With summer around the corner, soon-to-be married couples are more likely to confront the obstacles created by extreme heat. Brides magazine advises communicating directly with both planners and caterers to ensure heat can be effectively managed. This interim measure will help ensure that guests are comfortable during hot summer ceremonies. This change is emblematic of a larger trend as pairs of lovers look for venues and ways to wrap their nuptial fights against warming.
Christina Elsass, co-owner and venue manager of Mojave East, said couples are increasingly worried about the heat. Increasingly, the feedback we sort of receive is, “I don’t want to sweat, I don’t want to die on my wedding day,” she said. To fulfill this demand, Elsass has developed a colorful and welcoming interior environment. Instead, it feels like a wonderful place to be—the primary, rather than the second choice. She emphasized the importance of aesthetics alongside comfort, stating, “Because we’ve been intentional about how we run the indoor ceremony, it doesn’t feel like an afterthought.”
The shifting desires of couples are most poignant when looking at what days they’re getting married and where they’re holding ceremonies. And millions are moving to places that are well-equipped for extreme heat. Some, meanwhile, are pushing their in-person ceremonies to months before or after June. Weddings in peak-demand months of October and November are currently hot on their heels! At the same time, the traditionally peak seasons of May, June and September are in a downturn. Elsass noticed the impacts this year’s extreme climate has had on weather patterns noticeably during September. That trend carried even into October.
This year, Jones and McDonald opened with the challenge of an 84-degree Fahrenheit (about 29 degrees Celsius) wedding day forecast. At the time, they saw the sunny spell simply as a blessing. To get away from the blistering afternoon sun, they moved their “first look” photos to a covered patio. They made this move in preparation for the heat. Jones reflected on the day’s potential challenges: “It could be a hundred degrees, you know, with humidity.” She communicated a strong desire to help them get the most out of their unique situation.
“I think we’re both believers in what happens, you make the best of it.” – Jones
Last June, Rylee Kennedy experienced a major alteration to her plans, only hours before marrying her intended. All of this occurred during an extreme, record-breaking heat wave in Pennsylvania. She emphasized the importance of flexibility amid unpredictable weather conditions: “With weather just being so unpredictable now, you really have to make sure that if you do have to switch gears, you’re not going to have a wedding that isn’t part of your vision or didn’t align with what you wanted it to be,” Kennedy said.
Wedding planner Grace Mattingly is another person to take the initiative on talking heat safety with her clients. She offers couples strategies for how to account for guests’ comfort during outdoor ceremonies. Strategies like providing shade with tents or umbrellas or moving activities inside can have a big impact on guest comfort.
The legacy of climate magic is more than just hotter temperatures. Here’s how one couple in the Philippines met and overcame an unforeseen July challenge. They made their vows through flooded aisles, caused by the flooding from Typhoon Wipha and monsoon rains. These occurrences remind us of the capriciousness of climate during wedding seasons all over the globe.
Jones and McDonald’s guests definitely experienced the impacts of oppressive summer heat too. Immediately after their ceremony, nearly every one of their guests scurried inside for the cocktail hour to take advantage of the AC! This trend is becoming increasingly common as couples prioritize guest comfort alongside their own visions for their special day.
Brides magazine has some practical advice for brides who want to escape the oppressive heat. Their top advice is to experiment with various hair styles. Opt for an updo rather than loose hair that could droop in the sun! In addition, shorter dress lengths for bridal parties are gaining traction as couples seek to have their bridesmaids beat the heat.
