This time of year has long been labeled “wedding season,” and for very good reason. Summer weddings are a very popular choice for couples and they can be SO beautiful. The sun is shining, there’s green everywhere, our guests can dress comfortably, and the weather is perfect. Right?
Well, sort of.
We may be able to check most of those boxes with a summer wedding, but the weather? That’s just not something we have any kind of control over. And if you’re living in the Central Valley of California like we are, the likelihood of your summer wedding being a hot one, is quite high. Don’t let that discourage you though! We’ve compiled a helpful list of dos and don’ts for you as you plan your summertime dream wedding.
DOS
1. Do wear appropriate attire. Make sure you and your wedding party are clad in cooler, breathable clothes. Keep potentially hot weather in mind when choosing your wedding dress and don’t make your groomsmen suffer too much by putting them in full-piece tuxedos under the blazing sun.
2. Do provide your guests with some respite from the heat. If your wedding is outside and you expect warmer temps, it would be wildly appreciated by your guests if your venue offered shade, air-conditioning, fans, and lots of available water! Can you have misters? Even better.
3. Do choose a location with an indoor option. If you envision dreamy, lush green, sun-shiny photographs of your long-awaited outdoor wedding; fantastic. Maybe have the ceremony outside, but the reception inside? Good compromise.
DON’TS
1. Don’t forget to send your save-the-dates well in advance. Summer is notorious vacation time for many people, so be sure you’re giving everyone plenty of time to plan.
2. Don’t begin wedding festivities in the middle of the day. It can be difficult planning a wedding so far in advance; months to a year or more. However, if your location is known for being pretty sizzling in the summer, and your wedding is outside, try to start later in the day. You have the advantage of long summer hours, so you should have plenty of time. Plus, it’ll make for super pretty photographs!
3. Don’t use metal chairs. Don’t put out metal chairs for your outdoor ceremony or reception or your guests are going to end up with some toasty buns – and not the good kind… Rent some chair cushions if your venue doesn’t have another option.
There are so many more dos and don’ts of summer wedding planning, but hopefully this list helps you out in your planning process. Hooray for summer weddings! Let us know how we can help! We’ve done this a time or two… ?
