HOT Beach Wedding!!

@staci oh my gosh! crazy! The Lehigh fire was legit 5 blocks north of my house! I have never been more scared in my life. Threw my cats in their carriers and waited for the evac order. Luckily it never came. Where was the 20 acres fire? Collier, Charlotte, or Lee?

What time of day are you having it? If it's a sunset wedding, then it shouldn't be to hot then.

I live in South Florida and it is hot RIGHT NOW. Summer time is a million times worse. No I don't think anyone would die sitting outside, but your guest will be really uncomfortable. I for one sweat a lot so you better believe I will look real ugly for any type of pictures. As a guest I would also be ready to jump into the ocean. A lot of people come to FL for beach weddings - honestly August is the worst time for them, but since you are already doing it make that ceremony short and sweet and keep it moving and if you can do some sort of tent for shade, I would.

If I were invited to your wedding, honestly, I would skip the ceremony. I have incredibly sensitive skin that burns after only about 10 minutes in the sun. My mom had cancer 20 years ago but her skin burns after only 5 minutes in direct sunlight so she wouldn't be able to go either. I also don't do well in heat so I would need both shade and a way to keep cool that was more than just water and a fan.

I would also be annoyed that I spent time doing my hair and makeup and finding a cute outfit only to sweat my makeup off, sweat my hairstyle out, and have pit stains on my dress before I even started dancing. Guests will likely have to bring multiple layers for after you enter the air conditioned reception venue, so also consider that people might be putting on and taking off clothing between events, maybe have a coat check or something for their sweaters.

Are you planning to have a cooler full of water bottles? This will be really disruptive to your ceremony if guests keep getting up to get more water. 30 minutes in the summer sun is a long time, so you should really think about this.

One thing to consider is that heat makes people tired. That's a fact. So starting your wedding off with people baking in the sun for 30 minutes will likely leave you with lethargic guests who won't have the same level of enthusiasm or energy for things like dancing or celebrating. Is there a way to cut the ceremony down to 5-10 minutes instead if you're intent on having it there?

@elphaba, well said!!!!

Yes, because it's "YOUR DAY" you should make all of your guests susceptible to heat illnesses, and make people choose between their personal health and seeing your wedding day.

My great grandmother passed the week before the wedding. She was 94, and had major health issues. There's no way I could have asked her or my other elderly family members to stay outside in the heat that long. If anything is done for your guests at the wedding, give them safety FFS. Heat illnesses are no joke.

Also, my idea of dressing appropriately to the beach on an august day is a bikini, and enjoying my day in the ocean. Not in a dress with makeup on sitting still with sun beating on me for 45 minutes to an hour (because I would show up early so I wasn't rude and late to your wedding)

I imagine August would be pretty hot and muggy in Florida, but I don't really know much about the climate. If it will be under 65 or over 85 on the heat index, don't do it. If it'll be in that range, I think you'll be fine if you give out water and fans. If it's during the day, provide shade. If your area cools down a lot at night, you could consider an evening ceremony.

I can't believe this thread is still going.

Why the hell are people giving the OP advice on how to keep her guests cool as if it's possible? The entire idea of a beach wedding in Florida in August is lunacy.

Having an outdoor wedding in Florida the months of April - October is as rude as having an outdoor wedding in Minnesota in November - February. If you don't want to freeze your ass off in 10-feet of snow for the sake of the bride's pretty, pretty pictures, then FFS don't make your guests sick with an outdoor wedding 90-degree weather.

OP, if you don't believe us, search the threads for July 2016 when a bride had a fit that she didn't get a photo with her grandmother before she (the grandmother) collapsed during the outdoor wedding and had to be taken home.

Tarra, where aaaaarrrrreeeee yoooooouuu?

I'm getting married 9/1/18 in the keys on the beach I didn't think about water great idea. We are doing sunset try not to have your ceremony from 10-4 that's the hottest point. But the breeze will help too.

Oh God. They're multiplying.

As for me air conditioning system is quite important. My friends had their wedding in Auckland, NZ last summer. They installed a/c system from a well-known contractors here. Despite the extremely hot weather outside everything was great.

@A.Magill.in.May Actually, Yes. I'm from FL - been here my whole life. And this isn't a destination wedding, my family AND friends live down here. His family is from DR. Which is even hotter, so we're acquainted with the heat and tragically quite friendly with it. I get where your coming from, Aug is HOT here, but August is our 10 year anniversary, and the beach we're getting married on holds sentimental value for both of us. It was a mutual decision and this is not a formal affair. So we will have our wedding on the beach, and I will enjoy every damn sweaty minute of it.

Being a Florida native, a beach wedding in august probably won't be that bad. As long as you're not having it at noon and it's closer to sunset it should be quite fine. I wouldn't worry too much on it other than provide water and fans as you have already mentioned. If it turns out to be as hot as you're worried about maybe just make sure there's an inside area for those that can't/won't sit through the heat. It's unfortunate that they'd miss the ceremony, and some may not come/will be upset, but at some point it is still your day. If you're okay with that turnout then do as you please. I get that you should properly host your guests, but let's face it, you're spending thousands of dollars just to make sure your guests have good food, drink and dancing and lord knows what else. The rest of the night is for them, the ceremony is for you and your FI. If it's your dream to have a beach wedding then have your beach wedding.

@everyone saying they live in Florida and it "won't be that bad"... not everyone lives in Florida and so they are not used to the heat. You are acclimated to the heat because you experience it daily. People who live in very cold places are better acclimated to cold weather, but you would probably think it was freezing cold if you visited there. If any guests are coming from out of town, they won't be used to the heat and will likely feel ridiculously hot. An August wedding makes me wary anywhere because I hate heat, and I live in California where it is warm almost all year long. Just because you personally are used to the heat or can deal with hot weather does not mean every single guest will or can.

Just because you're in Florida does not necessarily mean you're used to the heat. I get overheated very easily and Love my AC (hence why I moved up north). I'm just saying that Florida in august can get hot, but if you're on the beach near sunset it's rare that it gets hot enough for a heatstroke for most. Sunsets on the beach were my favorite time to go BECAUSE it wasn't so hot at that time of day. The sun isn't glaring on you and there's almost always a breeze from the ocean. As I said, as long as it's not like noon, it most likely will be fine.

ETA: Also, people act like a mid-summer beach wedding in Florida is an unheard of thing? LOL. Every. Damn. Weekend.

A beach wedding at sunset or about 1 hour before sunset is best. The breeze will help keep things cool and the sand won't be as hot. I went to a beach wedding at this time in the heat of the summer and it was fine. I would give your guests a bottle of water as they are seated just in case. Keep the ceremony under 30 min and it will be fine. Time of day is the key to this problem.

I thought people are always saying on here that the ceremony is for the couple and the reception is for the guests? I guess now it's just nothing is for the couple and everything is for the guests. Anyway, take what I say with a huge grain of salt because I'm a beach person but.....most people go to the beach in the summer. Sometimes for the whole day. I think most adults can handle being outside in the evening on a beach for 30 min and the few that need to stay locked inside all summer can decline. ETA: I also used to live in Florida and people were out on the beaches in summer too. If you have a lot of elderly guests then revise your plans but the average adult can probably handle being outside in the heat for short amounts of time.

I live in Florida and I avoid the beach during the hottest summer months. The hot sand reflects and makes it even hotter. I have been to a couple of beach weddings at sunset. One of them had a quick ceremony BUT they where waiting for sunset and there timing was off by about 30 mins. Soooo starting the ceremony 30 mins late ment we where all out there for closer to an hour! It was horrible! I have never been small and I tell FH all the time , phat ppl NEED AIR.

Ugh why does this thread keep reviving? OP said she wants to have a 5pm beach ceremony, and that is going to be a nightmare for most of the guests. You Florida natives know that it is hot af at that time, and water bottles just will not cut it., not to mention the rain. The moment you send an invitation to other people the wedding is not "just about you".