How hot is too hot for an outdoor wedding?

Question

We're getting married in two weeks, and I'm starting to get concerned about the weather (Dallas area). It's looking like it's going to have a high near 90-93, if the current trend continues. The ceremony is outdoors, at about 3:30 in the afternoon. The reception hall is adjacent to the ceremony site, so people can wait inside in the A/C until it's time for the ceremony, and the ceremony should only be about half an hour. Does anyone have any recommendations on ways to help keep folks cool outside? Or should we move it indoors? We don't have any really "elderly" guests, and while there is a 2-year old, we don't have any infants, but I just don't want folks being miserable. =/

I should probably have added that there are lots of fully-leafed oak trees surrounding the site, so there will be ample shade for everyone...

Answer 1

Having lived in Dallas for the majority of my life 90 - 93 is hot, but as you know, what you really need to be concerned with especially that late in September is the humidity. That late in the month there should be a cool fall breeze blowing, but the humidity could still be stifling. My son and DIL had their wedding in June, in Wylie, at 4 p.m. on what was the hottest day of the month it was, if I remember correctly about 95 degrees at the time of the wedding, even though the temp was high there was a breeze blowing that kept everyone cool during the wedding. The only people suffering from the heat, was the wedding party unfortunately.

All that being said, I think you may be alright with the temps on that day, especially if you can speak to your officiant and find out for sure EXACTLY how long the service is going to last. He might surprise you with a 15 minutes service.

I would check at Sam Moon's at I-35 & I-635 to see if you can pick up some folding fans to place on the chairs for the guest as a way to create a little more of a breeze for themselves than what Mother Nature might/might not provide.

If you still feel worried, you can always implement your Rain contingency plan.

Best of Luck and Congratulations.

Answer 2

You can have a beautiful ceremony and it will last only 15 minutes. Talk to your Officiant, do a rehearsal the day before.

What some people do is set up ice blocks with fans so the guests stay cool. You have to keep in mind even though the high is 90-93 the heat index (which is awful) can get even higher.

Best of luck!

Answer 3

I do 50-75 weddings a year, and depending on the humidity and shade available during the service it is crazy to have a wedding during the hottest part of the day. I won't even book weddings between 2 and 5pm during our summer months unless it is inside.

At 80 degrees, full sun gets uncomfortable, at 90 it's miserable even in the shade. Move the ceremony inside or you will all be sweating.

Really!

Answer 4

It's way too hot - definitely move it indoors. Not only for your guests but consider that you will be in a tight, stuffy wedding gown with undergarments, gloves and garters, etc. for hours. You'll probably be more miserable than your guests will in that heat. Also, you don't want the hot weather to melt your makeup either. I doubt that you would want to be a sweaty bride. Even if you're not generally a sweaty person, you're going to be in that dress all day long - and the anxiousness and excitement will probably make you even more hot than you usually are. Do everyone a favor, including yourself, and bring it inside. If everyone is comfortable, they will be able to enjoy the affair much more.

Answer 5

I got married outside and it was 96 with a heat index of 101. It was HOT, HUMID, and Sticky, but everyone had a great time. We rented a tent to make sure everyone would be seated in the shade and kept plenty of bottled water iced down in coolers for all the guests (which they greatly appreciated). We also went to Party City ( a local party supply store) and bought small battery operated fans for our elderly guests (we had several)

Nobody complained about the heat and everyone had a great time. We received lots of compliments and many thanks for the thoughtfulness of the bottled water and fans.

Don;t move inside. Ceremonies are not that long. Stick to your plan and ave yor day just the way you dreamed.

Hope this helps :-)

Answer 6

If the reception hall is close enough, get some reeeaaallllly long extension cords & plug in a few fans to have a slight breeze going. I've seen this done before & it helped a lot. OR if anything, see if you can find a bunch of cheap fold-up hand fans at a party supply store somewhere for people to use.

Answer 7

I was in a wedding this summer in Portland Oregon, the temp was over 100. We didnt have the option of moving it indoors and it was misrible. 90-93 in direct sun is really hot. Can you provide hand held/hand powered fans on the seats of guests? Something simple/cheap... Is there any part of the cermony you can live without, cutting the time down? Good luck...

Answer 8

I was in a wedding in July. The temp that day was 107. No breeze, no shade, and the wedding was in the back yard of the mother of the bride. She asked us all to get dressed at her house. This ***** had no air conditioning! I had sweat coming out of pores I didn't know existed.

Be kind to your party. At least, I had on a strapless dress. Imagine how hot the groomsmen were (3 pc suits!)

I don't wish anything bad on you or your day, I just want you to have a worse case scenario to envision.

I don't want the bride passing out. (Like the bride in this wedding did!)

I'm sure your wedding will be wonderful. Just err on the side of caution. Just a thought.....just a thought. Good Luck!

Answer 9

I live in San Antonio. Hot, Hot, Hot. Two weeks huh? Well it could be OK It would be nice if it would be 80 or 85. Anything above that I would move it inside for sure.

Answer 10

we did one for my daughter the end of Aug here in Fl. We rented outdoor ac from Sunbelt and had fans going as well as tents over the tables. Everyone was comfortable. We also encouraged everyone to dress casual for the outdoors.