Outdoor versus indoor July ceremony in Virginia.

I think this is a know your crowd type of deal.. I’d prefer to go to an outdoor one but then again I’m having a DW in the beach and my ceremony is at a rooftop.. VA is pretty hot (not compared to Vegas lol, where I used to live). But I think if it had shade for the guests as well then I’d do outdoor!! It’ll only be for a while anyways

I went to an outdoor ceremony on July 15th in northern VA. It was lovely. It was also a scorcher! The couple provided parasols for all the guests, which helped a little. I think it depends on you. Do you have a lot of elderly or otherwise heat sensitive guests for whom it would be a problem? July in VA can be either 75 or 95, so could you also make a game day call about it?

Also I've been to an indoor wedding at your venue, it was lovely!

If you have a short ceremony, I think it would be fine if you really wanted it outside. I would say maybe set up some pitchers of ice water so people can stay hydrated. Doing fan programs or fans as a favor would be nice as well. I agree that it's a know your crowd thing. My H gets super grumpy when he's hot, so an outdoor wedding would have been out of the question for us.

I don’t mean to be obnoxious with this answer haha, but: for me it all depends on weather. On a perfect weather day, I’d love to get to be outside. But if it was hot and muggy or wet, I wouldn’t love it so much. I’m a sweat-er 😳 and my hair loves any excuse to frizz!

(I do love me a nice outdoor ceremony but your indoor option sounds gorgeous!)

View Quoted Comment Your husband is like me, I get suuuper grumpy when I'm hot. I love to break a sweat when I'm at the gym, but ANY other time (especially in makeup) sweat makes me a miserable human being!

So it sucks because Sacramento gets to over 100 in the summer. We want an outdoor wedding in the summer, which is why we've been looking at Tahoe venues. But if it comes down to it, we'll likely have to do late spring or early fall if we plan to stay local 😕

I’ve been to an all outdoor wedding in Charlottesville, VA in early July. We had a great time, but the heat and humidity were MISERABLE. It would up being 100 degrees that day (I wish I were exaggerating). A groomsman’s gf passed out from heat stroke, guests were hanging out in the air conditioned bathroom trailers and we (guests) literally drank the bar completely dry because no one could get hydrated with the amount we were all sweating. I like to call that the Best Worst wedding I’ve ever been to bc it turned it a crazy party despite the heat! I would say plan the ceremony indoors so weather won’t even be a concern for you that day! If you have the ceremony in the outdoor gazebo, what’s the back up plan in case of rain?

I'm from the DMV. I'd never do an outside ceremony in July. It'll be in the 90s with a humidity of 80% and a heat index in the 100s (ie miserable). We went to a wedding with an outdoor ceremony on Labor Day weekend and at least half the guests ended up going inside waiting for the ceremony to start and it was in the shade, didn't make a difference.

Please think about your guests and don't have an outdoor ceremony where they'll be swimming in the muggy-ness.

I would say inside honestly. My brother goes to school in VA and the one time I visited him in July it was so brutally hot that I remember struggling just to get from the car into a restaurant because the heat was just overpowering 😖 maybe I just went during a bad week (it was literally well over 100 every day) but if there’s even a possibility of that, I would say indoors. As a guest I would seriously be suffering if it was that hot!

Is the room the same as your reception room? If yes then I would have it outside as long as it's quick and on time. If it's a different room dear Lord INSIDE

It depends on how you and your VIP feel about heat. My dad and fiancée hate heat, which is part of why we’re not having our VA wedding during the summer. It will either be hot & humid or storming. That being said, if your fam is ok with a little bit of a heat, being outside for a short ceremony should be ok.

Indoors! Guest and you will be far more comfortable with AC in 90 degree weather. I am a hot weather lover from Texas but the 3 issues I see is... 1. It's hurricane season which means it's likely to rain more. 2. If it is not raining, it will probably be uncomfortable. 3. Most guest don't like any temperature range outside at 60-80 degrees. Anything slightly above or below is tolerable but still no 100s or 40s

I live in Northern VA and I think having an outdoor wedding in July may be a little uncomfortable. It's definitely going to be hot. If you have the option of doing an indoor with AC I would go for that.

I was a bridesmaids in a wedding in July and it was miserable. I sweated threw my dress. Her guest were miserable as well it was so hot and then the wedding started late so we were standing outside in the heat for about 45 minutes. Some of her guest were out there about an hour because they arrived 30 minutes before start time. Again this was just my experience.

I agree with the above consensus, if it's a short ceremony (20 min or less) I think shaded outside will be okay but otherwise AC indoors is probably best

I love outdoor ceremonies but you indoor option seems so unique. I'd have a really hard time deciding too. Does your fiance have an idea in mind?

I would say indoor. My ex husband and I got married in June outdoors and it was miserable !!!! The preacher was sweating like crazy! We did have shade I put a tent up and provided little fans for everyone ! I can only imagine what July would be like .

As someone who lives in DC...indoor all the way. So often, it’s so ridiculously hot. I recall many July 4 holidays where I basically wanted to die I was so hot and sweaty. Indoor! 😁

As someone who has a attended many DMV area outdoor weddings; indoor may be your best bet. Between the heat, evening humidity, and possibility of storms, I wouldn't want to gamble on changing plans last minute.

If it does turn out to be nice that day, great! Your guests will certainly find their way outside to enjoy a few drinks. May be offer outdoor activities such a corn hole or horseshoes?

I am from the DMV (spent nearly 20 summers there) and July at 4 in the afternoon is miserable. I live in Florida now and have lived in several other ‘hot’ or ‘humid’ states and Virginia is by far the worst and is so underrated as miserably hot in the summer. Is there a way you could have a later ceremony? Maybe around 6 or 7? Keep in mind even if your ceremony is only 10-15 minutes guests will be out there much longer than you will while they wait for it to start. I love outdoor ceremonies but Idk about this one. Even you may be pretty miserable depending on how big your dress is!