10 Steps to the Perfect Summer Wedding

1. Summery Bridal Bouquet


Whether you go with a muted color palette or a vibrant arrangement, we recommend using seasonal blooms accented with lush greenery for a summer wedding bouquet. This bride, who said “I do” overlooking the ocean, carried an elegant collection of garden roses, quicksand roses, and café au lait dahlias in soft, muted hues.


2. Beach Wedding Dress

If you’re getting married on the beach or near the ocean, an elegant gown with flowing fabric that keeps you cool and flows gracefully in the wind is a must. This gorgeous wedding dress from Pronovias US is the perfect casual beach wedding gown. The blush tone will blend beautifully with the sunset and sand, and we love the floral placements, summery spaghetti straps, and open leg slit.


3. Open-Toe Wedding Shoes

If you’re exchanging vows on the beach, you may choose to go barefoot or wear sandals; however, any other venue will likely require shoes. To ensure you’re comfortable and avoid feeling overheated, wear a pair of stunning open-toe wedding heels with ankle straps to stay both cool and chic.


Photo by Rene Zadori Photography; Floral & Event Design by Eddie Zaratsian Lifestyle and Design; From Real Wedding: Opulent Wedding with Classic Winter-White Color Scheme

You’ll most likely be wearing a shade of white, but we also recommend having your bridesmaids wear bridesmaid dresses in lighter tones to ensure they’re not too warm. If you’ll be having an alfresco ceremony, choose soft blush or pastel hues of your favorite colors in lieu of a darker color such as navy or black.

5. Hydration Station

Especially ideal for outdoor wedding ceremonies and receptions, it will be much appreciated by your loved ones if you offer them ice water, iced tea, lemonade, and other beverages that are sure to cool them down no matter how hot the day. For an elevated display, infuse water with your favorite fruits and herbs.


6. Shade for Outdoor Events

Should you be hosting an alfresco celebration, it’s important that you provide shade at a summer wedding. From natural shade provided by trees to flowing drapery suspended from pergolas, just make sure to have some parts of the space – even if it’s just a lounge area – where guests can go to take a break from the sun.

7. Iced & Frozen Drinks

The cocktail hour and reception will be made much more comfortable with ice-cold cocktails and frozen drinks – some couples even choose to have martinis served from an ice luge sculpted with their monogram. For the below summer wedding, the entire color palette was inspired by the bride’s love of rosé wine, so guests were kept cool with frozen rosé cocktails throughout the alfresco dinner service.


8. Light Hors d’Oeuvres

We find that bite-sized appetizers ideal for summer entertaining work best for weddings as well – nothing too hot and nothing too cold that it won’t stay chilled throughout cocktail hour. Lightly toasted crostinis, like those pictured below, can be wonderful options – just top with your favorite spread as well as fresh fruit, heirloom tomatoes, meats, and more.

9. Bright, Cheery Centerpieces

Summer weddings offer a wonderful opportunity to have fun with color! This destination wedding event in Hawaii, for example, featured centerpieces with coral shells surrounded by anthuriums, orchids, peonies, and ginger in shades of pink and coral – plus a sprinkling of sea shells (an added bonus for tropical fêtes).

10. Ice Cream Desserts & Favors

Bring a sense of nostalgia to your summer wedding with a dessert guests of all ages will love: ice cream! We’ve seen couples have sundae stations with multiple flavors for attendees to choose from, unique nitrogen ice cream carts that provide an entertainment factor, and even take-home cartons of the newlyweds’ favorite ice cream as favors.

For more wedding ideas, discover expert wedding tips and trends from the nation's top event professionals, get ideas on how to make your life easier while wedding planning, and gather must-have advice for a destination wedding.