Here Comes the Sun

Waking up to blue skies and sunshine has certainly put a spring in my step, but there is no denying that for spring/summer wedding couples, monitoring the weather can become a bit of an exhausting obsession. Getting married in the colder months means you probably have a venue in mind that doesn’t rely on good weather, but this isn’t always the case from April onwards. My own wedding took place in June and I lost count of the number of times that I refreshed my chosen weather app (usually the one with the most favourable prediction on it!) to check for updates.

As it happens, I had been worrying about grey skies, rain and low temperatures. With a garden setting, any combination of the above would have really impacted the day. However, it was actually the sunshine and unexpected heat that proved to be more challenging for my guests and suppliers. With this in mind, I thought I’d gather together some ideas to make sure that sweaty pits and sunburnt faces can be avoided on your big day too.

1. The build up

If the sun decides to make an appearance in the days building up to your wedding, it can be tempting to set up a little sunbathing station in the back garden to catch some rays. Let’s face it, a bit of a golden glow is one of the easiest ways to feel confident in your skin and a natural tan is often preferable to bottled alternatives that might leave you looking streaky or orange. However… don’t get over-zealous with the sun worshipping and remember to stay protected with a high SPF if you are going to spend time outside. I am not a medical professional or dermatologist so I am not trained to give advice on this, but it’s common knowledge that sufficient sun protection is crucial for your skin’s health. With weddings in mind specifically, it is also important to avoid a bright red face or unworkable tan lines days before you say 'I do'. Nobody wants them taking centre stage in all of your photographs!

2. Venue considerations and clever hacks

Just as you would discuss wet weather options with your venue, make sure you have considered what they can do on particularly hot and sunny days too. Strategically placed parasols can be invaluable to provide much needed shade, and water stations could be a great addition to make sure that guests can stay hydrated easily. If part of your ceremony or reception is indoors, find out if fans or air con are available. Having made my vows in a 19th Century glasshouse, I remember feeling very grateful for the large fans that my wedding coordinators set up! It was a very warm day and I know that many of my guests were feeling the heat.

A fun and unique idea to keep your guests cool could be to provide an order of service that doubles up as a fan. There are some great examples of this online, and the designs I have seen look really chic. It might also ensure that more guests keep hold of them rather than discarding them straight after the ceremony.  

3. Think ahead

Chances are that you and your other half will have spent a fair bit of time getting ready on the morning of your wedding. One or both of you may have invested in a professional make-up artist to make sure that you’re looking your best and it’s pretty likely that you’ll be wearing one of the most expensive outfits you have ever and will ever wear.

The sunshine might not be a problem if you’re wearing a wedding dress. You’re unlikely to choose a high neck, long sleeved, heavy gown for a summer wedding after all. For those wearing suits, however, most options are going to feel a tad warm (even those chic linen numbers that are gaining popularity for destination weddings in particular). To avoid sweaty pits and to keep feeling fresh, make sure that you have a second shirt ready and waiting in the wings. My husband was so grateful for this change and it didn’t add too much to the wedding bill in the grand scheme of things.

Don’t forget to speak to your make-up artist and be as informative as possible when they ask for information about your skin type. They’ll then be best placed to give you information about the best products to ensure longevity for your makeup on a hot day. If you’re lucky, they might also give you a few small top ups of the products that they have used for your wedding look. You can ask a bridesmaid or trusted guest to keep them safe in their bag for you and reapply as and when needed.

4. Flower and cake set up

Your flower and cake suppliers should be on top of this one, but it’s always good to consider the environment that they are delivering to. If bouquets or button holes are arriving nice and early on the wedding day, you’ll want to ask your florist for advice on how to keep them looking as fresh as possible. If they have been sitting in water, make sure to dry all stems before getting them anywhere near important outfits and consider timings before taking them out if it is a particularly hot day. Similarly, talk to your cake provider to work out when they are planning to set up on the day. If you aren’t cutting your cake until later in the afternoon, you don’t want it sitting around in the sun and it might be that refrigeration space is required to keep it cool in the interim. If you have a wedding coordinator, this should all be taken care of. If you are running the ship yourself, then these are little - but really important - details to remember.

5. H2O

This one really is obvious, but if it’s your wedding day, you are going to be in high demand! Everyone will want a photo with you and you’ll be pulled in lots of different directions. Make sure that this doesn’t stop you from enjoying the awesome food and drink that you’ve selected for your day and, most importantly, don’t forget to drink water! Especially on a hot day, you don’t want to run the risk of feeling dehydrated and sluggish by the time the wedding breakfast comes around, and it will also stop those bubbles from going straight to your head when you do manage a full glass of fizz. Ask a key member of the bridal party to be your regular water reminder!