Hot Weather Cool Tricks

Wedding planner Clare Ebbs is here again to share some of top tips.. 
Soaring temperatures
Bursts of sunshine might look beautiful, but it can get uncomfortably hot and oppressive for guests.
What to do? Change the formal dress code to summer – smart instead.  Have plenty of water on hand and hire outdoor gazebos so guests have sun shelter.  Avoid sunburn with a lacy parasol.
Wilting flowers
Blooms will have been cut and styled in the morning, so by the time you sit down for the afternoon meal,  they may look tired and lank.
What to do?  If you can, keep the bouquets and buttonholes in the fridge for as long as possible.  Delegate a bridesmaid to ask the bar staff to spritz the table centres with cold water using a simple plastic spray bottle, and add ice cube to the water.  Stand the bouquets in jugs of iced water, too.
Flight strike
Typical, isn’t it, you’ve planned your big day and the airlines all strike
What to do?  The priority is close family.  If anyone is stranded without access to the internet, do everything in your power to book them onto another plane.  If they simply can’t make it, organise a live video stream and arrange a special post-wedding trip to see them after your honeymoon with an exclusive ‘first preview’ of your wedding photos.
White tan lines with your strapless dress
Even the pristine A-list bride Megan Fox committed this slip-up on her big day.  Catching a natural shimmer glow in the garden is fine, but doing so wearing anything than a strapless isn’t!
What to do? Prevent tan lines with clever suntan lotion, like Ultrasun’s once a day formulas.  If it’s too late, enlist a bridesmaid for some DIY tan stencilling: surround the white stripes with masking tape and spray with a self-tan mist to even out the colour.
Melting cake mess
Professional cakes can handle the heat but homemade icing may suffer in the soaring sun, meaning things could get messy come cutting time.
What to do? On the wedding morning, contact your caterer and ask if they can spare some space in their fridge so that the cakes can be stored there before the ceremony.  Classic fondant icing is less vulnerable to heat and humidity, whereas butter cream icing melts easily.
Freak rain shows
The inevitable truth is that it could rain and monsoon style downpour needs a clever contingency plan.
What to do?  Arrange space inside your reception venue where guests can gather (even if it doesn’t rain, it’s good to have an indoor option).  Ensure that the flooring is waterproof so rain doesn’t seep through.  Have an over the head dome umbrella on standby to protect you from home to ceremony to reception.
Sweating and overheating
Brides are always worried about being hot and their makeup sliding off.  Help is at hand!
What to do?  The key is to lower your blood pressure and body temperature,  while your hair is in rollers, have a cold-ish bath with a splash of refreshing cologne to tone your skin.  Keep a hand held fan with you during your makeup application and wave a white lace fan throughout the wedding to take the edge off the heat.
Bugs life
Evening lanterns, bright flowers and foodie smells are like gold dust to insects.  But swatting them off with your bouquet is not the look to aim for!
What to do?  Place a few citronella-scented candles on your dinner tables to ward off the pests.  Areas near standing water, like ponds or lakes, will attract more insects, so decorate the outdoor space with big citronella torches.
Hot and bothered maids
It’s probably not a good idea to dress your bridesmaids in crimson red velvet during a hot summer wedding.  You wouldn’t want them to pass out walking down the aisle.
What to do?  if you’re set on dark colours, try incorporating them into more summery outfits using small accents, such as a skinny belt, a hair corsage or shoes, while keeping the main dress light in colour and not too tight or heavy.
Squinting in the sunshine
Even if it’s not sunny, a bright white cloud sky can make you squint and frown – not great for the photos.
What to do?  Give your photographer a heads-up and ask them to find a backup area in the shade for your portraits.  Ask a bridesmaid to hold onto a pair of sunglasses for you to slip on when you’re outside talking to guests and reportage photos are taken.
Big thanks Clare 🙂 xx