This time of year is always very popular for weddings, but where do you start when planning
a summer wedding and what do you need to consider?
Some people would assume that the summer months are ideal for an outdoor affair in the sunshine, but we live in Great Britain and the reality is that the weather can be very unpredictable! Weather is the one thing that you can’t plan on your wedding day so please
don’t stress about it, just make sure you are prepared whatever the weather. I always have
a supply of sun cream as well as a supply of umbrellas at my clients’ weddings throughout
the year. Check the weather forecast the week before the wedding and it will help you
repare for anything untoward, but generally an open mind and a relaxed attitude are all you
need. One of my clients had an outdoor ceremony in the rain last August – it was actually
pretty fabulous, all the guests had mismatched umbrellas which made for some great photographs.
If you are spending a lot of time outside on the day make sure you have plenty of shade
available and places for guests to sit down. Guests that are well fed and watered are always
happy guests! If the weather is warm, make sure you have plenty of soft drinks available.
It’s also important to keep everyone entertained. One of my favourite event designers based in New York is Preston Bailey(www.prestonbailey.com). Preston says you should have something new for your guests every 30 minutes. This could be outdoor garden games, laid back musicians such as solo artists,
acapella groups, or an acoustic duo. It could even be new canapés and drinks being served, and an ice cream trike on a hot day would be very well received I’m sure!
Summer is also a great time for flowers as there are so many seasonal summer blooms to choose from. A beautiful pastel bouquet or a selection of brightly coloured arrangements – Summer is the time when you will have the most choice when it comes to flowers. Talk to your florist about the best way to work with your favourite blooms.
The last thing you want on your wedding day is a
supplier who’s running late, or can’t make it (this actually happened to me recently!). Leave these crises to your wedding planner who is a professional at calmly solving last minute problems – she’ll most certainly have a back-
up plan at-the-ready.
Your wedding planner will either be with you on the morning of your wedding, preparing you for the most exciting and important day of your life, or will already be at the venue making sure all of your plans become a reality. A wedding day timeline will have been created to ensure that your guests are seated on the perfectly positioned chairs, the cake has arrived in one piece, the florist has worked their magic with the table decorations and the caterers and venue are fully prepared, leaving you both to relax and enjoy your wedding day.