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The summer is one of the most popular times for weddings, not only do you get warm weather, but couples also benefit from stunning landscapes with lots of blooming flowers that make for beautiful photos. Summer weddings are perfect for couples that want to utilize bright colors, flowing fabrics, and garden or beach-themed weddings.
When planning a summer wedding, there are a few important things to keep in mind. Due to the popularity of the season, it’s important to plan early to ensure you get the ceremony and reception site, and vendors you want for your preferred date. Since the summer is also a popular time for travel, you’ll also want your guests to be aware of the date early and mark it on their calendars. In this blog, we’re sharing our tops tips for planning the best summer wedding ever.
While you don’t need to start planning your wedding the moment you get engaged, you may need to start planning sooner than later, depending on how long of an engagement you want. Generally, for summer weddings, you will need to start planning at least one year before your preferred date. Since summer is one of the most popular times to get married, it’s important to start planning as early as possible to get the best selection of wedding venues, dates, and wedding vendors.
Creating a wedding budget is one of the most important tasks, and should be among the first things you and your fiance do. This is because your budget will guide every decision you make from here on out. The average cost of a wedding can fluctuate based on a variety of factors including your preferred location, the time of year, and the availability of vendors. Since wedding services tend to be in more demand during the summer months, you should anticipate some costs may be higher when compared to other seasons. Keeping this in mind, be prepared to allocate more money in your budget for your venue and some vendor services.
Since summer wedding dates are often in high demand prepare to be flexible with your preferred date and time. While you might prefer a Saturday afternoon wedding in June, you may be able to book more of your preferred vendors on a Friday or a Sunday evening.
You should also be mindful about selecting dates on holiday weekends. While a Fourth of July may be fun, keep in mind this can impact the number of guests who can attend. Keep these factors in consideration when deciding on potential wedding dates.
As with any season, choose a color palette that compliments the season you’re getting married in. For summer weddings this means bright pastels, soft earth tones, or neutrals. You might also want to consider using lighter, more breathable fabrics that will compliment a summer theme.
Regardless of the season, you choose to get married in, it’s always important that you choose decor and even food that compliments that season. This is especially important when you’re choosing flowers since this is a seasonal item, and some flowers you might like may not even be available. Additionally, you should keep in mind that some blooms will wilt in hotter temperatures, such as hydrangeas or gardenias. If you want to choose such a flower try to use them indoors rather than as a part of your bouquet or outdoor decor.
Succulents or tropical florals such as orchids, and leafy greenery will work wonderfully in the summer months and won’t wilt in the heat. Your florist will be able to helo you identify in-season blooms that fit your theme and overall budget.
Summer weather should also be taken into consideration when planning your food and desserts, especially if you’re planning to serve food or dessert outdoors. A heavily frosted cake might melt in the blaring summer heat, or conversely serving ices at your wedding will be a welcome treat!
Summer weddings are also perfect for choosing a menu filled with fresh, light dishes, seafood – even backyard barbeques! Another great idea is offering a few summery signature cocktails. Think fruity sangria, wine spritzers, or mojitos.
As with any time of the year, it’s important to have a backup plan in case of bad weather. This is especially true in the summer if you plan to have your ceremony or reception outdoors. Make sure you have a backup venue or rent tents in the event of inclement weather. Conversely, you might also want to consider how cool the temperatures get at night in your area. In some cases, especially if you’re near water it can get very chilly, so you might want to consider renting outdoor heat sources as well.
In addition to summer rain, you should also be prepared for hot weather. Confirm that your venue of choice has shaded areas for guests to sit under in the event there are high temperatures on your wedding day. If you’re hosting any events outside, such as your ceremony, cocktail hour, or reception, you might also want to consider purchasing items for guests that protect against the sun such as sunglasses or even sunscreen.
Since summer wedding favors can be a lot of fun and if you’re smart can double as an item to use during your wedding. If you want to consider favors that guests can use on your wedding day, thing of favors such as sunglasses, personal fans, or custom drink koozies with your monogram on them.
Welcome bags are also a nice consideration to give to out-of-town guests. For a summer wedding, consider giving them a small bag that includes items like a water bottle, travel-sized sunscreen, or bug spray if you’ll be in an area known to attract bugs.
If you’re saying “I do” in the summer months, you should be aware that some fabrics and styles will be more comfortable than others. Look for breathable fabrics that won’t cause you to feel too hot or heavy outdoors, such as chiffon, silk, linen, or cotton. You might also want to consider sleeveless or staples dresses or a two-piece dress. For the men, a relaxed-fit suit jacket will provide more comfort as will linen pants and a light-colored shirt.
Keep the summer heat in mind when planning your wedding hairstyles and makeup too, the last thing you want is your makeup melting off or your hair falling flat.
Since the summer is prime travel season, you might want to consider planning additional events throughout the weekend so guests can turn your wedding into a mini vacation. This is an especially good idea if you’re having a destination wedding or a lot of out-of-town guests attend. Kick-off your wedding weekend with a happy hour event the night before you’re wedding, or consider hosting a day-after brunch. If you’re familiar with the area near your venue, create a wedding website and share local sightseeing and activity recommendations to help guests get the most out of their travels.
