Summer Wedding Tips: How to Stay Cool

If you're braving a Perth summer wedding, or even a wedding close to those summer months we're heatwaves have been making surprise visits, it’s wise to pre-plan for a hot day so you know yourself and your guests will be comfortable and safe.

Here are my summer wedding tips for planning an event in hot weather.

First, what time is your ceremony being held?

Some couples seem to forget how hot summer gets in the afternoon. Any other time of year a 3pm ceremony might sound lovely - but not in summer. The afternoon is the absolute peak of heat in the day. The sun is spicy, the glare is blinding, and standing in the sun feels like you're standing on a BBQ grill plate.

If you’ve planned an indoor wedding, bravo! Just double check the venue has air-conditioning.  

If you’ve planned an outdoor ceremony, then avoid the hottest part of the day. Find out what time sunset is which will give you a good indication. I usually suggest nothing earlier than 3 hours before sunset.

This backyard wedding was in the perfect shady spot for a late afternoon ceremony

Keep your wedding ceremony in the shade

Make sure you check out a venue in the season of your wedding and avoid a wedding in the full sun. Remember, most couples don’t wear sunglasses or hats on their wedding day, more often than not they don't even wear sunscreen, so you’re going to want to be as comfortable and sun safe as possible.

Also note that speakers and camera equipment can’t be left in full sun or they risk shutting down, so make sure these things are also kept in the shade.

A water station at a Fremantle beach wedding in summer

Provide a water station at the wedding ceremony

Make sure your guests stay hydrated by providing a water station. Some venues will have the capacity to provide this for you, or if it’s an outdoor venue look at hiring one. If you decide to bring single-use plastic water bottles then make sure you have a bin provided to recycle the bottles after the event.

Speak to your celebrant about having two glasses of water waiting for you at the signing table or nearby so that you can hydrate during the ceremony.

Provide sunscreen for your wedding guests

When guests are dressing up for a wedding they often forget about applying sunscreen. Let’s not have beetroot red faces in all your wedding photos – provide sunscreen and protect your guests.

And while you’re at it, look at applying sunscreen yourself. Look for a non-greasy sunscreen with a matt finish. For folks who wear makeup you can consider a sunscreen spray, or speak to your makeup artist as to what they would recommend.

Provide fans for your guests

If it’s going to be a scorcher look at providing guests with hand fans so they can keep cool. You can typically buy them online and they’re made from Sandlewood or Bamboo. The added bonus is they're also a great way to swat away any pesky flies!

Hire umbrellas for extra shade

You can hire attractive looking market umbrellas from local Perth companies so your ceremony and reception is shaded.

Alternatively there are also companies that hire out individual parasols for guests. Sunbella hire out SPF50+ parasol style umbrellas, and Over the Moon hire out parasols (just don't forget paper parasols are not SPF protected so you could still get sunburn).

Market umbrellas were essential for this wedding on a 40deg day

Cold treats

Do you know what people love on a hot day? ICECREAM! A great post-ceremony treat for your guests to cool them down. Even a last minute esky full of icypoles will be a huge hit if it's a hot day.

That Little Gelato Cart is a fun and popular way to keep your guests cool AND happy!

Pre-hydrate

Make sure you pre-hydrate before the ceremony by drinking plenty of water, or better yet have an electrolyte drink (or Gatorade) just before you leave so that you are hydrated before the event. I do this for every wedding I attend in summer and it always works really well.

Keep an eye on the older folks

Make sure your older family members are looked after and hydrated. Lots of older folks are easily hydrated, prone to heatstroke, and aren't good at drinking water - so get someone to keep an eye on them!

And don't forget, alcohol is dehydrating - don't assume you're being hydrated by drinking any form of liquid!

Do you need a bushfire plan?

If your ceremony is in the Perth Hills or in bushland, make sure you have a bushfire plan. It's not just about a fire breaking out during the wedding, but also fires causing roadblocks. A basic bushfire plan is to consider these three things: when you will leave, what you will take and where will you go. Have a backup ceremony or reception space in mind, just in case.

Check the Emergency WA website for bushfire warnings. If you don’t want to worry then assign the job to a responsible parent or friend.

Want more summer wedding tips for your special day?

If you have any questions about your wedding day, get in touch! I’d love to help you work out a plan.