We are fully in summer wedding season, which means a lot more outdoor weddings. The sun will be shinning (making for some great photos!), but this means you might be in for some warm temperatures. Normally brides are not focused on keeping their guests cool during the wedding, but as the wedding professionals - you should be! We all know to have a backup "rain plan", but you should also have a "holy cow its hot" plan. Here are some of my favorite ways to keep cool at a summer wedding.
Event design by Fete Nashville, Photo by Smith Studios
Shade The Guests
With the sun beaming down on your clients and their guests, you want to do everything you can to provide shade. The venue may not always have these amenities, but you can always bring that in. A canopy is a great way to easily add in shade, while being a decorative statement. It adds an ethereal and whimsical element, while still keeping the guests cool.
Event design by Moana Events, Photo by Christie Pham
Another idea is to have a basket of little parasols that the guests can pick up on the way to their seat. It's light for them to hold and can be used as décor to match the color scheme. The guests will feel comfortable and it will be a unique touch to the wedding pictures!
Event design by Something Events, Photo by Milton Photography
Keep Your Guests Hydrated
As caterers, your job doesn't need to begin at cocktail hour or the reception, suggest Poptails- cocktails in popsicle form- to your clients for their guests. It's the cutest way to add in that pre-ceremony cocktail party. You can go fruity and festive with a sangria popsicle or even tangy mint mojito! Add that decorative touch by freezing the pops with fruit or edible flowers to make it that much more aesthetically pleasing. Regardless of combination, poptails are a great summer addition that is equally pretty and delicious.
Event design by GATHER Events, Photo by Braedon Flynn
It's hot and the last thing you want to happen is for the guests to get dehydrated. So prop up some cute water stations for the wedding guests to cool down with some drinks. You can add fresh fruit or vegetable to add a little flavor and some color to the water stations, as well. My team knows, lemon water is never a bad idea!
Event Design by CCL Weddings & Events, Photo by Floataway Studios
Double the Escort Cards as a Treat
A creative way to implement beverages to the guests while still adding a decorative element is by doubling them as a favor and escort cards. With a colorful set-up guests can find their name and table number and take the drink back to their table to enjoy and cool off.
Event design by Birch Design Studio, Photo by Emilia Jane Photography
Photo by Jessica Elizabeth Photographers
Keep the Cooling Drinks Interactive
Create a station that allows for DIY mimosas and cocktails so that you don't have to worry about occupying their time in between events and allowing them to also stay hydrated! Add some fresh fruit and herbs to make it easy for them to pick and choose to their liking! It reduces cost for bartenders, while still providing delicious beverages!
Brides are always taking a little bit of a chance during an outdoor wedding, no matter what season. Don't let a little sun scare your client away from getting married in the sweet summer air. So ease their nerves a little bit by providing lots of options and plans to accommodate whatever happens.
Leila Lewis is known as the Wedding PR expert over at Be Inspired PR.
