How to Stay Cool on a Hot Summer Wedding Day

Summer is a popular time to get married. But, you can never predict just how hot it’s going to be on your wedding day. As the big day gets closer and the weather forecast gets more dependable, you may start wondering just how you are going to survive and enjoy the day in 100+ degree weather.

Let’s face it. Wedding dresses and tuxedos aren’t the best clothing options for extremely warm temperatures. There are a few ways to make the most of it and keep yourself as comfortable as possible.

1. Stay hyrdated! I think this is probably the most important tip of all. Dehydration in extreme heat can be dangerous. Appoint a couple of people to pack large coolers of water bottles with a lot of ice. You’ll want to make sure these are handy at all times, so put those coolers in the party bus or whatever transportation the bride, groom and wedding party will be in.
2. Bring cooling towels or wet washcloths. There are several cooling towels on the market these days. While I haven’t used them personally, I have heard they do help. What I do instead is wet a few washcloths, place them in a ziploc bag and throw them in my cooler. They stay cold and are a huge help in keeping you cooled off when you need it most. We like to pack these when we go to the fair, amusement parks, zoo and anywhere else we will be outside for long periods of time in the heat.
3. Ice packs. This is a tip I learned from a former bride. She was having an outdoor wedding in the heat of the summer and had a huge dress with many layers. She tied flexible ice packs to her legs under her dress. She said it kept her cool throughout the entire ceremony. It might sound silly, but if it works, it sure beats getting heat stroke or passing out during the wedding.
4. No alcohol. Hold off on drinking any alcohol until you are inside the air conditioning at the reception! You will dehydrate much faster if you are drinking alcohol instead of water.
5. Guys–bring an extra undershirt! I feel terrible for the guys wearing tuxedos on hot wedding days! If you are outside doing pictures before the ceremony, bring along an extra undershirt to change into before the ceremony. You’ll feel much more refreshed, and probably smell better too.
6. Girls–biker shorts. You are going to sweat, a lot. Wearing biker shorts under your dress will help keep you from chafing and make things a bit more comfortable under that dress.
7. Peppermint oil. This essential oil is a natural coolant. You can simply dap it on your pulse points to cool off, or I would suggest making a cooling spray by adding a few drops of peppermint oil to water in a spray bottle. You can mist your skin whenever you feel hot and get a nice cool blast.

Hopefully if your wedding day is going to be in the triple digits, these few tips will help you manage the time you have to be outside. Next week, we will talk about ways to help your guests stay comfortable at your outdoor summer wedding.

For more wedding planning tips and tricks, check out the “for brides” section below.