Getting Married in The Summer? Here Are a Few Things You Need To Know

According to 2014 Wedding Bells Reader Survey, 65% of weddings that year occurred between the months of June to September. Which, as we all know, is our summer time in Canada. Makes perfect sense as the weather is a little bit more predictable than it is the rest of the year.

So if you’re planning on getting married in the summer, here are a few practical things you need to consider:

1. Choose a lightweight, breathable material for the groom and his groomsmen.

I’m not the expert on what fabric is more breathable than the other, but as a wedding photographer, this is what I know for sure. It’s going to be hard to get men to cooperate to take portraits if they’re wearing suits that are hot and uncomfortable. They will all turn into toddlers. And even if we do manage to coral them into place, sweaty ain’t sexy. So please, be kind to your future spouse and his friends. Consult with the suit/tux rental company to make sure that they will wear something appropriate for the summer heat.

2. Hire a professional florist.

Unless you’re also a trained florist, wedding flowers shouldn’t be in your DIY list especially if you’re getting married in the summer. Professional florists know which flowers to choose and how to prep them properly so your bouquets last throughout the day. Wilted bouquets are not the prettiest things to look at in my humble opinion.

3. Bring along bug sprays.

One of the reasons couples choose to get married in the summer is because they would like to take photos outside. The only downside to that are the bugs that could bite you. Bring bug spray to your emergency kit just in case your wedding party becomes attacked by mosquitoes and other bugs nearby.

4. Pack blotting paper in your purse for makeup touch-ups. 

If it’s hot and if you have normal-oily skin, you’ll most likely have an oily T-zone at some point during the day. Aside for the excess oil making your face feel greasy, it also looks bad in photos particularly later at the reception when flash lighting is involved. Light reflects on shiny surfaces, so any shine you may have on your face will exponentially be exaggerated with flash. That’s when oil blotting papers come in handy. The best blotting paper I have used so far is the one by Shiseido’s. It’s relatively expensive but it works and it doesn’t leave any blue residue like other brands from drugstores.

5. Consider having some portraits done during The Golden Hour.

Photographers refer to the hour after sunrise and before sunset as The Golden Hour because of how soft, and golden the light from the sun looks. If the sun’s out, this is the best time to take portraits outdoors. In the summer, sunset doesn’t usually take place until around 8pm, which is when the reception usually takes place. I do however encourage to set 15 minutes around that time to come out and get a few portraits done.

Hope you’ve found this short article helpful! Please let me know what you think in the comment section below and also feel free to Share this on social media!