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Summer is the most popular season for weddings, and with good reason: the weather is at its best, daylight is at its longest, lots of flowers are in bloom and the sunshine lifts everything and everyone up. However, you don’t want to cross the line from warmly exuberant to wiltingly exhausted. Here’s how to stop a summer wedding from getting overheated.
Not everyone likes the heat and some people really struggle with it, so give your guests a helping hand. Provide everyone with a pack including things like suncream, hand-held fans, water spray, hair ties, bottled water and sun hats. If your guests are spending any length of time outdoors, you need to provide shade – parasols or awnings will do the job if there isn’t natural shade – and a later afternoon ceremony means you’ll avoid the intense heat of the day. After dark, ensure outdoor spaces are lit with string lights or lanterns so there are no accidents.
Be prepared for the weather to change – the British summer is unpredictable, so a covered or indoor area is always prudent in case of an unexpected downpour. If things are looking hot for your big day, ask the venue if it has air conditioning or portable fans, open plenty of windows for through breezes if possible. Likewise if you’re getting married in a marquee, make sure it can be air conditioned.
Make sure there’s plenty of water and other cold non-alcoholic drinks available throughout the day – traditional lemonade is always a winner – and remember that alcohol will affect people more in the heat. An ice cream machine is absolutely guaranteed to go down well when guests need to cool off, and instead of traditional canapes, consider something refreshing like slices of melon or strawberries.
Food should be light: grilled meat or fish, fresh produce and salads are all good options. For a starter, try fruit skewers – grilled or raw – or gazpacho for something different. Opt for a refreshing dessert like sorbet or something fruit-based like a charlotte or poires belle Hélène.
For your cake, summery flavours like strawberry or lavender could be a brilliant choice. Ask the venue not to bring the cake out until after dinner, but to keep it in a cool place in the kitchen for as long as possible.
Overlooking the beach and surrounded by formal gardens, sundecks and terraces, the Hythe Imperial hotel is one of the best summer wedding venues in Kent. Lots of happy couples get married outdoors under the shelter of our gazebo – and thanks to our popularity and the lovely weather we get here on the Kent coast, we’re well versed in keeping outdoor summer weddings cool and comfortable. Take a look at our wedding availability here; if you’d like to have a look round the hotel, call us on 01303 267441 or email weddings@hytheimperialhotel.com.
14th May 2019
