I know you're hoping for some gorgeous sunshine on your big day, but over 30°C, and you're in danger of having sweaty, sunburnt guests getting hot and bothered.
Here are some top tips to help you and your guests spend your wedding day glowing with joy, and not from the heat!
1. Make sure there's some shade!
Are you getting married outside? Get in touch with your venue to make sure there's some space in the shade for you and your guests. Hopefully, there'll be some places where natural shade falls as the sun moves round, but if there isn't, think about a marquee, gazebo, or even providing guests with parasols to ensure they don't melt in the direct sunlight. Outdoor wedding venues should have a plan in place for extremely hot weather - double check with them beforehand, so you're not stressing on your wedding day.
2. Requesting a cool breeze
If your venue doesn't have any outdoor space, how will they keep it cool inside for you? Can the windows be opened? If not, can they provide fans or open the doors for you?
3. Keep hydrated
It's very easy to become dehydrated when you're enjoying the celebrations. Try to ensure you and your guests remain hydrated by providing a water station so they can easily access drinking water.
There are plenty of ways to make this interesting and beautiful - think lovely glass dispensers, plenty of sliced fruit to garnish, maybe even personalised bottles to make this super cute and fit
your aesthetic!
Try to make sure this is at least in the shade, if not indoors, and provide plenty of ice to make sure it all stays cool for your guests to enjoy.
It’s definitely worth remembering that alcohol can induce dehydration and while most guests love a tipple at a wedding, it’s important to encourage everyone to drink soft drinks as well. Alcohol plus excessive heat and exposure to the sun can lead to dangerous consequences.
Why not swap to no-secco, or add some delicious mocktails to your menu to give guests a low or no alcohol option if the weather is particularly warm.
4. Think about your menu
Roast beef and Yorkshire puddings might be your absolute favourite meal, but on a hot day, it's probably the last thing your guests will want to eat.
Think about fresh, lighter dishes like salads and fresh fruit, or a barbecue theme with colourful skewers and grilled meat. Grazing platters are also a brilliant option as you can choose how much to put on your plate.
If the heatwave on your wedding day is unexpected and you’re worried about the menu being too much, chat to your caterer about small swaps to make the dishes more warm-weather-appropriate - instead of roast chicken and all the trimmings, what about serving it with a selection of fresh and vibrant salads?
5. What about your vulnerable guests?
Of course, it’s important to keep all your wedding guests hydrated and in the shade, but some will be more vulnerable than others.
If you have young children or elderly guests, assign someone in your wedding party to make sure they are hydrated and not spending too much time in direct sunlight.
Sunstroke and sunburn can be very dangerous and often people don’t realise it’s happening until it’s too late. This also applies if you are planning on having pets or animals at your wedding.
6. Keep your suppliers cool!
Wedding suppliers work super hard all day to ensure your wedding is as perfect as it can be, and often this doesn’t include any breaks. If you’re having a wedding outside in the sunshine, designate someone to ensure that every hour or so, they have a nice cold drink and aren’t getting too hot.
Suppliers like photographers, videographers and celebrants are likely to spend a lot of time outside in the heat, and I'm sure they'd really appreciate an ice-cold drink and five minutes to sit down in the shade!
7. Tweak your hair and make up
If you're anything like me, you'll have dreamed of having lovely long curls for your wedding day, but on a very hot day, this might be very impractical. The lovely hairstyle will make you hotter and sweatier, and, actually, the sweat will make your curls drop much quicker than you think!
Think about having an up do to help keep your hair out of your face and off your neck and shoulders - I guarantee it'll help beat the heat!
If you have your heart set on having your hair down, make sure you have some hair bands and grips in your emergency kit in case it all gets too much!
Also, speak to your make up artist about products that will be able to withstand a particularly hot day, for example, a lighter foundation.
We'd also suggest having some spare products to refresh your make up between your ceremony and reception, and a face powder is essential to stop your skin becoming shiny.
9. What about your outfits?
When we're thinking about wedding dresses, try to opt for breathable fabrics, and styles, such as sleeveless or a halterneck wedding dress to offer some air to under arms and neck. If you’re wearing a heavy wedding dress, consider a second outfit for your reception that is more suited to the weather
Summer wedding suits can be ordered in fabrics that are much more breathable and thin than more traditional styles.
You may also want to choose a short-sleeved shirt to change into for the reception and maybe even a smart pair of suit shorts.
10. The perfect favours
Help your guests to beat the heat with things like suncream, personalised water bottles and fans as favours - they are certain to be used on the day, so you can guarantee you'll get your money's worth!
If your ceremony is outside, why not place your favours on the ceremony seats, instead of at your wedding breakfast, so your guests get the most use out of them!
If you found this helpful, why not check out my blog post on your emergency wedding day kit?
Or check out this post on choosing a wedding cake stand!
Give me a shout if you'd like to chat more about anything cake or treat related -
and keep an eye out for my next blog in a couple of weeks!
Happy wedding planning!