Keeping Cool at Your Outdoor Wedding

In the warmer months, having an outdoor wedding is very tempting. The weather is nice, plant life is thriving, and the sun and fresh air are lovely. It is also a huge gamble. Storms, insects, sunburns, and more could spell potential doom (too much?) for you and your guests enjoying your wedding day.

Here are a few things to consider when having an outdoor wedding during summer.

Shade

Never underestimate what a relief shade can bring from the summer sun. If there are no structures providing shade, get some! That could mean renting tents or getting creative with some tarps and bungee cords. If your ceremony space is outside, consider offering guests umbrellas so they don't have to sit in direct sunlight. You could even make this a cute moment and get umbrellas in your wedding colors.

Sunscreen

If guests aren't able to get away from the UVs, you should definitely offer sunscreen. This could be in small bottles as favors or a couple of spray bottles for communal use. Trust me, no one wants to get sunburnt at a wedding.

Ice/Water

Regardless of the time of year, it is always good to have water at a wedding. People forget to eat or drink too much and get dehydrated. These risks increase in the summer sun and heat. Having water in bottles or drink dispensers in obvious places is a must. Adding ice to drinks, alcoholic or otherwise, will also provide relief. When in doubt, provide more water than you think people will drink.

Insect Repellent

If your wedding is near a wooded area or at a park, there is always a chance of biting insects. If this is a concern, you have a few options. You could offer insect repellent to guests. You could also have citronella torches or candles to help keep the insects away. This last one could be a fire hazard, and you should consult with your venue ahead of time to be safe.

Fans

Still and stagnant air can make heat and humidity even more unbearable. Offering paper fans to guests at your ceremony can help with this. During the reception, creating a "cooling station" with shade, water, and an electrical fan would be ideal. Be sure to offer sitting space in this area as well for more frail guests.

Extra: Time of Day

A lot of issues I covered are strongly linked to the time of day. Obviously, the middle of the day will be the sunniest and hottest, but a wedding near sunset will have more issues with insects which are more active as the sun goes down. Keep in mind that those sunset photos may require an earlier ceremony time as well.