Summer and Outdoor Weddings

If this unbearably hot summer has taught us anything, it is that a lot of the time outdoor weddings are not all they are cracked up to be.  Sure, the dream is beautiful, lovely scenery, gentle breeze, doves flying overhead, but the reality of sweltering guests, sweating grooms, fainting attendants, mosquitos and expensive makeup sliding off the face is more a nightmare than a dream. 

I caught up on Four Weddings (truly dislike that show) this week and time and time again the complaint was being outside in the heat and humidity made the guests miserable.  Is that really how you want people to remember your wedding?

So what if you just can’t live without an outdoor wedding?  Well then there are a few things to remember.

1)      Don’t have it in July and August and you might want to think about June and early September.

2)      Plan for a late afternoon/early evening ceremony.

3)      Offer guests some sort of shade, trees, tent, or umbrellas.

4)      Remember your musicians will probably require some sort of tent to shade instruments from the sun (or possible rain).

5)      Offer your guests fans and something cool to drink. Make sure these drinks are non-alcoholic.  The last thing you need is a bunch of drunken guests in the blazing sun.

6)      Realize that your flowers will wilt in the sun.  No way around it.

7)   The female guests might be cool in summer dresses but remember the guys are in suits and tuxes.  They will be miserable.

8)      ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS have a rain plan.