Spring and Summer are beautiful seasons for weddings, with lush trees, long days, and warm temperatures. If you’ve been a guest at a summer wedding in North Carolina, you know the temperatures can quickly move from comfortably warm to a hot, humid day by the afternoon. After hosting many summer weddings at our indoor and outdoor wedding venue, we’re sharing a list of our favorite ways to help guests keep their cool while celebrating with you at your ceremony and reception!

Shaded Spots & Air-Conditioning: First things first! Consider your wedding ceremony and reception location and how it might feel during warmer months. Aim for shaded areas if you prefer an outdoor ceremony, and air-conditioned spaces are always a plus in July, August and September. At Oakland Farm, we have a covered outdoor ceremony space with fans to ensure guests are comfortable while watching our couples exchange vows. Our Barn is air-conditioned with multiple units, so it’s a great option for not only an indoor reception, but you could also do your ceremony inside! Indoors or outdoors, we can promise your pictures will be beautiful!

Jennifer B. Photography, Vision Events, Jack Hadden Floral

Cameron Thompson Photos, KatieDid Florals

Fan Programs or Menus: During weddings, church services and outdoor gatherings, you’ve probably noticed guests fanning themselves with programs or other DIY fans. You can level up the look of your traditional program or dinner menu by having it designed as a fan. We’ve also had couples who chose to distribute folding fans prior to their ceremony instead of a program. You can find these on Etsy or Zazzle in designs to coordinate with your colors, flowers or theme.

Infused Water Bar or Water Bottles: As the ceremony time nears, you can offer custom water bottles or water stations for guests to grab a glass before they find a seat. An infused water bar is an easy way to make a statement when guests arrive by providing flavored water in a beautiful display. Your favorite people will surely enjoy sipping this cool refreshment while you’re walking down the aisle!

Tiffany L. Johnson Photography, Gigi’s Creations Catering

Ice Cream or Popsicles: One of our sweet 2021 couples greeted guests with their favorite flavors of LocoPops before their ceremony. Popsicles are a yummy way to cool off your summer wedding, and they make for some fun photo ops. We’d even love to see the bar serving popsicles in a bubbly drink! Prefer creamier frozen treats? Vintage Scoops is a fan favorite here at Oakland Farm. Serving Maple View ice cream in your favorite flavors, Vintage Scoops is a great alternative to wedding cake as dessert!

J. Hagan Photography, Vintage Scoops Ice Cream

Cool Cocktail Hour Drinks: As you plan your bar menu, summer is the perfect time for light cocktails after your ceremony. Work with your bartenders to choose cocktails that are refreshing and colorful like a mojito, a fruity margarita, or even a frozen drink! We love seeing personalized cocktails named after things that mean the most to our couples like pets, places they’ve visited or lived, schools they attended, and more!

Seasonal Menu: Similar to choosing your drink menu, when you meet with your caterer, see what options they have for a lighter fare. Appetizers of veggies and fruits, gazpachos or other cool foods would be a great option. For your main course, skip the fried foods and opt for salads, grilled meats and vegetables, or even ice cream for dessert! Rocky Top Catering and Catering Works both have great menus catered to different seasons of the year. We love their ceviches and anything involving bruschetta!

Arika Jordan Photography, Planner: Magnolia Collective Co., Flowers: English Garden Raleigh, Menus: Oakwood Invitations, Rentals: CE Rental, Color Goblets: Greenhouse Picker Sisters

Ceremony Time: Spring and Summer means longer days and more sunlight. This is a photographer’s dream because they don’t have to race the sun getting in all the wedding party, couple, family and detail shots. On the longest days of the year, most of the time you’ll have until as late as 8:00pm for photos. The later sunset also means you can choose a later ceremony time. Instead of having your guests outdoors during the heat of a summer afternoon, your wedding ceremony could begin at 5pm or sometimes after! Before choosing a ceremony time, make sure to meet with your photographer and planner to draft your wedding day timeline!

Arika Jordan Photography, Oakwood Invitations, Magnolia Collective Co.

Light Attire: During these North Carolina summers, you’ll want to choose attire that is airy so you and the wedding party aren’t melting by the end of the day. Look for breathable materials when choosing your wedding gown, bridesmaids attire and groomsmen suits. This goes for hair and makeup as well! An updo will keep hair off your shoulders and your curls will be safe from the humidity. Plus, a professional makeup artist can make sure he/she uses all the tools to sweat-proof your glam look for wedding day!

Summer is also a great excuse to choose seasonal flowers and really lean into color! We love seeing bright bouquets, beautiful cocktails and summery attire at Oakland Farm! Are you getting married in the spring or summer? What are your tips for planning your wedding ceremony and reception during warmer months?

8 Ways to Keep Your Summer Wedding Cool