5 Tips To Avoid Overheated Guests

Alabama: home of college football, tomato pie, rockets, and very hot humid summers.

Are you planning a summer wedding? There’s a pretty good chance that “Find way to keep guests cool” is on your list of things to plan. Summers here can be brutal. July and August take the cake, but May, June, and September make a valiant effort.

We’re sharing 5 things you’ll need to keep your guests as cool and comfortable as possible during your summer wedding.

1. Give guests a cool place to wait before the ceremony

As hot as it can be to sit through a wedding ceremony in the middle of July – it’s even hotter when your guests are already in their seats 20 minutes before the ceremony!

Have a cool place for guests to wait before the ceremony. Have a sign or hostess let guests know that it’s okay to wait there – and that someone will announce when it’s time to be seated.

After the guests are seated, try to get the processional started as soon as possible. You might not notice a 10 minute delay, but people sitting in the sun definitely will!

2. Water everywhere!

It’s easy to get dehydrated sitting in the sun, especially for out of town guests who aren’t used to our heat.

You should have cold water bottles available as the guests enter the ceremony site, but don’t necessarily stop there. Have them available at different places throughout the venue if your guests will be spread out.

Make the water easy to find, keep it cold, and make sure someone is keeping an eye on needed refills!

3. Offer hand-held fans (or at least paper programs)

Self-explanatory. Even though we all know we’re just moving hot air, there’s just something about fanning yourself on those hot summer days that makes you feel like you’re at least doing something...

4. Time your ceremony for a cooler part of the day

Even in the south, it does cool down in the evening! Consider where the sun will be during your ceremony time, too. You don’t want the sun at an uncomfortable position so your guests have to shield their eyes.

5. Use that shade

If your ceremony sit isn’t in shade, then try to set up a few “shade stations” nearby. Set up a few chairs under the shade of a tree, or rent some small tents or cabanas to create your own shade.

If you have elderly guests or families with young children, they’ll really appreciate this considerate token!

(Be sure to have it close enough to the ceremony site that guests are able to see and hear.)

Depending on your venue, you might also want to think about:

-Bug spray

-Sunscreen

Want something more creative than the basics?

-Ice cream station

-Sunglasses, hats, and parosols

-Iced tea bar (Piper & Leaf is our fave!)

-Chilled summer fruits on a stick

-Popsicles (Try Suzy’s Pops)

Here’s to southern summers, sweet tea, and the happiness that a simple cloud can bring to an Alabamian heart!

*hugs*

Amber

 

Want more? Check out these resources!

Two Easy Ways To Include Sunset Portraits Into Your Timeline

Your Wedding Cocktail Hour Questions Answered

A Dash of Charm: 6 Creative Ways To Use Vintage China At Your Reception

Free eBook: 10 Creative Ways to Keep Your Guests Entertained