Beating the Heat for Outdoor Ceremony

Hey! We are date twins and state twins. That was my concern too with how NC summers can be. I think the fans and water bottles will help a lot. Maybe even let your guests know on the wedding website that the ceremony will be outside so that they can dress appropriately. Our wedding is July 31 in Greensboro she the ceremony is outside. But our venue requested that we do a backup plan in case the heat is too much. Is there an indoor space in your venue just in case?

One of the venues I looked at provided parasols to block the sun. I was worried they would ruin the photos but they showed me a few and they were so cute. You could opt to purchase some parasols. They’re sold in bulk on Etsy and other places. Just google wedding parasols. It’s definitely an extra expense and not a must have. The fans are your best bet but google wedding parasols as an alt option.

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Hi wedding date twin and state twins! I originally wanted August but practically every date was already taken more than a year in advance. Since the venue is all inclusive and owns the entire space, their weather plan policy is to push back the start time of the ceremony if it is too hot to allow for the sun to set more or the rain to stop if it begins to rain.

I like what PP suggested in telling your guests that the ceremony is outdoors just so they can prepare themselves for that. my ceremony was outdoors as well and i definitely made that known. programs are optional but i provided them so people could use as a fan and i definitely had beverages

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I really like that idea and it looks like a 32" fits 2 adults so I wouldn't need to purchase 1 for every 2 guests. Thank you!

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Agreed. We will be serving bottled water as well as sparkling line with berries to keep the guests cool during the ceremony with hand held fans that are going to have the program printed on them or parasols at this point because I really like Ariel's idea. Thank you!

Personally, I would have an indoors backup plan depending on just how hot it will be. We got married in July and it was 100+ degrees. Our ceremony was indoors so we didn't have to worry about the heat. There was no way we would have forced our guests to sit outside for any length of time even if fans and water.

Being born and raised in NC, I know how brutal the heat and humidity can be in July! I have been to outdoor weddings this time of year and, honestly, it was miserable. Guests were sweating through their clothes, especially men.

If you are completely against moving your ceremony inside, then I agree Ariel's suggestion of adding parasols or shade sails. That will help tremendously. Hand held fans and water will also be helpful. High velocity fans would help, but keep in mind how loud they are.

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I agree. I haven't been to an outdoor wedding during this time of year but have heard stories similar to yours which was my concern. I love the parasols idea because we can control how they are used and if they are messing up the photos, just ask the guests to put them down for a few and I we are only doing 2 high velocity fans to account for the noise. At the weddings you attended, were both the ceremony and reception outdoor or just the ceremony. Thank you for your insight! :-)

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Everything was outdoors. There was a rustic barn for part of the reception, but basically everything was outside. The ceremony started at 5:00 or 5:30 (I can't remember exactly) and was by far the hottest part. By the time cocktail hour was over and dinner had started, the sun was down and it was not too bad.

Hopefully you get lucky and you don't have a super hot or humid day. Fingers crossed for you!!

Oooh I feel this concern 😫😅 I’m getting married at the beginning of July in WV (evening ceremony) and I’m also trying to think of ways to keep people from not being completely miserable bc of the heat and humidity as well 😫


I think what you’ve planned is def going to help! I’m also going to have water readily available, strategically place stuff in the shadiest areas of the venue, I’m going to have a couple of bug spray & sunscreen stations for people that may need them, and if I end up doing individual programs I’ll make those into hand fans.
I have a few pregnant friends that will be attending so I’m probs going to find some misting fans for them (like Disney World fans 😂) and I’m going to have the venue interior available for people to cool off/lounge/chat in instead of having no choice but to be outside all evening.
I would also recommend to do what people have said above and really hammer home on your wedding website that the wedding will be outside, it will be hot, it will be humid - be aware of the conditions and please keep this in mind when selecting your attire for the event. I put mine at the top of the FAQ section and repeated myself in a few different q&a spots.

All of your ideas sound like good options- having lived in NC it is great you are planning for heat!
The other idea is to have guests wait inside until literally just before the ceremony and then have a coordinator/friend announce the time to go outside and take seats. Being from the south, I really appreciate when brides do this bc the worst is being both hot and bored before the ceremony even starts! (Plus people will start to stand up and move around to cool off and undoubtedly won’t be ready to go when the procession starts).

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That sounds like a great idea! I will definitely mention that to my bridal coordinator as we are making the ceremony day timeline. Luckily the guests will have access to the covered verandas which have large ceiling fans in them and if Covid restrictions ease up they will also have access to the downstairs of the estate for reprieve from the heat as well. Thank you for your input :-)

Aww, you're getting married on my mom's birthday! (Not quite the same as date twins, but still fun!) I've bartended a TON of weddings in the summer when it's usually 90-110 depending on whether you're in one of the coastal locations (closer to 90) or up in wine country (closer to 110). Many of the weddings either provided handheld fans for the guests or the programs were fans. I actually still have a few program fans from weddings I was a guest at and they're really fun! The hotter weddings also usually provided a cold water bottle for every guest for the ceremony with more available at the cocktail hour and reception. I've seen parasols work as well. I usually wouldn't recommend a high velocity fan for a wedding because they're loud and detract from the ceremony. If you're able to set up misters over the chairs, that might be nice!

So many great suggestions!! 🌟

I was at a wedding in Kentucky in early September when they had a heat wave, and all of a sudden the forecast was 90 degrees for their outdoor ceremony! They had printed program fans that were a huge help for the guests, and also did drink service before the ceremony with cold bottled water and Arnold Palmers with tons of ice. 🧊

There was also shaded area nearby where everyone hung out, until the wedding planner came through and gave a 5 minute warning and we all sat down for the ceremony. Between the shade, the fans, and the cold drinks - we were all fine to handle the hot sun for 20 minutes! ☀️

I would suggest getting the fancy old school kind of fans that open up! A bride did that for her outdoor wedding and it was a lifesaver

Can I just add a note about dealing with bugs? I went to an outdoor wedding in the early evening a few years ago and I still remember it. Not for how nice it was as much as because I got eaten alive by mosquitos. I'd ask how the venue addresses this issue.

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Yes, the parasols and hand held fans were both lifesavers at my daughter's wedding in August. Electric fans were provided in the tent.