Surviving Summer Weddings - A Bride's Guide to Beating the Heat
Summer in the South West is a beautiful time of year. Long days, blue skies and beautiful beaches...it's no wonder it's such a popular time to get married. But we all know that the summer heat can bring with it some challenges, and having been photographing weddings for over ten years we have learned a good few tricks to beat the heat and make sure couples can enjoy the Big Day they've always dreamed of, with the perfect pictures to boot.So here, for all you lucky Summer brides, we have put together our top ten tips for surviving summer weddings and ensuring you have your perfect day.
1. Find the Shade
We all love an outdoor ceremony, but standing in the full sun for up to an hour while you say your "I Do's" and greet your guests can be a recipe for disaster. Guests will be too busy melting to really focus on the special moments, and brides with lily white complexions (like us) could quickly change from snow white beauty to Larry lobster, which is never a good look! A simple fix is to simply find some shade. For garden ceremonies trees provide beautiful natural shade and a great backdrop, so make the most of them. If you're having a beach ceremony then consider hiring a marquee or some pretty market umbrellas to protect everyone from the sun - you can even jazz them up with lots of white flowing fabric to create a gorgeous romantic setting for your Big Day. Whatever you do just make sure you're all fully in the shade and not half in and half out - trust us, your guests will thank you for it and your photos will look much better too!
2. Look after your Guests
So you have invited all your closest friends and family to come and share your special day with you, and they of course are excited to be there. Look after your guests so that everyone enjoys the day and looks back on your wedding as the awesome celebration it is. Choose bonbonnieres that help your guests stay cool and give them out at the start of the day. Personalised water bottles look super cute and pretty fans, parasols or beach shoes can also be a great idea.
3. Slip, Slap, Slop!
It seems like a no-brainer, but in all the excitement of getting ready and becoming a Princess for your Big Day it's easy to forget the sunscreen. You'll be in and out of the sun all day, so before you get your hair and make up done remember to apply a liberal layer of high sun protection. As talented as we are at Photoshopping, editing the skin colour of a bright red bride is not the easiest task!
4. Don't let things Slide
Summer heat is not the greatest friend of carefully tousled hair and gorgeous makeup. Of course you want to look perfect all day for your Wedding, so keep plenty of tools on hand to stop everything from sliding. Spray mist is a great way to keep yourself cool without wiping off your make up, and blotting paper and powder are also helpful. Choose a talented, experienced hair and makeup artist who can help you choose the right style and look for the time of year, and put your Maid of Honour in charge of looking after an emergency touch up kit for you on the day, so that you can stay looking perfect all day.
5. Dress For the Occasion
We all love the idea of being a Princess for the Day, but that doesn't necessarily mean we need to wrap ourselves in layers and layers of heavy satin and taffeta. When it's hot, you need to dress to stay cool. Flowing fabrics and lace look beautiful in Summer, and you could even consider going short and cute. Don't force your fella into wearing a waistcoat or even a jacket. Make sure you choose outfits that you will be comfortable wearing all day in the heat, and don't be afraid to think outside the box!
