According to statistics, 65% of couples opt for a summer wedding where everything is warmer, dryer, and brighter - which often looks best for your wedding pictures.
Not only this, but summertime is a wonderful season to visit some of the top honeymoon locations, as the majority of luxury European destinations are hot. 

A summer wedding day can often be uncomfortable, and guests often overheat unless precautions are taken. Despite how lovely they are, many weddings fail to consider this and finish with sweaty, hot guests who are desperate to find some shade and cool off. With your beautiful diamond engagement ring now proudly on your finger, here are some tips to help you prepare for your summer wedding, to make it run as smoothly as possible for everyone involved.

How to stay cool this wedding season 

Keep the dress code lighter. Not only could you suggest to guests that light colours are okay (providing they aren’t wearing white or cream of course!) but you could also recommend that men wear shirts instead of suits, and women could wear wedding dress attire of a lighter weight material to help keep cool. Follow the same as well in case you or your event planner are organising dresses for wedding guests.

Avoid being outside at the hottest part of the day – Try to have your ceremony outside of peak sun hours 11-3, to avoid the worst of the weather. Often a morning wedding can be best as not only will it look beautiful and help keep everyone cool, the rest of the day can be spent celebrating!

Have bottles of sunscreen for people to apply – Many guests will apply sunscreen before attending the ceremony, but may forget to bring some with them. Having a few bottles that people can use will prevent guests from becoming burnt, or carrying bottles around with them all day. 

Provide refreshing drinks – Although everyone loves a glass of bubbles on a big day, making sure that you have enough water and juice to keep people hydrated is essential to avoid heatstroke and keep everyone hydrated.  

Avoid heavy meals – When serving your wedding reception meal, try to select light food that people can pick– such as a buffet, salads and fresh fruit. 

Plan for the unexpected 

As much as we all want our wedding to run as smoothly as possible, unexpected events do often occur and it is best to be proactive in preventing them! Take into consideration that you may have a summer rain shower, so make sure there is plenty of shelter that everyone could fit under. This includes any décor that may be damaged or blown away by the wind. Drinks can easily be spilt – so where possible always opt for serving lighter coloured drinks, such as white wine or champagne just in case of any spillages! 

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.