Too hot for an outdoor reception?

[Deleted User] · December 2013

My wedding will be in the beginning of August in Tennessee, which is a HOT time of year. Because I'm a teacher and I work over the summer, August is the only time I have free. My guest list is over 150 people. I'm having a hard time finding a wedding venue that has an indoor, air-conditioned area big enough to hold more than 150 people. I live in the middle of nowhere, and I don't want guests to travel more than an hour. I have found some venues that will seat over 150 people, but it's under a tent or pavilion, no AC. For those of you who have been to weddings in the south in the summer, is it a really bad idea to have an outdoor wedding, under a tent or pavilion? Or do I need to chop down my guest list?

manateehugger · December 2013

I grew up in Missouri. I'd rather drive two hours for air conditioning than drive 15 minutes to sit outside for an entire Missouri summer wedding. I assume you're talking 90+ degrees and 90%+ humidity? That's Missouri August anyway. Yeah, no.

I'd say you need to find an appropriate venue, cut your guest list, or look a little out of town to find a venue that can fit everyone. Guests can decline if they don't want to make the drive.

Senecaf · December 2013

I personally wouldn't mind but I know many people would be uncomfortable. I wouldn't suggest doing that to your guests. If there are no other options cutting your guest list may be your best bet.

misssunshine17 · December 2013

I would be okay physically, but grumpy, but my H would be absolutely miserable. I would either 1) drive longer or 2) cut your guest list, which seems like the suckier of the two options.

thisismynickname2 · December 2013

As a person who's cranky in heat, I wouldn't want to be outdoors at all. But, I know people who live further south than I do tend to have a higher tolerance and/or enjoyment of heat, so I'd suggest surveying some of your guests.

That being said, if you do choose to be outside, tell everyone well in advance so they can prepare. If I knew I was going to an outdoor wedding in summer, I'd wear flats and the lightest dress I can find. I'd also tuck sunscreen and sunglasses in my purse (maybe even bug spray). I'd carry a cardigan on the off-chance it cooled off and I'd pack an umbrella. I'd consider my hairstyle and keep it off my neck. These are things I wouldn't consider at an indoor wedding. If I'd dressed for an indoor event and discovered it was outside I'd be very uncomfortable, having not prepared.

Even just typing that out, being outside sounds like a pain in the rear! Try to avoid it unless you know for sure the vast majority of guests enjoy the heat, and make provisions for people who may not do well in heat, like the elderly.

KPBM89 · December 2013

I went to a wedding last summer that was in the middle of hot ass July and the reception was outside in a tent. They rented a big AC unit and put it at one corner of the tent (the corner that had two tent walls...they had two open sides and two that were tent walls). It really only helped people in that area (which, of course, we were not), but just being under a tent instead of in the sun also helped. If she had two of those ACs it would've probably been better, but I'm not sure if that would've worked with the way she had two open sides. I wasn't that bothered by the heat, but I know some guys were drenched in sweat and some people changed into tee shirts that they had in their cars.

climbingsingle · December 2013

Honestly, I'd be miserable. I'd much rather drive 2+ hours for an air conditioned venue.

[Deleted User] · December 2013

I would be snippy and annoyed from sweat accumulated from non-dancing activities so I vote for the air conditioned venue.

RebeccaB88 · December 2013

I'd much rather drive than be outdoors in 90+ degree heat.

LizM61409 · December 2013

I attended an outdoor tented reception in NC in June (after a church ceremony)- guests were encouraged to change into lighter clothing including shorts for the reception. You could also get creative with venue types- something bigger that could fit more people but isn't a traditional wedding venue

Jen4948 · December 2013

I grew up in Houston, TX, and had to spend time as a kid out of doors in the summer. Ugh.

I'd prefer to drive than spend 2 hours in 90+ degrees heat.

hoffse · December 2013

Don't do it. I grew up near Tennessee and went to school in Tennessee. It gets boiling hot that time of year.

Not only will your guests be miserable, everybody is likely to sweat out through their clothes. So your groomsmen and bridesmaids will all have pitstains in your wedding photos.

Don't do it.

And I've lived in the south my entire life. I may not get sunstroke the same way I've seen some people from up north get sunstroke (simply because they don't always prepare for it adequately), but that does not mean I enjoy it. Even my H who describes himself as a "child of the summer" loathes outdoor weddings because he feels obligated to wear a suit, and then he sweats out in them.

Notice that all the southerners are telling you this is a terrible idea.

hoffse · December 2013

OK I read some other responses.

For people who don't live down here - in August in Tennesse you might even sweat out in shorts and a tank top. It's just a bad idea.

And at night it does not get significantly cooler the way it does in northern states. The humidity pretty much stays the same, and the only thing that changes is the sun is down instead of up. That does take the edge off, but it's still very hot and muggy. And you do keep sweating.

I've been to an outdoor wedding in GA in August with no A/C and it was awful. Everybody looked terrible, and people left early to escape the heat.

JBee85 · December 2013

I'm a teacher too, but I am doing mine in June where the weather will not be insanely hot and I will have an extended honeymoon. If you can only do summer wedding and can't have hit indoors, move your date to a month where it will be cooler.

EverAfer · December 2013

I'm in New England, so maybe not as hot? We went to a wedding this summer and was miserable. Aside from bugs, the heat and worse, humidity was unbearable. FH gets hotter than I do, and even though he's great friends with the groom, he couldn't wait for cake so we can leave. We've never left a wedding that early! If it's uncomfortable, be prepared that people will leave early.

Avoid it if you can, cut down the list or hey, I'd rather drive longer then sweat through a few hours.

PnkBride · December 2013

I would not attend if I knew it was outside in August. I live in Alabama and I know how hot our summers are. Everyone will be miserable.

jenajjthr · December 2013

I sweat a ton whenever outside, including winter. Hubby runs at a hotter temp and avoids the outside like the plague during summer months. We would decline to come unless it was inside.

GrrArgh · December 2013

I'm in Memphis, if your area of TN is anything like my area of TN... DO NOT DO THIS to your guests, it's not just the heat it's the humidity. Everyone will be sticky (and pit stained) and miserable, and if you wait til later in the evening even with a tent... the bugs!

Viczaesar · December 2013

Yes, it's too hot for an outdoor reception.

Inkdancer · December 2013

Too hot. Especially if you want any kind of dancing or mingling.... people will melt into their chairs.

KPBM89 · December 2013

I totally forgot that I also attended a wedding that had no form of A/C. It was only June, and it was in Maryland. The ceremony was outside and the reception was inside, but they didn't have A/C or fans or anything. We left after the cake. It was a relative, but it was just unbearable. Inside the reception was hotter than it was outside actually.

CrazyCatLady3 · December 2013

I vote for driving further, chopping guest list, or whatever you have to do for an air conditioned venue. People will be sweating from the heat, then drinking alcohol, so they'll be dehydrated and more likely to overdo it without realizing it. I once went to an outdoor wedding in July in TX and was miserable the whole time, and left as early as I could without being rude.

chiualover · December 2013

OMG! Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

chiualover · December 2013

LizM61409 said:

I attended an outdoor tented reception in NC in June (after a church ceremony)- guests were encouraged to change into lighter clothing including shorts for the reception. You could also get creative with venue types- something bigger that could fit more people but isn't a traditional wedding venue

Dress up, and then change again, at a reception? Oh helz no! Or are things just that different in the south?

hoffse · December 2013

chiualover said:

LizM61409 said:

I attended an outdoor tented reception in NC in June (after a church ceremony)- guests were encouraged to change into lighter clothing including shorts for the reception. You could also get creative with venue types- something bigger that could fit more people but isn't a traditional wedding venue
Dress up, and then change again, at a reception? Oh helz no! Or are things just that different in the south?

No things are not that different. Most of us wear sundresses to everything that time of year because they breathe. I've never heard of this happening - there would be some serious pearl clutching (literally) in my circle if such an idea was floated around during wedding planning.

And most parts of NC are at a higher altitude than other southern states, so it's actually cooler.

winelover123 · December 2013

If it were just the ceremony (depending on how long the ceremony is and what time) I'd say maybe. For the reception, hell no. I'd attend, but I'd probably leave early if it were too hot.

PrettyGirlLost · December 2013

No way, Jose. Waaaaay too hot. I would decline if I knew in advance, and leave very early (like before dinner) if I didn't know. Sorry, but I don't like to be sweating through my clothing and I don't do humidity.

wrigleyville · December 2013

Another thing to consider is that your cake might start to get sloppy, and your flowers may wilt. I would try to find something in another city or cut the guest list down a bit.

PrettyGirlLost · December 2013

Good point @wrigleyville. The cake will most def start to melt if buttercream and also get weepy if fondant. I have been to two indoor weddings where the cake began to melt and sag, and we were in AC'd venues. . .the caterors just set the cake up in front of windows and that did it.

HaileyDancingbear · December 2013

I wouldn't have an outdoor wedding in super hot weather. I'm sure the young, healthy guests at your wedding will be ok, but you also have to think of any elderly family members- it might not be all that healthy for them to roast outside in the heat, especially when you're talking about packing 150 warm bodies into a tent- as if the heat from it being early August in Tennessee isn't bad enough, the collective body heat is going to be miserable as well. Basically everyone is going to end up a sweaty, uncomfortable mess, and I think your guests would prefer a bit of a drive to being in such discomfort. If I were a guest invited to a wedding in early august outside with no heat, I would almost definitely decline. Nothing about that seems enjoyable.

Also, don't forget that you're going to be in a wedding dress. Wedding gowns cover most of your body with layers of material that will trap in your body heat. If anyone is going to overheat, it's going to be you, big time. You're going to sweat like crazy, it can ruin your hair and makeup, and just in general make you very uncomfortable on a very special day for you. If I were you I'd do everything in my power to book someplace with AC so that you and your guests can be comfortable.

Too hot for an outdoor reception?

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