A summer wedding is exciting, no matter when it is - be it in June, July, August, or even late September. When you have a summer wedding it allows you the ability to imbue your ceremony with fun themes. On most summer days you’ll be able to capitalize on sunshine and good weather. You could plan your location at a beach or park and incorporate time-honored summer festivities. In our experience, it's why most couples tend to have ceremonies and get married during the summertime.

Since so many of our ordained ministers find themselves performing summer weddings. You’ll want to make sure that your officiant or you yourself have completed the ordination process and received any credentials needed to perform the ceremony. If you haven’t considered a summer wedding, we offer you the following ideas that we think will assist with the warmer weather.

Since not every couple has a wedding planner, we thought we would also share ideas for your ceremonies, appetizers, décor, libations, and refreshments.

Keeping in theme, seasonal décor is a must-have when curating your event. However, one factor to not overlook is your guests' comfort. We have included ideas that can help your family and friends stave off the heat. From décor to a little practical advice, our Summer Wedding Themes has great information for you to consider.

If you’re looking to plan your summer wedding, feel free to get inspired by any of the ideas below. 

Table Fans:

If your ceremony will take place in an outdoor area without shade, you'll need to find another way to help your guests beat the heat.

Stylish Sunglasses:

You can find hundreds of different varieties of sunglasses if you want to go funky, classic, modern, or retro. A few pairs of vanity shades on the table can add fun style to your theme!

Fan Placement Settings:

Depending on your region, summer weddings can get hot! You can incorporate paper or hand fans as décor on your tables to dual serve you and your guests. If it gets hot they can simply use one of the fans on the table to help cool down. You could choose custom printed ones with the couples' names, the ceremony date, or other information for your special day. This can also serve as a personalized commemorative gift. 

Light Colored or Non-Matching Dresses:

While not a décor, if your in-season colors are pink-and-white you can incorporate pastel-colored bridesmaid gowns. It’s easy to mix and match different color shades to keep your theme and color palette visually appealing. You can also match bouquets! Lighter colors will help keep you cooler on a hot summer day! The lighter colors help reflect the sun’s rays. Consider beige and sand, almond and clay, or russet and sepia gowns for your bridal party. Just know that the more thoughtful the attire the more comfort you can provide for your party on a hot day.

Welcome Gifts, Bites & Drinks:

You can always welcome your guests to your wedding by providing summer-themed gifts and seasonal drinks. Consider iced or blended fruit-based beverages, snowcones/snowballs, shaved iced, or frozen pops could also be fun to offer. Your attendees will thank you for the welcome goodies!

Hors d'oeuvres & Libations:

Another fun option for summer events is incorporating fruits into your décor, they add flavor and pops of color wherever you decide to have them. During those hot summer days, fresh or frozen fruits can help add a little extra refreshment for your guests.

Infused Water Station:

Water is the spice of life, during those hot summer days, it’s also a necessity. That doesn’t mean that you need to just serve plain water. Adding sliced cucumber and sprigs of mint will elevate your water stations to the next level. You can also try citrus fruits, such as blood orange, grapefruit, and pineapple. Some great water-infused combinations are strawberry and sage for a sweet earthy taste, or lavender and rosemary for a sophisticated herbal flavor, or blackberry and basil for a fresh fruity style. 

Cocktails:

During those hot summer days, lighter libations will add an extra flair to your event and cocktail hour! You can try doing rose wine with floating petals. For extra hot days, you might want to opt for frozen daiquiris or margaritas! Get creative and think outside the box to create unique and tasty options for your guests to enjoy.

Watermelon:

Sliced and speared watermelon on sticks is a great treat for your guests and also hydrating! You might even want to freeze it to add a little more of a cooling effect. Try watermelon cubes for a quick easy bite.

Oranges:

Freshly sliced and drizzled with sugar or cinnamon, orange slices add spice and color to your appetizer table. Most local stores will have a few different varieties of oranges to choose from, you can select navel, mandarin, or blood orange. Consider dehydrated sugared slices for another option.

Apples:

Fresh apples are a delicious treat for summer weddings, a clean and crisp crunch from a gala, or even the tart punch from a granny smith apple. As a tip, you can mist vinegar on the slices to help keep them from rusting (aka turning brown).

Strawberries:

Everyone loves strawberries! A platter of fresh trimmed strawberries is always a crowd-pleaser. You can even kick it up a notch by adding in a chocolate fountain next to the platter for extra decadence. 

Kumquats:

A sweet citrus fruit often neglected is the kumquat. You can create a nice display with these tart and tiny fruits. They can be eaten whole with little to no prepping, just a little wash and display!

Fruit Platters:

Mix fresh and dried summer fruits, crackers, nuts, jams, and other delectables to create centerpieces for your tables or for tray passing. This is a great way to infuse the colors, flavors, and beauty of our summertime favorites.

Dessert Table:

Have some fun creating a beautifully decorated table for all your summertime treats and sweets to delight your guests! Choose a palette and displays to match. Include flowers for pops of color and decor to stylize the setting. 

Popsicles:

Fruits and fun cocktails aren't the only summer drinks. You can bring some of that childhood flair and fun-ness by serving popsicles. It’s easy to make homemade popsicles. There are fast molds you can use or you can even just freeze a mixture of sugar water, and fruit juices as ice cubes. Consider adding real fruit for extra delight. If you are using sticks you can have custom messages printed or written on the popsicle sticks. The sky’s the limit!

Ice Cream:

A no-brainer for your summer wedding event is ice cream. You could incorporate your wedding cake with a form of ice cream. Sherbets are a great non-dairy option for guests. Ice cream, as it's not only tasty but will also help beat some of the summer heat.

We hope these ideas inspire you and help you to create a most memorable and fun summer wedding!