How To Make The Most Out Of Your Summer Wedding
Guest post by Orla James
Summer has always been a popular wedding season.
Why? Good weather means less problems. It means you can make the most of the amazing venue you’ve booked, and you can have your summer wedding photos taken in front of a beautiful, foliage-filled backdrop. Even getting in touch with a company who can proide a backdrop stand rental service would add just that little extra when it comes to the wedding photos.
But a lot of weddings don’t make the most of the season. There are countless things you can do to make your day even more special. And lets not forget the stag do! I know my husband when to some nightclubs in Prague!
This article is your ultimate guide to having a summer wedding.
Theme
Summer weddings give you loads of options when it comes to the theme.
Some of the most popular are:
Festival Theme – Make your wedding look like a music festival, right down to the invitations and festival band to finish the night off. This theme has become really popular in the last 10 years.
Boho Theme – Based on the boho-chic fashion style, this bohemian theme is perfect for summer.
English Summer Theme – Think old-style ice-cream vans, strawberries and cream and other classic English treats.
You don’t have to be strict with your theme. You can pick your favourite bits from a theme and make it your own.
Colour Scheme
Pastel colours are always perfect for a summer wedding. It is becoming more popular to throw some bright colours in as well, but you have to be careful not to create a clash. It’s always a good idea to check out your wedding venue before deciding on a colour scheme so you can pick out a theme that matches with your dream location. Then, head over to Pinterest and create a board of your favourite colours.
Dress Code
Your dress code will depend heavily on what theme you pick, or even if you pick a theme at all. You need to factor in the weather to your dress code – choose light fabrics for the dresses and suits but also have something warm to wear in case the weather isn’t as good as you’d hoped. It’s also important to remember that what you’re wearing accounts for this too! While having a white Bridal Dress and gold rings is more traditional, you could mix it up with more vibrant colours on your dress to match the brighter theme. Warmer coloured jewelry matches this well. Perhaps choose rose gold wedding rings instead of a more traditional silver, why not a sapphire coloured necklace, or maybe accessorize some bangles and bracelets for a more fun look.
Of course you’ve also got to bear in mind make-up too. With the sun beaming down all day it’s pretty likely everyone will start to break a sweat – which isn’t good news for makeup! Using waterproof and sunproof cosmetics wherever possible such as waterproof mascara and moisturizers containing SPF will do a world of good. And of course always remember to keep it light and bright! We love Make Me Up Eva and Melissa D’Aloia who get the job done well and efficiently!
Flowers
Your flowers are linked to your colour scheme. Always choose flowers that will fair well in hot weather if your wedding is outside – like dutch hydrangea and garden spray roses.
Work closely with your floral designer to get the best colours and florals for your wedding. We love MDS Floral, Faye and Renee and Viburnum Floral Designers.
Keeping Guests Comfortable
It’s not always the first thing you think about when planning your wedding, but it’s really important to think about your guests’ comfort. Summer weddings are beautiful, but can bring in extreme gear and humidity depending on where you are in the world.
If you are spending most of the day outside, you could provide sunglasses and sun-cream for guests. You should also make sure there is plenty of water available and plenty of shaded areas.
Having a basket of flip-flops is also fun so guests can take their uncomfortable shoes off for dancing.
Entertainment
It doesn’t matter when your wedding is, entertainment is one of the biggest factors. It will take up a large part of the evening and will be what you and your guests remember about the day.
Outdoor games – The benefit of a summer wedding is you can play fun outdoor games. A lot of companies rent out giant Jenga, Scrabble and other games. If you have a lot of outdoor space you could go for a game of lawn croquet or cricket. A friend looked into mobile dj hire for her wedding and it worked out great for her because she had so much outside space.
Entertainment – Some wedding-band agencies have specific bands for summer weddings. You can get great Mumford & Sons style bands which will give your wedding that special touch. We love The Rhythm Shop for a full band and SCE Event Group for a DJ.
Food
The food at your wedding is a huge decision to make. Here are a few quirky ideas that could make your wedding something to remember.
Summer Picnic – Instead of a formal sit down meal, why not have a summer picnic? Your guests can sit on blankets and eat from wicker baskets. If your guests are drinking, they will need something more substantial than a couple of sandwiches though.
Sweets Table – Why not have a classic pic ‘n’ mix table for your guests to select from. This is guaranteed to be a hit with the kids.
Posh BBQ – Who doesn’t love a BBQ in the summer? Why not have a posh BBQ with gourmet burgers and kebabs? Get a professional in though, the last thing you want is a stressful cooking experience on your big day.
Ice-Cream Van – An ice-cream will fit into almost any wedding theme. You can have an old-style ice-cream cart for those english summer weddings and your classic ice-cream van for everything else.
Drink
Choose refreshing drinks for a summer wedding. You should make sure all the drinks are well chilled and not too heavy.
Pimp Your Prosecco – Have a prosecco station where your guests can embellish their drinks with different fruits.
Gin & Tonic – G&Ts always go down well in the sun. You could freeze pieces of fruit to use as ice. This is a great way to get creative with your gin.
Summer Cocktails – Hire a professional cocktail specialist and choose a couple of house cocktails so your guests don’t get carried away.
There’s no doubt that the summer is one of the easiest times of year to plan a wedding. Whether you choose the ballroom or the beach, picnics or prosecco or you dress down or up to the nines; your options are near endless.
However you choose to make your special day extra special you’re sure to have an incredible day surrounded with fun, friends and family and we wish you all the best for your sun soaked entry into married life!
There’s no doubt that the summer is one of the easiest times of year to plan a wedding. Whether you choose the ballroom or the beach, picnics or Prosecco or you dress down or up to the nines; your options are near endless.
However you choose to make your special day extra special you’re sure to have an incredible day surrounded with fun, friends and family and we wish you all the best for your sun soaked entry into married life!
How To Make The Most Out Of Your Summer Wedding by Vanessa Joy Photography and Orla James
