Outdoor August wedding...with no Ac?

It, umm, sounds terrible. There's an off chance that the stars align and the weather is lovely but otherwise, expect melted cake. Oh, also people will drink for thirst so expect drunks. Since hot and drunk is the recipe for fights, expect that too.
I'd probably consider a brunch. It will be a shorter but happier event.

View Quoted Comment Our ceremony is at 4:30 and reception starts at 6 right now.

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If at all possible, I would try to push it back to a later time. I'm in a similar situation where it'll be way too hot prior to 6:30 to do anything outside (July wedding). If you can have your ceremony at 6:30 or 7, it should be a little cooler then.

I would be miserable. Sorry OP. You need to find a way to swing the ACs. I wouldn't want to eat and certainly wouldnt dance.

What are you serving for dinner?

View Quoted Comment I don't understand why you posted your original post. You clearly don't care what advice you might get. With that I'll try one more time, having your wedding at the hottest time of day will all but guarentee that guests will leave early, hot, and cranky. Your wedding will be talked about for years to come and not because of how beautiful you looked or how happy your fh looked when you came down the aisle, or any other detail. They will talk about it because all they will remember how hot and uncomfortable they were. I wouldn't want that to be the memory my guests had

View Quoted Comment Well all the advice I’m getting is “change the venue and time of year”. I’m not sure what you want me to say if we physically cannot do that! At the end of the day, we’re working with what we have with the budget we can afford. Our budget will not be different a year from now or probably two years from now. Not every wedding will be a grand reception and ceremony that caters to every gust. It’s pretty discriminatory against people in different socioeconomic categories to expect that.

I’m from NE. I never would have done this to my guests, but since you’re doing it no matter what, as a guest I would either decline the event entirely or I’d leave right after dinner. At 4:30 the sun is still way up in the sky. This is going to be miserable for everyone, you included. Expect no one to dance, expect people to leave early, don’t leave the cake outside or it WILL melt, make sure your caterer has a way to keep the foods at safe temps.

This is honestly so dangerous. Elderly guests, pregnant guests, small children, and anyone who’s sick will be incredibly susceptible (more than most people) to heat stroke if they’re outside for that long in the heat/humidity.

I agree with others that it’s too hot. HOWEVER, please consider at a minimum supplying your guests with mini fans (the ones that need batteries and maybe even mist a little) so that they can have some form of air. It will be hot air, and it won’t help much, but maybe some. You’re also going to need to supply TONS of water and i would highly suggest some research on heat exhaustion so in the event someone passes out, you can somewhat help them until they can get proper med care. I was in an outdoor ceremony in August 2015 and it was too hot to handle, the pictures were awful because everyone’s makeup was melting and hair was frizzy. But we made it through the pictures and ceremony without anyone passing out.

View Quoted Comment I wouldn't call a wedding with A.C. a "grand receptipn." I call a wedding with A.C. in the middle of August common sense. Backyard weddings tend to be more expensive, and this is an example of why.

I provided advice in my original comment. Maybe also have a several big fans. It won't eliminate the heat, but hopefully your guests won't be as hot.

View Quoted Comment Seriously? Did you miss the advice to rebudget things to be able to afford AC? Did you miss the advice to have the wedding at cooler times of day, late evening or morning?

View Quoted Comment Those are all great suggestions. I’m not dismissing them. But With a budget of $10,000 that would make the AC about...100% of the budget.

View Quoted Comment Well when the cost of an AC is almost 100% of the budget, for a poor farm family that’s pretty “grand”!

Have you thought about doing fans? Also what time will it be? If the wedding is later and you use fans it may be okay.

Caters to every guest? Providing AC so your guests dont get heat stroke is hardly catering to their needs. Its a necessity.

I think your best bet, since you're unwilling or unable to change venues, dates, or provide AC is to change the time. Either an early ceremony and breakfast/brunch reception, or start after sundown and do a late ceremony/reception.

I would leave after dinner, if I made it that long. I don't want to stand outside sweating all night in nice clothes.

The wedding I was at last weekend was such a mess, it brought out other "worst wedding" stories from the guests I was sitting with. Outside in summer with no climate control was the most frequent complaint. I bet none of those people said anything to the couple that day, but they were uncomfortable and put off, and they remembered that feeling, sometimes years later.

View Quoted Comment It seems "grand" because your budget wasn't taking everything into consideration in the first place. Why didn't you price out the cost of A.C. before you locked yourself into this backyard wedding with making deposits before having accurate estimates? Economic status has nothing to do with this. This is a planning issue.

Reallocate the budget. If you can't, but large fans. Small handheld fans won't cut it, and frankly the large ones won't either but they will be more helpful. I also stand by my previous advice. Have plenty of water. Opt for fondant over buttercream (and keep your fingers crossed it won't melt). Maybe have some air freshener for the inevitable body odors. Warn your guests ahead of time as well so that they can dress properly.

Could you have the wedding in the evening so it's at least a little cooler? Start at 7pm maybe? The heat makes people cranky and miserable. I think you guys will be extremely disappointed at the way guests will behave and you might not even be that friendly to each other! Plus if any guests aren't in good health, it'll be impossible for them to stay. I think an evening wedding is the only way both you and your guests will be able to enjoy your special day

View Quoted Comment Does the house have AC? If so just don't invite more people than 5he house can handle. Yes that likely means a much smaller wedding (20 people maybe?) but at least you'd be actually caring for those people. It's infinitely better to care for a few people than to have a large number of uncared for people

As I'm reading more comments I realize, i haven't helped. I get why the venue, but why is the hottest month of the year so important? Are you considering different times of day?
In my family I would legit be worried about drunken fights because they'd had too much to drink trying to stay cool. For that reason, for me, an evening wedding would be off the table.
I would look at renting industrial fans and plan for a short brunch. I realize it's not ideal but I think it gets your place and date on budget.

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Then find a way to cover the ac. Cut other things to make it happen.