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Expert June 2019

Best start time for a summer outdoor ceremony?

Angela, on June 19, 2018 at 11:27 AM Posted in Planning 0 13

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Hi all!
I am getting married on June 15, 2019 and the ceremony (which I figure will last around 20 minutes) is going to be outdoors. I was thinking about getting the first look and family photos before the ceremony, because I have all day, unlimited access to the ceremony site. After the ceremony, we will drive 25-30 minutes to our reception site, which is both indoors and outdoors. I have 8 hours at this venue, but must finish up by around 10pm, so I’m wondering best time frames to have plenty of time to enjoy the reception space but also make sure I’m being conscious of keeping my guests comfortable in the outdoor heat for the ceremony. (June in Tennessee is hot!) I’ll also be providing bottled waters, hand fans, and otter pops for the kiddos, and everyone is aware that this portion will be outdoors and to plan/dress accordingly. I just want to make sure the time of day we do the ceremony isn’t when the sun and heat is at its absolute worst!
Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

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13 Comments

Latest activity by MrsD, on June 19, 2018 at 3:36 PM

Expert June 2018
Melissa · on June 19, 2018 at 11:31 AM
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My wedding is June 30th. The venue planner has tracked sunlight and our ceremony will start at 5p because the outdoor seating becomes shaded at about 430p so our guests won't be in direct sunlight
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Master August 2018
Nemo · on June 19, 2018 at 11:36 AM
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Do you have a backup plan if it is too hot or raining?
It has been 90+ degrees outside where I'm at with some horrendous humidity for the last month and a half. There is no way I would do an outdoor ceremony in this kind of weather.
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Expert June 2019
Angela · on June 19, 2018 at 11:44 AM
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Yes, I do have an indoor back up plan if needed.
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Expert June 2019
Angela · on June 19, 2018 at 11:45 AM
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This is helpful, thank you!
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Expert July 2018
FutureMrsHarris18 · on June 19, 2018 at 11:54 AM
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I'm having a summer wedding in 38 days and I opted for a rooftop wedding. Our ceremony is starting at 11:00am. That way we are figuring it should take us about 45 minutes for a ceremony. We don't want to rush it. But the rooftop we are on is shaded so we aren't concerned with the sun.
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Master June 2018
KarenO · on June 19, 2018 at 12:01 PM
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I'm glad you have a backup plan.
We're getting married (hopefully) outdoors next week in Philadelphia. Temps are supposed to get milder again, but it's been in the mid-90s and very humid for the past day or so. Right now, for our wedding day they're predicting mid-80s and partly cloudy, which I think is about the warmest that is still OK to be outside. Our ceremony is at 6 p.m. to hopefully help the day cool down a little and we do have a backup plan for excessive heat or rain.
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Expert June 2019
Angela · on June 19, 2018 at 12:04 PM
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Good luck!! Fingers crossed you’ll still be able to have the outdoor ceremony you’re hoping for!
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VIP May 2018
PBiazinha · on June 19, 2018 at 12:24 PM
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Our wedding was a beach wedding in Florida this past May. Because of the heat we started the ceremony at 4pm (I walked around 4:15pm).
We took our guests on an island tour (Key West) for one hour (which they all loved) immediately after ceremony, so if it wasn't for that I would have started the ceremony at 5pm.
Take in consideration your crowd. Do you have older people? Young children? Is there any shade?
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Expert June 2019
Angela · on June 19, 2018 at 12:40 PM
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There is some shade, yes, and there will only be about 30 people. A few children and our grandparents. I’d like to do 4:15ish if possible so it’s after the hottest part of the day but still gives people time to get to the reception site and enjoy that from 6-100pm.
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VIP May 2018
PBiazinha · on June 19, 2018 at 12:52 PM
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My thoughts exactly. We too only had the venue until 10pm
we did ceremony 4-5 (so people could use the restroom after it)
island tour 5-6
receprion 6-10
we has 31 adults including ourselves.
You should be good. I offered bug spray, sunscreen, paper fans and water at the ceremony location.
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Expert June 2019
Angela · on June 19, 2018 at 1:33 PM
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Great advice! I’ll add in the sun screen and bug spray as well. 😊
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Devoted September 2020
Mona · on June 19, 2018 at 2:43 PM
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You could always use a large white tent just in case...
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Legend July 2019
MrsD · on June 19, 2018 at 3:36 PM
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If you have to be out by 10, I'd start at 4 or 5 for the ceremony (if you're having cocktail hour). Our wedding is from 5-11 with guests boarding the bus back to the hotel around 10:30. We will be in Colorado in July, so it will be hot (probably 80s) so we plan on supplying sunscreen, bug spray, and fans for everyone along with ice water. We just want to make sure our ceremony doesn't face the sun.
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