Summer Weddings: 10 Things to Plan for So You Don't Get Too Hot on Your Big Day

Just imagine: the dress sticking to your back, the bouquet wilting right before your eyes, the guests scrambling to stay in the shade of the garden’s only trellis. That’s what a wedding in the heat is like when you haven’t planned for anything.

Yet summer weddings can be absolutely beautiful: golden light, balmy nights, open-air terraces. That is, as long as you’ve thought through the details that make the difference between a memorable celebration and a day when everyone was just waiting for the sun to deign to set. As a photographer based in Paris who travels throughout France, I have a few tips to help you.

Here are 10 practical things to plan for so you can keep your cool (and your lipstick in place) on your wedding day.

1. Choose the right time for the ceremony

This is the most crucial decision of your day, and it’s often made too quickly. If your wedding is in July or August in the South, avoid at all costs scheduling an outdoor ceremony between noon and 4 p.m. The sun is at its highest point, shade is scarce, and your guests will suffer—even with their finest straw hats.

Opt for a ceremony in the late afternoon, around 5 or 6 p.m. The light is better for photos, the heat has subsided, and everyone arrives at the reception feeling refreshed rather than exhausted.

2. Set aside a shaded area for the cocktail party

A cocktail reception in direct sunlight with no shade is a mistake that many couples realize too late, when they see their family desperately searching for a cool spot. Plan to have tents, shade sails, or pergolas, or choose a venue with beautiful, tall trees.

For weddings at a Provençal farmhouse, farm, or estate, always check the orientation of the grounds in the late afternoon: the shadows shift, and an area that was in the shade at 4 p.m. may be in full sun by 6 p.m.

3. Provide a refreshment kit for guests

A small gesture that makes all the difference. A basket or a refreshment station discreetly placed at the entrance to the cocktail party: paper fans, refreshing wipes, sunscreen, personal misters, and breath mints. Your guests won’t ask for them, but they’ll remember them.

It's also a wonderful way to infuse the reception area with human warmth—a paradox we embrace.

4. Remember to stay hydrated throughout the day

Water should be available at all times, not just during the meal. Pitchers of infused water (cucumber-mint, lemon-ginger) set out for guests to help themselves at the cocktail hour, chilled bottles for the bridesmaids and groomsmen first thing in the morning, and sparkling water available throughout the day. Alcohol dehydrates, and a day of celebration in the heat with alcohol and not enough water is the perfect recipe for feeling unwell.

Also, be sure to set aside some time for yourselves—as the bride and groom—to take a break and stay hydrated. Take it from your photographer: you always forget to drink.

5. Adapt Your Outfit (Without Sacrificing Style)

Natural fabrics breathe. Silk, linen, silk chiffon, and cotton batiste are your best friends. Avoid polyester, heavy taffeta, and fully lined dresses that will turn your day into an elegant sauna.

For brides, a dress with bare shoulders or an open back will help regulate body temperature better. For grooms wearing a suit, a light-colored linen or lightweight wool (tropical wool) suit is infinitely more comfortable than a winter suit. Light colors reflect light: it’s physics at the service of style.

6. Provide ventilation in the reception hall

Even if your reception hall has old stone walls—known for keeping the room cool—a party with 100 guests dancing for four hours will generate a considerable amount of heat. Check with your venue to make sure there is adequate ventilation, that there is air conditioning or ceiling fans, and that the windows open.

If you choose a barn or an unconventional venue without air conditioning, renting industrial fans for the event is a modest expense that provides real comfort.

7. Pay attention to your makeup and hairstyle in hot weather

Makeup set with a setting spray, long-lasting primers, and a lightweight tinted foundation rather than full coverage: your makeup artist knows the techniques, but you still need to ask for them specifically, mentioning the day’s weather conditions.

When it comes to hairstyles, an elaborate updo holds up better than a loose blowout in 35-degree weather. If you insist on wearing your hair down, be sure to bring some backup bobby pins and a touch of serum to combat frizz—the humidity and heat will inevitably bring it out.

8. Think about the bouquet and the flowers

Some flowers are more heat-tolerant than others. Peonies wilt quickly in hot weather; dahlias, marigolds, cosmos, statice, and herbs hold up much better. Talk to your florist in advance and specify the details: location, time, and exposure.

For centerpieces, opt for arrangements in vases filled with water rather than dried arrangements. And if you do choose dried flowers, they are perfectly suited to hot weather.

9. Provide a cool, quiet space for the bride and groom

You’ll be smiling, shaking hands, dancing, getting emotional, and working up a sweat—and you’ll need a place to take a breather between activities. Ask your wedding venue to set aside a cool room for you: to touch up your makeup, have a quiet drink, or just catch your breath between the ceremony and the cocktail hour.

It’s also in those stolen moments, just the two of us, far from the noise, that the day’s most beautiful emotions sometimes take root.

10. Communicate with your guests in advance

A wedding in the middle of summer calls for some advance notice. In your invitation or on your wedding website, simply mention: “Summer attire recommended; please bring sunscreen; the ceremony will take place outdoors.” Your guests will appreciate not having to guess whether they should wear a light dress or if the dress code requires a three-piece suit.

Just a few words are all it takes to ensure that everyone arrives under the best possible conditions—and that everyone can fully enjoy your party.

One last word

Planning a wedding in the heat is like planning a leisurely expedition: it requires foresight, a bit of logistics, and a lot of attention to the people you love. The details that seem insignificant—a fan, a pitcher of water, a well-chosen ceremony time—are exactly the ones your guests will still be talking about.

And if you want photos that capture your day just as it really was—the evening light, the stolen glances in the shade of the plane trees, the slightly breathless joy on the dance floor—that’s exactly what I document.

Jennifer Buckle — Documentary wedding photographer in Paris

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