Keep guests cool during June ceremony

lcoonuts0116

Hi-
I'd like to know if anyone has any ideas to share for keeping guests cool and at least partially shaded from the sun on my June 5th wedding. The ceremony is outside, the bridal party will be standing on brick and the guests will be seated in chairs on grass. We are not allowed to stick anything into the ground, and my original idea was the tall bamboo poles on both sides of the guest area with a light fabric draped across and covering all of their heads. Can you picture that? Feel free to ask questions if that description is not clear enough. Thank you!!!

DanielleLovesZach

What time of day is your ceremony?

FutureMrsDudley55

I am doublng our programs as paddle fans, and we are providing bottled water.

smooth84

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_outdoor-weddings_keep-guests-cool-during-june-ceremony?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:666Discussion:5ebad89c-20cf-4b7e-9adb-ef71e6b55c8dPost:711ec267-0d91-4502-8c1c-525119f804eb">Re: Keep guests cool during June ceremony</a>:
[QUOTE]I am doublng our programs as paddle fans, and we are providing bottled water.
Posted by FutureMrsDudley55[/QUOTE]
Thats a great idea...I just had an <em>Eureka!!</em> moment... Thanks

momofayden

Buy hand fans for each guest to have.  I got rattan fans but they also have paper and silk ones.

lcoonuts0116

Thanks- We actually are going to have bottled water and fans, but my question is really about a cover or canopy of some sort to put over the guests to keep the sun out of their eyes and provide at least some shade. Our ceremony is at 5:30 pm and should only last 30 minutes max.

JHS16

Hmmm......providing a canopy without putting anything into the ground sounds difficult.  I honestly can't think of any way around that, sorry!    I think at 5:30 though, the sun will be far from overhead, so it shouldn't be that much of an issue.  

Chelsea124

We've also bought bottled water and fans for our guests.

We also bought individually packaged sun-screen towelettes, but that's because we're not covering the sight.

ours is also at 5:30, and I am a little worried about the sun as well. That's usually the time the sun goes into that one blinding afternoon spot.

Krayssy

Is there any way you could actuall use your "corner" chairs to act as supports for your poles? Another thought.  I am involved with a club that launches model rockets. One of the guys has coffe cans filled with concrete, with a hole in the middle for launching some big rockets. This would certainly supply ample stability for your poles. You could decoate them to match your colors.

lcoonuts0116

Very interesting- thank you very much for the idea, Krayssy!!

Danielle&Nanne

Do you know people who have umbrella stands (like the heavy sort for patio sets), you can stick bamboo poles in those OR anchor them in large flowerpots filled with sand (though, those will be heavy and you'll have to figure out how to dispose of the sand afterward.)

lcoonuts0116

Thanks to everyone! These are all wonderful ideas!

jeanenneclark

In case you're still reading . . .

Our wedding is also June 5 at 11 AM.  We too are using 40 yards of 10' wide curtain sheers fabric to drape over the seating areas.  But we are using pvc pole frames build with tripod bases out of the pvc corner junction pieces.  It's like some of those kid building sets you can put PVC together in a million different ways to build whatever you want.  If you use the bamboo poles, be sure the weight of the fabric isn't so much that it sags through the middle onto the heads of guests. Or that it doesn't bend the poles if they're not thick enough.  I am running twine in and out of the edge of the fabric through buttonholes made in the edge.  This should keep the fabric from flopping all over the place should a breeze be the challenge.  You can also use lengths of PVC to build a complete box-shaped frame that will free stand anywhere you put it.  No need to tie it down or brace it anywhere.

Whatever you choose, though, try it ahead of time in windy weather!

God bless!

felkels

rent a tent!  Party places rent tents in many sizes that do not get staked into the ground.  We are renting a 20x40 tent to have our food under as well as some tables in our outdoor reception.  Our tent does not have walls, just the canopy, so it will be open and beautiful, just shaded.

MillerBride11

check out some small sun umbrellas! i'm not sure how expensive they are but i've seen pictures and they look cute