Bride’s Guide: Helping Guests Beat the Heat

By Oscar Collins

With a summer wedding, you won’t have to worry about a blizzard interfering with your big day. But you do need to deal with temperature extremes, especially if you plan an outdoor affair.

Here’s your guide to helping guests beat the heat and stay comfortably cool at your event.

1. Choose the Right Venue

You can eliminate heat-related illness by hosting an indoor event, but doing so doesn’t let you take full advantage of the season’s beauty. To enjoy the best of both worlds, choose a venue that offers a blend of shelter and open air.

If you’re saving money by hosting a backyard affair, consider opening part of your home to protect guests from heat extremes. A well-insulated garage door regulates your indoor air temperature, saving you money on cooling. 

2. Take Advantage of the Day’s Cooler Hours

If you plan an outdoor wedding and reception in August in Phoenix, AZ, it’s probably not wise to choose high noon as your starting point. The sun will be at its zenith, giving you little opportunity to seek shade, and temperatures will continue to climb until evening.

Therefore, you might do better with an evening soiree instead of a matinee performance. Once the sun goes down, your guests can enjoy dancing at your reception without dripping all over their partners.

3. Provide Plenty of Hydration

According to traditional wisdom, people need at least 64 ounces of water — or eight 8-ounce glasses — each day. However, that figure can go as high as 100 ounces during the hot summer months, depending on age, weight and activity level.

Plus, please remember that alcohol accelerates dehydration. To protect your guests’ health, have plenty of bottled water on hand. Here’s one area where it’s acceptable to go a bit overboard — it’s not like someone won’t eventually drink all those bottles.

4. Know How to Address Heat-Related Emergencies

Finally, learn first aid for heat-related illnesses if one of your guests requires assistance during your event. Your intervention could help save a life.

The signs of heat exhaustion include the following:

• Heavy sweating
• Pale, clammy skin
• Fast, weak pulse
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache
• Tiredness or weakness
• Dizziness or fainting

If you notice these symptoms in your guests, please immediately move them to a cool, shady location. Loosen their clothes and apply cool rags to their skin. Contact emergency services if their condition worsens, they begin vomiting or lose consciousness.

Brides, Help Your Guests Beat the Heat With These Tips

Summer weddings offer the season’s bounty, but they don’t keep you safe from extreme temperatures. Help your guests beat the heat with the above tips.