COOL Tips for your outdoor wedding during the hotter months
by Suzanne Riley Sunshine Coast Wedding Celebrant
Hi Brides and Grooms … So you’re having a summer, outdoor wedding, fingers crossed for blue skies, slight breeze and not too hot.
Here are some tips that I’ve gathered along the way…
As the celebrant I’m at your ceremony spot before your guests…I’m there until the guests start to leave so as you can imagine, I’ve seen it all. Your ceremony can be memorable for all the right reasons, if you and your guests are comfortable, the occasion is remembered for the emotion, the experience of love and magic… if you and your guests are uncomfortable, hot, thirsty, dying to get out of there.. well that is your main memory.
So, here you go… Tips xx
*BE HONEST ABOUT THE CEREMONY START TIME.. State the correct time that your ceremony is due to start on your invitation… Guests start arriving at weddings a half hour early, most are settled and in place at least 15 minutes before the stated starting time. Stating an earlier time on your invite to make sure your guests are early can backfire. Leaving your guests waiting in the heat can dampen the mood and tire out your party goers! If there may be an issue with parking or directions, mention it on the invite to give everyone the heads up to take a little extra time to find the location.
*WATER STATION .. have a water station for your guests – organise with your planner or delegate to one of your trusted friends to bring along an esky with water and drinks.
Make sure your water station is set up BEFORE your guests arrive.
Over cater water.. you can always re-use the unused bottles, it’s better than running out.
A nice touch is to make sure you have a cool drink for the bride and groom at the signing table..
Usually ceremonies held at seasoned wedding ceremony venues such as Novotel Twin Waters Resort, Flaxton Gardens, Surfair Marcoola, will offer this as an inclusion to your ceremony package
Home made drinks station here and also, a gorgeous lemonade and lime drink station by Cloud Nine Weddings and Events
*SHADE for guests.. if your ceremony is away from shade, just think, would you go to the beach in a suit or formal dress and stand out in the sun for an hour .. EVER?? No! the answer is ‘no’ under any circumstances. So why expect your guests to do that? At least have parasols available, they can be bought cheaply and re-sold after the event or hired for a small fee and stress free (pictured here Cloud Nine Events and Weddings Parasols on the Sunshine Coast) and they will be priceless on the day.
*SHADE for you.. If you’re on the beach or open park, think about a covered 4 post arbour to shade you, you will be cooler and you won’t be squinting in all of your ceremony photos. Having even light or shade is what your photographer will be hoping for, if the shade is dappled light through trees, this can create problems with uneven light for photos. Keep the direction of the sun in mind when organising the set up position so you are actually in shade. It also seems silly to mention but also make sure your arbour has a cover (roof) on it and it’s not just four posts and decorative.
I’ve had couple’s who’ve used large white market umbrella’s to shade them also which looked quite nice but not great on windy days.
FANS … These can be gorgeous, one on each seat and handed out to guests as they arrive. They will keep your guests cool and if you’re a ‘craft’ person you can create a fun ‘order of service’ or poem/message on a piece of card and create a fan from these.. you’ll see tonnes of these on pinterest.
INSECTS .. Be smitten, not bitten 🙂 if your ceremony is in a park and later in the afternoon, pop out some insect repellent for guests and make sure the bride and bridesmaids put repellent on their feet and legs.
Finally, groom and groomsmen, put on sunscreen, you’re going to be out in the elements for over an hour… you don’t want to get burnt!
A really really COOL TREAT? How about a Mr. Whippy Vintage ice-cream van? LOVE 🙂 Yes please!
The Coolest Transport!
When organising your wedding transport it’s a good idea to find out if there is air-conditioning if this is something that is important to you. Many older vintage cars won’t have aircon as standard.
Most chauffeurs will be more than happy to open your bottle of bubbles and usually have a picnic hamper option for your photo escapade after the ceremony, again best to check that they allow drinks to be consumed inside the vehicle.
Hope you like my little words of wisdom please share !!!!! 🙂
If you love my blog, please comment or visit my facebook page and say hello and leave a message there, I love love love hearing from you all.
Suzanne xx
Suzanne Riley Marriage Celebrant
Sunshine Coast Wedding Celebrant
Sunshine Coast Professional MC