blog