Photo: Brian Dorsey Studios
Are you planning to be a June, July or August bride? If so, you’re in good company. But even though summer is the most popular season to get married, it can come with a unique set of challenges for brides who are planning a wedding in a major city, such as New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston… the list goes on. So here are six expert-approved tips for all you summer brides planning a wedding inside a big, bustling city.
There will be a lot of tourists.
Summer is when most people go on vacation, so when you’re thinking about places for your engagement and wedding party photos, keep in mind that if you’re planning to take pictures by any popular city landmark, there’s a good chance that there will be significantly more foot traffic than there would be during the off-season.
Wear a light dress.
Have you always dreamed of wearing an ornate gown with lots of details? If so, you should probably plan your wedding during a different time of year. If you’re getting married in the city in the heart of the summer (and especially if you’re having an outdoor ceremony), it’s in your best interest to wear a dress that’s made of lighter material, so you can breathe and not get overheated during the ceremony and the reception. However, if your heart is set on a heavy gown, go for it — but at least choose bridesmaids dresses made of a more lightweight fabric for your BFFs!
Book your venue as far in advance as possible.
If you’ve got a dream venue and you want to get married in the summer, chances are there are probably many other city brides who have the same idea as you. If you already know where you want to host your wedding, don’t procrastinate; get that contract locked down. However, in the event that you can’t commit right away and must hold off on making a final decision, make sure to have at least a few back up venues in mind.
See More: The 3 Things to Avoid When Planning a Summer Wedding
Avoid coinciding with big events.
There are a lot of things going on in bustling cities — whether it be New York, Chicago, or any other location — in the summer, which means that there will be a lot more people around and road closings, not to mention many more people in area hotels, which can make it tricky for your out of town guests to find a room, even if you’ve blocked out rooms in advance. Plan your big day around these big events and you should be golden!
And finally, stay hydrated!
This might seem like an obvious tip for the summer, but it’s an easy one to forget when you’re distracted by all the other details and elements of your wedding weekend. Summers in a city are no joke, and it can get hot with all the buildings and concrete. Even though you’ll be busy with everything that’s going on, definitely make sure that you drink as much water as possible so you don’t get light headed or dizzy! This is your big day and the last thing you want is to feel sick.