9 Tips for the Perfect Summer Wedding

Summer is arguably one of the most popular seasons to get married. One of the reasons is because it’s vacation season, and another is that there’s less chance of rain and plenty of locations for Hawaii weddings such as the beach, a garden, or an indoor event space. Planning for a summer wedding requires thorough planning. Here, we have tips to make sure your summer weddings is a smashing success.

1. Prioritize your guests’ comfort

One of the main concerns about having a summer wedding is that there is going to be some heat, no matter what. Make sure to provide some way for your guests to ward off the heat and protection from direct sunlight. You can choose to provide fans or umbrellas. Pro-tip when distributing umbrellas or parasols: providing umbrellas of the same color and style to all guests can help your wedding images look good.

Try to provide refreshments during the ceremony as well. Cool drinks such as iced tea or lemonade and cold water bottles will be greatly appreciated by your guests.

2. Consider outdoor lounge furniture

Renting stylish outdoor event furniture such as lounges and chairs and coffee tables are a great idea. They look good on your Hawaii wedding photography, and they provide your guests with comfortable seating areas while they wait and mingle instead of standing around. Your Hawaii party rental company can easily help you with this.

3. Scope out and examine your venue

A quick visit to your Hawaii wedding venue can help you determine what pieces you will need for your wedding to be as comfortable as can be for everyone invited. Your wedding venue and wedding planner can also help you locate rental companies for party cooling fans and tents if needed.

4. Talk to your caterer

Serving heavy food generally isn’t a good idea when it’s hot out. Opt for light and refreshing dishes and seasonal items. Ask your wedding caterer to provide dishes that they are sure can endure the heat. Think salads instead of soup, and avoid cheeses that will melt into messy puddles on the serving dish.

5. Discuss floral arrangements with your florist

Talk to your wedding florist about your options for floral arrangements that can withstand the heat and direct sunlight. One thing to accept about floral arrangements during the summer is that you may not be able to repurpose your floral wedding arch after it has been sitting in the heat for hours.

6. Work on your wedding timeline and follow it

Create your wedding timeline and follow it closely. When having an outdoor wedding in the summer, it’s generally a good idea to keep your ceremony short. Your guests might not appreciate having to stand or sit in the sweltering heat for more than 45 minutes no matter how gorgeous the view is. You can also choose to start in the late afternoon, such as at 4:00pm as the heat is bound to be bearable compared to midday sun. Your wedding photography will also look better in late afternoon as the sunlight is not at as its harshest at this time.

7. Plan out your wedding attire

Make sure you consider your wedding attire as well as your wedding party’s. Summer weddings are a great opportunity for light and gauzy fabrics in gorgeous pale colors. The women should avoid formfitting dresses as it isn’t very comfortable on hot days. For your wedding gown, it would be a good idea to avoid heavy fabrics, a long train and heavy veil as this adds weight and can be extremely uncomfortable.

For the men, avoid wearing black tuxedos and three piece suits. Opt for light linen suits or polos in light colors for maximum comfort.

8. Thoroughly plan your hair and makeup

Your wedding hair and make up artist can easily provide you with long lasting makeup options for summer days. Plan to set up a trial to see how long lasting the makeup is and how it can hold up in the heat.

For hair, a sophisticated and elegant updo is generally a good idea. You can wear your hair down, but do ask the hair stylist for anti-frizz products and plan to check on your hair after the ceremony as it may not hold up in the heat. Opt for faux flower hairpieces as real flowers may wilt before the ceremony is over.

9. Think about desserts

You can easily get creative with your desserts during a summer wedding. Some great options are fresh fruit, popsicles, shaved ice, a slushie cart, or even an ice cream truck. Your guests will absolutely love and appreciate frozen treats during your wedding.

If you choose to have cupcakes or a buttercream wedding cake, you should plan to keep them indoors in a very cool area and take them out at the last minute when they are about to be served, as buttercream is bound to melt in the heat.

It’s also a good idea to keep desserts indoors until they are served to avoid melting and to ward off bugs as they will definitely be attracted to the sugar.

With our summer wedding tips above, you can turn your Hawaii wedding into a memorable day and have your guests remember how you went the extra mile to make a summer day more comfortable and fun for everyone.

Are you planning your Hawaii wedding in the summer? Learn how HNL Studios can give you the peace of mind knowing you will have a memorable, and heartfelt wedding experience you are looking for.