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I don't know where else to put this... but I'm freaking out about the heat wave.

jenijoykjenijoyk member
Tenth Anniversary 500 Love Its 500 Comments First Answer
edited October 2014 in Chit Chat
My wedding is outdoors in a courtyard. And when we booked the venue, our one reservation was our Plan B for rain. We decided ultimately that we were ok with having to fork over an extra bajillion dollars at the last minute to have the entire courtyard tented, and we reserved a bunch of heat lamps in case we needed to keep the courtyard toasty at night, in the autumn air. Well guess we didn't have to worry about THAT because we are in the grossest heat wave ever! I keep thinking it will break, but it is right now 90 degrees out, and the 10 day forecast shows no change. It's going to be 90 degrees at my wedding. I am freaking out. I spent so much time fretting over a Plan B for cold and rain, it NEVER occurred to me to plan for 90-degree weather in late October. What can I possibly do to make this more comfortable for my guests? We met with our florist and changed out our centerpieces for flowers that can handle the heat better, and we met with our caterer to coordinate an iced beverage station (water, cucumber water, lemonade and iced tea). But what else? Direct sun will not be an issue. We'll be in the shade for the ceremony and the sun will set soon after. Fans? Should I order a crap ton of sandalwood fans for the lady-guests? I cannot think of a single other thing I can do besides handing out damp towels - haha. Ugh. My poor guests.

Re: I don't know where else to put this... but I'm freaking out about the heat wave.

  • jenijoyk said:
    My wedding is outdoors in a courtyard. And when we booked the venue, our one reservation was our Plan B for rain. We decided ultimately that we were ok with having to fork over an extra bajillion dollars at the last minute to have the entire courtyard tented, and we reserved a bunch of heat lamps in case we needed to keep the courtyard toasty at night, in the autumn air. Well guess we didn't have to worry about THAT because we are in the grossest heat wave ever! I keep thinking it will break, but it is right now 90 degrees out, and the 10 day forecast shows no change. It's going to be 90 degrees at my wedding. I am freaking out. I spent so much time fretting over a Plan B for cold and rain, it NEVER occurred to me to plan for 90-degree weather in late October. What can I possibly do to make this more comfortable for my guests? We met with our florist and changed out our centerpieces for flowers that can handle the heat better, and we met with our caterer to coordinate an extra iced beverage station (water, cucumber water, lemonade and iced tea). But what else? Direct sun will not be an issue. We'll be in the shade for the ceremony and the sun will set soon after. Fans? Should I order a crap ton of sandalwood fans for the lady-guests? I cannot think of a single other thing I can do besides handing out damp towels - haha. Ugh. My poor guests.
    Where are you, and when is your wedding?  If your wedding is within 10 days, it's not late October.  And the forcast can always change.  It looked like it was going to rain on my wedding day and the day before was supposed to be fine. Downpoured on my rehearsal and the sun came out on my wedding day.

    Also, don't freak out yet.  If you decide to get a tent, you could rent some fans to put in there.
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  • jenijoykjenijoyk member
    Tenth Anniversary 500 Love Its 500 Comments First Answer
    edited October 2014
    I'm in Southern California. And my wedding is not within 10 days but I just wish the forecast would at least show SOME movement... and I wish it wasn't 90 degrees right now at 5pm. But you're right. I just need to take deep breaths. And eat some ice cream or something. (So no sandalwood fans?)
  • I'm in SoCal too, and you're right--it's absolutely terrible right now.  Everything I've heard though says it should be cooling off soon.  I don't think it's time to stress yet.

    However, I do highly recommend fans.  My mom "surprised" us with a box of them from Oriental Trading, bless her heart.  They weren't the fanciest or classiest, but I know our guests didn't give a shit about that and they really appreciated them during the ceremony.
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  • I agree with huskypuppy14.  If you can rent a tent and heaters, would it possible to also put some fans on hold?  That seems like it would make the most sense.

    Other than that, have a lot of cold drinks available, beginning with when guests arrive.  Could you add pitchers/carafes of ice water to the tables for dinner?

    But I think you still have time for the forecast to shift a bit and things to change.
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  • @slothiegal - Good to know people appreciated them! I think I'll order them just to be safe. If I end up not needing them, I'll donate them to a girlfriend getting married next summer, who will have no reason to be surprised by insane heat.

    Did you have enough for everyone, or just your female guests?

  • We had enough for everyone, including our photographers/guitarist/officiant (she didn't use hers, but we told her we would in no way be offended if she wanted to use it during the ceremony).
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  • I went to a wedding in Texas in August, so like 95 degrees minimum. They had the ceremony outside (I side-eyed it hard) but the reception was in an air conditioned tent. Not sure how they worked it out but it was pretty sweet. Maybe talk to the equipment company and see what your options are.
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  • SoCal here too.  Yes, we are melting.  The thing about October is that it changes in like 3 days.  By the end of October, it could very well be fairly mild and pleasant.  My shower was schedule to be next week, so I was freaking because my A/C unit wasn't working, so I rushed and got it fixed - just in time for this weekend's heat wave.  Now that it's postponed until early November, I'm not so worried.

    Are you in the Valley, OC or IE?  That would make a big difference in how the weather turns out.  It's like we have five different climates around here sometimes.
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  • I'm in Southern California too and so over the heat. I just want scarves and boots already. I think the fan idea is good, both individual and maybe larger ones for air circulation? Another question: are most of your guests from Southern California, or from cooler climates? I'm only asking because while I feel like 78 degrees out at night can be very nice, I know my East Coast family would be dying.


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  • A big cooler of water bottles and paper fans!
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  • @Time2strliving I agree that 78 degrees at night is heavenly.  Perhaps guests from the east wouldn't be too bad because we're not as humid as they are generally used to.
    Happiness is an inside job
  • Alikat9614Alikat9614 member
    100 Love Its 100 Comments First Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited October 2014
    Sending you the cool weather we are having in SW Virginia-- we had frost advisories last night and had to turn our heat on! DH filmed an outdoor wedding yesterday and was an ice cube when we got home, poor thing.
  • Just wanted to say hi to all the other SoCal ladies! I'm currently sweaaaating at 8 pm in San Diego. Chances are the night time temps will drop significantly. I mean, it's really nice outside right now; my house is just still really hot from the day due to no insulation in these walls. Then again, last time we had a heat wave it was freaky hot at night, too.

    Anyway, def too early to freak out but I like that you'd like to put a plan together. Worst case, you should be able to rent an air conditioned tent. 
  • I'm in Southern California too and so over the heat. I just want scarves and boots already. I think the fan idea is good, both individual and maybe larger ones for air circulation? Another question: are most of your guests from Southern California, or from cooler climates? I'm only asking because while I feel like 78 degrees out at night can be very nice, I know my East Coast family would be dying.
    You realize the East coast has summers where it is 78 at night. Sounds fine to me, especially if it's not humid.
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  • I too would suguest fans! It's definitely a little early and the weather could always change in the next few weeks. Can you talk to your venue and see if they can have tents and fans?


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  • We're in OC (but I work in the IE so DEAR GOD so glad we're not getting married out there!), and you're right, it could all change in a sec! About 60% of our guests are local, another 20% are San Franciscans (who will complain about anything over 70), and the rest are mid-westerners who are used to much worse in summer, but probably aren't expecting 90 degrees in autumn. I've updated our website with a little weather warning, hope they see it! I'm also sticking some sunscreen in our hotel welcome bags, since I'm doubting our Iowans will be packing any in October.

    The tent we were looking at for the Rain Plan (ha!) was $5,000 so an air-conditioned tent will probably cost sooooo much more! Ugh! I guess I will call and ask anyway. I went ahead and just ordered a million sandalwood fans, so at least we'll have those. Iced beverages will be super plentiful. Our caterer will put out a table of water, cucumber water and iced tea, and there will be ice water pitchers on every table. So I guess I've done what I can!

    Unfortunately our groomsmen and dads are in black tuxes and my bridesmaids are in heavy sequin floor length gowns.... because I thought it would be in the mid-70s! Uggghhhh.
  • Also yay for so many SoCal-ers!!!!!! Stay cool, ladies!
  • I'm in Southern California too and so over the heat. I just want scarves and boots already. I think the fan idea is good, both individual and maybe larger ones for air circulation? Another question: are most of your guests from Southern California, or from cooler climates? I'm only asking because while I feel like 78 degrees out at night can be very nice, I know my East Coast family would be dying.
    Amen.  I really miss my fall and winter clothes.  I can't figure out what to wear tomorrow, especially since I have to walk 15 minutes to get to my car with several bags and a plate or two of Bailey's Irish Cream Brownies (got home from out of town tonight to find out that we're not allowed to park in our parking lot this week.  Super fun looking for a parking spot at 9 o'clock at night when the street parking is usually pretty much full by 4 pm).



  • OP why don't you send me a little bit f that heatwave, it's cold and rainy here in London. We're having a tropical beach wedding on an island and we're providing cold drinks all around (water, fresh juice and rose champagne) but also fans. Our reception will be in a huge cabana but right next to the ocean so we'll have the sea breeze to cool us come dinner time,  If you're in the shade you should hopefully be alright. Do provide the fans and bottles of cold water if you can. And like pps have said, the weather might change :)
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