Texas summers can be relentless, but with the right planning you can make your outdoor ceremony enjoyable for everyone. Check out these tips to help plan your perfect summer wedding.

Know Where the Sun Will Be

Whether you are planning your ceremony at sunset or earlier in the day, it is extremely important to know where the sun will be around the time of your summer wedding ceremony. When figuring out your layout, you’ll want to set up to where both the guests and the wedding party aren’t facing the Sun directly. Try to get as many seats in the shade for your guests as well. If there isn’t ample shade, renting pop-up canopies can be a quick and easy solution.

 

summer wedding outdoors

Photo by Kate Elizabeth Photography, LLC

Provide Refreshments

Something as simple as having cold drinks can make a huge difference for your guests. On the path to the ceremony site, put out some ice chests packed with waters and other assorted drinks. If you have room in the budget, planning a cocktail hour before the ceremony not only gives your guests an opertunity to cool down, but to relax and mingle amongst themselves as well. A cocktail hour can be a refreshing buffer in between traveling to the venue and staying outside for the ceremony.

 

Customize Wedding Program Fans

Wedding programs used to be a single sheet of paper outlining the events of the night. Over the years, however, they have evolved into having different unique shapes and styles. An increasing trend among wedding programs is to customize them into hand-held fans for your guests to cool off. You can have one placed out on every chair before the ceremony, or just place a basket along the entrance for guests to grab on their way in.

 

Have a Back-Up Plan

Many of you already know all too well that Texas does not like to have predictable weather. A weather forecast can change last minute, sometimes resulting in downpours, heat rising, or freezing, depending on the time of year. I cannot stress enough to check with your venue ahead of time and see if they have a backup plan for inclement weather. The last thing you want is to be without a ceremony area on the day of your wedding.

 

Check back with us for more weekly blogs! Contact us to tour our wedding venue too — whether you’re planning a summer wedding or another cermony in cooler months.

-Lee