Keep Your Cool

You know it’s officially summer when the grass turns brown and it becomes almost too hot just to walk to your car. Here in the south we have finally reached scorching temperatures and it’s only going to get hotter. If you’re getting married within the next three months, chances are your wedding day temperatures are going to look something like this forecast.

But if you’ve got your heart set on an outdoor summer wedding, don’t sweat it (see what I did there?), because there are plenty of ways to keep cool from the ceremony through send off.

First let’s talk about the décor. Fresh flowers are a beautiful way to adorn your venue and bridal party with color, but they won’t last long in high temperatures. Droopy flowers make everything sad, so I suggest exploring other options less sensitive to heat. Unconventional bouquets are a fun way to add your own special touch. You can buy or make some really beautiful arrangements of brooches, feathers, or other unique materials. As always, Etsy is a great place to find these kinds of handcrafted details. However, if real flowers are a must-have, ask your florist about heat-tolerant blooms, like Nicotianas or Zinnias, and consider having back-ups for you and your groom.

Next you’ve got to take care of your guests. Heatstroke is a quick way to ruin any celebration, and with small children and elderly at the highest risk, it's best to follow a few of these precautions to make sure everyone has a good time. The most important thing is to keep everyone hydrated. Have plenty of cold, refreshing water available at several locations throughout the day. Be mindful of the weather when setting a dress code. Long dresses and tuxedos become stifling in the heat and humidity, so invite your guests to wear something a little lighter. Fabrics like chiffon or seersucker are also a great alternative to heavier materials like satin or silk, and will breathe much better in sweltering temperatures. If you decide to keep the bridal party formal, don’t be upset when the groomsmen ditch their jackets after pictures. The guys will be much happier to celebrate all night long if they aren’t sweating in a three piece suit. Shade also makes a huge difference. Consider setting up some tents or large umbrellas to create shade if there isn’t any naturally provided by your venue or landscape.

Perhaps the most fun way to keep guests cool is frozen treats during the reception. Guests of all ages will enjoy picking out toppings at a sundae bar or mixing snow cone syrups. You can even hire an ice cream truck to pull right up to your venue and dole out scoops of cookies and cream and mint chocolate chip. Frozen cocktails are another tasty way to keep the 21+ crowd from overheating, or mix things up with “adult” popsicles. Just make sure you’ve got someone stationed there to keep the kids from grabbing a mojito popsicle by mistake.

Electric fans and misters are obvious choices for keeping things cool, but they can make a lot of distracting noise during the ceremony. Provide your guests with hand fans instead to ensure no one misses the vows. You can even design your programs as the fans for a cute and cost-saving touch. I also suggest supplying your friends and family with sunglasses, parasols and/or sunhats. They’ll appreciate the gesture and will have some amusing props for photos. You can also set up relief stations with cold towels, sunscreen, bug spray and other outdoor essentials.

Whatever the weather, don’t forget to enjoy your special day. It may be hot as hell in the summer, but your wedding can still be everything you envisioned.  So grab a snow cone and tell me, what are your favorite ways to beat the summer heat? And for more photos and ideas, feel free to check out the Pinterest board I created.


Blog originally posted here at Blue Goose Celebrations

Photo Credits: weather patell dot org | succulent Kristen Booth | butterflies TPD blog | pinwheel Etsy | brooches uniqueweddingnight | sundae the style co. | snow cones Mango Beach