Many of us have dreamed of our summer wedding since we were young. Whether that dream is a nature-centred ceremony held under the canopy of an oak tree, or a luxurious affair in the fanciest hotel you can imagine, it’s only when you really start planning the big day that you realise how much there is to take care of.
Luckily, you’re absolutely not alone, and you can learn from the experiences of those who have trodden this path before you. From your venue to the importance of flexibility, here’s what you need to prep for your summer wedding.
Venue
The main factor you’ll need to prepare for any wedding is your venue. For summer weddings in particular, you’ll often find that you need to book months – or even years – in advance to get the one you want.
Look for an option that suits your requirements, ideally one with both indoor and outdoor spaces and seating like Heaton House Farm. English summers can be glorious, but you can always get a storm at the drop of a hat.
Vendors
Venues aren’t the only thing that will get booked up early – you’ll also need to get your vendors locked in as soon as possible. Get your catering and entertainment sorted early on, and then make sure you’ve also covered floral arrangements and an event photographer.
Guest comfort
There are some really important little things you can prep that can make a big difference to the comfort of your guests.
For a summer wedding in particular, having cold water on hand at all times, and some shade from the sun if it’s an outdoor wedding, can be absolutely critical.
Standing around in a suit or dress in the boiling sun can be intense, and you want to make it as easy and comfortable as reasonably possible.
Timing
Planning how you’ll time the events of the big day can be surprisingly difficult. Ideally, you don’t want to pack too much in – for example, you don’t want people to have to move on too quickly from big meals, when all they really want to do is have a nap.
With summer weddings in particular, make sure that you consider how you’ll optimise each of the various parts of the day, from peak midday heat to golden sunsets.
Be flexible
Lastly, you will have to accept a certain degree of flexibility. While you can control a lot of things, there are some factors – such as the weather – that you just can’t, and you’ll have to let your wedding flow around these variables.
Have contingency plans in place, and try to keep a more general atmosphere at the heart of what you’re trying to create, rather than a strict, rigid procession of events.
Prepping for a summer wedding should be a joyful process, allowing you to experience some of the wedding excitement ahead of time. Leave enough time to get everything taken care of, and remain flexible. If you can do that, everything will inevitably slot into place.
