Hot Tips for a Cool Summer Wedding

With its glorious weather and longer daylight hours, no wonder summer is one of the busiest wedding seasons. Here are some tips to consider when diving in to plan a successful summer wedding!

Timing is everything. Photographers often refer to the "golden hour," which is about an hour or two before sunset when the light is soft, flattering and free of harsh shadows. Not only will your pictures turn out better then, but your guests will be less likely to melt in the sun. 

Always have a backup plan. Place a tent on hold or reserve an alternative indoor space in case of inclement weather. That way, you won't be scrambling to find cover if Mother Nature decides to throw an event on your big day! Having a plan B in place may cost a bit more, but peace of mind is priceless.

Consider your guests' comfort. Getting married somewhere really hot? Offer your guests cold beverages and/or fans. Provide sunscreen and/or sunglasses if you're expecting direct sunlight, or bug spray if your ceremony is in the woods. Pashminas are always a nice touch if your locale gets cooler at night. In addition to helping ensure your guests are more comfortable, these thoughtful gestures are often the details people remember.

Dress for success. There is nothing worse than sweltering in your formal wear. If you're getting married outside in a hot climate and want everyone to enjoy themselves, you might opt for more casual attire. Also consider covering metal chairs, which are a conductor of heat.

Protect your cake. News flash: cakes can melt! To prevent this from happening, ask your venue to store the cake in a refrigerator until you're ready to cut it. 

Wedding Dates to Avoid

One of the first questions people often ask when learning that you're engaged is, "When is the wedding?" There are numerous factors to consider when choosing a date -- how much planning time you'll need, the season you'd like to get married, and when and where you want to honeymoon, to name a few. It's also good to consider which dates might inconvenience your guests and adversely affect your budget! With that in mind, here are some dates to avoid in 2016 and 2017.

Holiday weekends. At first blush, holiday weekends might seem like an ideal time to host a wedding. Lots of people travel anyway then, you might reason. And many people won't have to work on Monday, so you could potentially hold the celebration on Sunday -- an historically less expensive day for receptions. But think again! In reality, travel and lodging costs skyrocket during these weekends. So do prices for labor, flowers and just about everything else! Besides, holiday weekends are often reserved for family gatherings that people may have to attend instead of your wedding.

Memorial Day
Weekend of May 28-30, 2016
Weekend of May 27-29, 2017

Labor Day
Weekend of September 3-5, 2016
Weekend of September 2-4, 2017

Columbus Day
Weekend of October 8-10, 2016
Weekend of October 7-9, 2017

Thanksgiving (always a Thursday)
November 24, 2016
November 23, 2017

New Year's Eve. We constantly have clients who envision throwing a New Year's Eve wedding. Once they find out the extra cost for the venue and vendors, however, they often decide to choose a different date.

New Year's Eve
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Sunday, December 31, 2017

Super Bowl Sunday. Cross this date off your calendar now...unless you want to rent TV's to live-stream the game during your wedding or risk having die-hard fans miss your celebration!

Super Bowl Sunday
February 5, 2017, in Houston, TX

Religious Holidays. Make sure to check the calendar for any religious holidays, even those you don't observe. Scheduling your wedding during Lent, Ramadan or Rosh Hashanah, for example, may prevent guests from attending due to cultural obligations.

Friday the 13th. If you're at all superstitious, you may want to avoid a wedding weekend that begins on Friday the 13th, which is known as the day of bad luck.

Friday the 13th
May 13, 2016
January 13, 2017 
October 13, 2017