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Savvy July 2018

Outdoor August wedding...with no Ac?

Talia, on April 18, 2018 at 8:05 AM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 124

My wedding is taking place at the beginning of August. The ceremony and reception will be on my parents property in large tents. We live and are getting married in New England so we planned on having the tents air conditioned because, well if you’re from New England you know what August here is like(HUMID!). Since we’re not have me a “venue” in the traditional sense, we’re relying on a lot of outside vendors and contractors for EVERYTHING. The place we are renting the tents from said it will be about $10,000 to air condition the 2 tents we’re having. We contacted a different company not related to the tent company and they quoted us about $8000. My parents are paying and have basically said “Nope, not happening. That’s way too much”. My fiancé and I don’t exactly just have $8,000- $10,000 lying around either.

Would it be terrible to have a wedding in tents...in August...in New England...not air conditioned? What’s been other brides/ wedding guest experiences at weddings like this? We’re not reconsidering the venue or time of year so that’s not an option either. We’re particularly worried about the reception since everyone will be is close quarters, the cake could melt, no one will want to dance, things like that.

124 Comments

Latest activity by Jan, on September 8, 2019 at 3:04 PM
  • Pegs
    VIP July 2018
    Pegs ·
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    I've been to non-air conditioned events in the dead of summer and it's pretty brutal. It's all fine and dandy at first, but as soon as it starts getting crowded and people start busting a move, the sweats start flowing. I would highly recommend AC.

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  • T
    Savvy July 2018
    Talia ·
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    Financially, it’s really not an option. If we were told how much it would be from the beginning we would have reconsidered everything but we were told by the tent company that “almost No one ever commits to AC even in the summer and we’ve never had a complaint”. We trusted them because we figured with how much it costs they’d be pushing for it and trying to sell it. But then we started to second guess when our guests started asking if it would be air conditioned and people seemed concerned when we were telling them no. ):
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  • magnolia5
    VIP June 2019
    magnolia5 ·
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    I don't think people will stay long.

    Even though a lot of people don't like the taste, would suggest going with fondant for the cake since you'll be outside. Have plenty of water available as well. Expect strong body odors.
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  • Forestwed
    Master May 2018
    Forestwed ·
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    It would be quite terrible for your guests. I wouldn’t want to be dressed up, sweating and uncomfortable. If I was there and it was that hot, I would leave. I wouldn’t be able to enjoy myself being that hot and sweaty.
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  • Forestwed
    Master May 2018
    Forestwed ·
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    I would cut other areas of the budget and have the AC. It’s a must in August.
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  • M
    0000
    Mim ·
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    This, so much this!

    My husband and I would he leaving very early. Depending on the specific weather that day, likely right after dinner but we might now out right after the ceremony
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  • Mrs. Sponge
    Master April 2018
    Mrs. Sponge ·
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    I'm from NE. You can't do that to your guests. You need to find a new venue if you aren't willing to pay for the ac. And if you won't do that expect most people to leave as soon as dinner is over.

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  • WED18
    July 1993
    WED18 ·
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    Since you have no intention of changing your plans, I would at the very least rent one air conditioner for the tent with the dance floor.


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  • Jables
    Dedicated May 2019
    Jables ·
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    I've been to two late summer weddings in the Midwest that were brutally hot and humid. One was under a tent in a backyard and the other was an open air barn. (The ceremony and dinner were open air the dancing was upstairs in the barn that was supposedly air conditioned but didn't feel like it was).

    But they were both beautiful and so much fun and everyone stayed late into the night dancing and smiling and laughing. It's not ideal but it is manageable. I'm sure no matter where the wedding is at some people will leave early so don't worry if anyone does. I doubt you'll even notice!
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  • Mrsbdg
    Champion August 2017
    Mrsbdg ·
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    My wedding was August of last year and even with AC it was unbearably hot and humid. We even waited to start until later in the evening (6:45) but it was still incredibly hot.

    Please note this somewhere on your invites. You don't want people dressed in long maxi dresses or suits if you aren't going to have AC.
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  • T
    Savvy July 2018
    Talia ·
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    Unfortunately getting another venue isn’t an option. Everything is booked, deposits are paid, it’s family “tradition” to get married here. (great grand parents built the house and got married there, grand parents and parents both got married there. It’s been my dream to keep it going and there’s the bit of expectation That I will get married here. The family who lives there gets married there.)
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  • M
    0000
    Mim ·
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    If tradition is that important then recognize that many guests will leave early. Another option is to have a morning wedding with brunch, make due with the most comfortable time of day. But again, in won't be a long reception.
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  • firstoneat56
    Master August 2017
    firstoneat56 ·
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    It seems you have no intention of changing the location, date or paying for AC, so what exactly are you looking for in this post? August on the east coast and no AC? No thanks.
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  • T
    Savvy July 2018
    Talia ·
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    Brides/ guests experiences with attending a summer wedding with no AC. Or even suggestions for how other people in similar situations got through it?
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  • Jennifer
    Master September 2018
    Jennifer ·
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    I am MISERABLE in the heat and I would def RSVP no, please as others have stated make sure you have something on the invite somewhere about what your guests should wear to try to maintain some level of comfort that day.

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  • Jeleebeenz
    VIP September 2015
    Jeleebeenz ·
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    Can I ask why you picked such a hot time of the year if it such an important tradition? Your guests won't stay long if it is stifling. This should have been part of your planning from day one.

    Do you have a wedding cake? If so, it is going to melt in the heat.

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  • Future Mrs M
    Super June 2018
    Future Mrs M ·
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    They will get through it by not staying long after dinner. Esp with alcohol, people will get hot very quickly.

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  • IGotTheD
    Dedicated April 2019
    IGotTheD ·
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    My SIL had her wedding outside in July two years ago. It was hot AF. The tents made it worse.

    All anyone talks about regarding her wedding was how hot it was. Not to her face, of course, because that's rude, but even a couple of weeks ago my MIL mentioned how hot and miserable it was. And that's two years later. It's not a good thing to he remembered for.
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  • T
    Savvy July 2018
    Talia ·
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    Because August is the only month of the year my fiancé is allowed to take time off from his job.
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  • The Nuptials
    VIP July 2018
    The Nuptials ·
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    Can you then maybe have it later on the day? A 7pm ceremony? Def not before 6pm! That way dancing isn’t until 9ish.
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