How to Stay Cool During an Outdoor Summer Wedding in Georgia

Haley Henderson Photography

Georgia summers are hot and humid. So what do you do if you really want an outdoor wedding even though it’s the middle of summer? Believe it or not, your guests don’t have to be miserably hot at your wedding. Here are 9 ways to help you and your guests stay cool during an outdoor summer wedding in Georgia.

1. Time your wedding around the sun
The best way to avoid the heat is to avoid the sun. Instead of planning a wedding for midday, try timing it around the sunset. If your wedding is four hours long, plan for two hours of sunlight and two hours after the sun sets. So if the sunset is at 8 PM on your wedding day, have your ceremony start at 6 PM. By doing this, you’ll minimize your time in the blazing sun while still getting great light for the ceremony and post-ceremony photos. If you’re not sure when the sun will set on your wedding day, try checking the time using this online sunset tool!

2. Provide refreshing drinks and appetizers
After your guests have sat through your ceremony, chances are they’ll be hot and in need of a refresher. While you’re off taking post-ceremony photos, consider providing refreshments for your guests. For drinks, you can offer sweet tea or lemonade in chilled glasses. Add berries or lemon slices to large mason jar containers to spruce up the water with an extra touch of freshness. If you’re providing alcoholic beverages, offer mixed drinks with cooling agents such as mint or cucumbers. For appetizers, have out a charcuterie board or bruschetta to hold your guests over until the reception and to help take their minds off of the heat.

3. Go with an updo
With Georgia’s heat comes the humidity. On a hot summer day, not only is the humidity going to affect how your hair looks, but having it down can make you feel even hotter than it already is outside. Instead of keeping your hair down, try putting it up in an updo. This will keep extra heat off your face and neck as well as avoiding most of the effects of humidity. In need of some hair inspiration? Check out our post on 5 Summer Wedding Hairstyles!

4. Think about your attire
Another thing to consider is what you’ll be wearing to your own wedding. Ladies, try seeking out a dress that has a lighter, more breathable fabric with fewer layers. To avoid any obvious sweat marks, find a dress with an intricately-designed top that will help hide sweat in photos. Men, swap the vest and heavy material for a simple and lightweight suit.

5. Consider tents or fans for your reception
Like we mentioned earlier, the best way to avoid the heat is to avoid the sun. If you’re set on an having an outdoor wedding, consider adding tents to the reception and ceremony areas to create extra shade and help everyone stay cool. If tents are outside your budget, check with your venue to see if they have fans they can set up instead.

Sidney Ellen Photography

6. Hand out "cool” wedding favors
If you know you want to provide your guests with wedding favors, set out “cool” favors that will help keep your guests happy in the heat. You could set out monogrammed water bottles, travel size sunscreen with your wedding date on them, or even sets of sunglasses with your names  on the sides.

7. Have an emergency wedding kit
To avoid body odor, melting makeup, or any other side effects from the heat, have an emergency wedding day kit packed with deodorant, roll-on perfume, setting spray, and cooling wipes. See if one of your bridesmaids can hold onto the kit for you, or stow it under your chair at the reception. You can fight back against the heat if you’re prepared!

​8. Turn your programs into fans
Take your ceremony programs to the next level by turning them into handheld fans! You can still stick to your wedding vision while working hard to keep your guests from overheating. There are tons of ideas for program fan designs, so you can be sure to find some that fit your wedding theme.

9. Take more indoor photos
When you’re taking photos, try taking the majority of your wedding photos inside. If you’re set on having some pictures taken outside, leave those for last and try to keep them in the shade if possible. You’ll have these photos to remember your big day for the rest of your life and you probably don’t want to look hot and sweaty in all of them!

​We hope these ideas will help you and your guests stay cool even in the Georgia heat. Having your wedding in the summer doesn’t mean you all have to suffer. You can still have a great wedding that your guests will enjoy if you take some of these steps! Do you have other ideas for staying cool? We’d love to hear them! Share them in the comment section below.

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