summer wedding

Dec

10

Summer Ceremonies

Summer can be a lovely time of year for a ceremony – long warm days, balmy twilights, lush green gardens and a holiday feel. However, in many parts of Australia summer can also be hot and insect ridden! The beginning of 2020 also reminded us of the threat of bushfire and smoke. Celebrant Mel Lawson from Oberon, NSW takes us through some ideas on how to have a fabulous summer ceremony.

Mel Lawson

Ceremonies and Celebrations

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Dec

02

Surviving an Australian Summer

Australia is a pretty big place - 7.692 million km² to be exact. We cross 25 degrees of longitude and 35 degrees of latitude as well as three timezones - so we're spread pretty wide - which means that we have a number of different climates.

In our south and mountainous areas, it can get super chilly in the winter, whereas in our north the same months see temperatures around the 30s. In the summer months, all over the country can see dehydratingly high temperatures, whilst the far north experiences tropical monsoonal rains.

In more recent years we've noticed that the hotter months seem to be happening a bit later and typically dry times of the year are seeing lots of rain - which means that we can no longer plan our ceremonies with any certainty that we're going to get what we hoped for.

Just this week - a December weekend in Victoria - historically a dry time of the year, has seen devastating rain and flash flooding - possibly not what most people thought would happen when they planned their ceremony 12-18 months ago.

Here are some ideas to help you survive a summer ceremony in Australia
(and strangely enough, they won't all be about the sun!)

1. Provide shelter.
Most adult guests will be able to make up their own mind as to what to wear to your ceremony - however, not everyone will want to put a hat on over their new 'do' and carrying an umbrella might be a hindrance - so to make sure your guests are comfortable from the time that they arrive and are waiting for you to arrive all the way through to when they can head to your reception - offer shelter. It might be an inside ceremony, under a marquee, umbrellas, hats, sunnies or even hiring palm leaf swishers. Offering shelter will be much appreciated..... nobody wants to sit in the sun sweating or indeed stand in the rain, especially if they've made an effort to look fabulous for your special day.

2. Offer refreshments
Iced mint water, a lemonade stand, mimosas.... it will be very much appreciated.

3. Have a Plan B
Even if you don't to use it, it's peace of mind to have it at the ready should the meteorologists deliver unwanted news on the weekend of your ceremony. A big percentage of couples state, "It's going to be a beautiful day. We won't need a Plan B." To those couples, I say, "Please listen to your celebrant/wedding planner/friends/venue manager when we suggest to you that you need to have a Plan B." We promise not to say "I told you so" when the sky opens up.

4. Consider how far you are asking your guests to walk
Your dream ceremony location may not suit the guests you've invited. Can Nana walk all that way down the sand dune? Do you think Pop can climb up the side of that mountain? Will the people wearing high heels appreciate having to walk across that field? Does anybody want to walk 2kms in the heat/rain?

5. Consider the time of day
The majority of ceremonies are held in the afternoon and this is understandable - people want to use the morning to get ready or travel and they'd like their ceremony to flow straight into their evening reception, whilst taking advantage of dusk for great photo light..... but you don't have to do it this way - consider making your ceremony later in the day when it's cooler, just before the sun goes down... great light, cooler, happier guests.

5. Offer your guests sunscreen & mozzie repellent
..... and burn some citronella or spray some essential oil magic to keep the bugs away.

6. Wear appropriate outfits
If you have had your heart set on a large, puffy, lots of material wedding dress, and 3 piece suits.... then perhaps the beach isn't the ideal setting for you. Sand is not designed to be walked on in shoes (especially heels) and heavy, layered outfits are not designed to be worn in the blazing sun. Always think "Comfort! Comfort! Comfort!" This goes for your guests as well - set an appropriate dress code for your guests so they know it's ok to kick off the heels for the ceremony.

7. Check the weather
There are a number of Apps where you can easily check the weather the week before giving you plenty of time to be prepared. Willy Weather gives you information on the temperature, rainfall, wind, sunrise/sunset, UV index and tides - all essential things to know about when planning an outdoor (beach) ceremony.

8. Know the weather in your area
Being able to check the weather is great, but having a bit of knowledge about the weather (especially the wind) in your area can be crucial to the planning process. And if you're holding your ceremony in a different location from where you live - ask your celebrant - they'll know.

Studies have shown that the ideal temperature for people to be able to focus and take in what is being said is 22 degrees, so if you want your guests to be mentally present at your ceremony, then strive for the ideal climate, anyway you can.

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Jun

29

Should we get Married in Summer or Winter?

Should we get Married in Summer or Winter?

Summer Weddings versus Winter weddings

When and where to hold your wedding are probably two of the biggest choices you will make and they go hand in hand.

Do you want a balmy summer day so that you can get married outdoors?

or

Do you prefer a cosy intimate celebration centred around a roaring fire?

In Australia the majority of weddings take place in Spring and Summer with only 5% of marriages taking place in June and July.

Screen Shot 2017-06-29 at 12.08.43 am.png

Screen Shot 2017-06-29 at 12.08.43 am.png

However both have their positives and negatives so let's look at some of the factors that may influence your decision:

Weather:
How do you picture your dream wedding... exchanging vows with a beautiful sunset in the background or a roaring fire? Points to consider about the weather:

* In summer you need to plan for excessive weather changes such as rain or extreme heat.
* In winter you know it is going to be cold so you and your guests can dress accordingly.

* In summer you may have daylight saving so longer hours to enjoy the sunshine.

* In winter the shorter days may dictate the time of your wedding.

The Wedding Dress:
How have you pictured your wedding dress… sleeveless, backless, light and summery, long sleeved? Although the time of year may not influence your choice of wedding dress you will need to consider some extras for a winter wedding such a shawl or jacket and it is not always easy getting it to match your dream wedding dress. And don’t forget your bridesmaids who will feel the cold a lot more than you as they don’t have the same amount of adrenalin to keep them warm, so will need extra clothes. The amount of clothing is much less for a summer wedding.

Screen Shot 2017-06-29 at 12.10.31 am.png

Screen Shot 2017-06-29 at 12.10.31 am.png

How Quickly do you want to get Married?:
How quickly you want to get married after your engagement may determine the season in which you marry.

* It is far easier to book many of the wedding vendors at short notice in winter. Popular venues and photographers are booked well in advance for a summer wedding. There is greater availability and choice in winter.

* It is often cheaper to book popular vendors in winter because prices become negotiable as they are less busy. In summer you may need to pay a premium for the more popular vendors.

Screen Shot 2017-06-29 at 12.10.53 am.png

Screen Shot 2017-06-29 at 12.10.53 am.png

Flowers:
Do you want your favourite flowers for your bouquet? Flowers are seasonal so the prices will vary a lot depending whether they are in season or need to be imported. If you are happy to use only seasonal flowers you have a greater choice in summer than in winter.

Screen Shot 2017-06-29 at 12.11.10 am.png

Screen Shot 2017-06-29 at 12.11.10 am.png

Practicalities:
Practicalities include all the extra little things that need to be considered for a wedding.

* In summer that would include providing shade for your guests for the ceremony, lots of cool drinks, umbrellas on hand for sun or rain and an indoor alternative venue for rain or sun.

* In winter that would include hats, gloves, shawls, warm drinks and an outdoor alternative if its a nice sunny winter day.

Whether you choose summer or winter there will always be a TCN Celebrant free to perform your ceremony so contact your local TCN Celebrant now.

???
Thank you for joining us....
?? We would love it if you would let us know what you think ?.
There is a comment section ? at the bottom ⬇ of the blog for you to do just that.
?Click on the word "Comment" and go for it!
? Don't forget to subscribe ? to this blog - the "subscribe" button is up the top of the page ⇞⇞⇞ and the blog will magically ?? appear in your email inbox ?.
Also please feel free to share ? our blog on your social media ? so we can spread the love ?!
Please use this ? link: https://www.celebrations.org.au/blog when you share. ?

Find us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter

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The Celebrants Network Inc - BLOG

Summer Ceremonies

Surviving an Australian Summer

Should we get Married in Summer or Winter?