Hot Texas Weather Wedding Tips

It’s summer in Texas, and this year is a hot one! We’re in the middle of a heat dome with temperatures above average, and it’s time to think about how the heat will affect your wedding. I’ve photographed and attended weddings in the middle of the Texas summer, so I know how hot and sweaty things can get. Here are some tips for planning your steamy southern summer wedding:

Keep yourself hydrated
Whether you’re planning to celebrate indoors or outdoors (brave!), be sure to HYDRATE!

Dehydration can take a toll on your body and absolutely ruin your day, so be sure to drink enough water. To really get on track, start drinking enough water several days before your big day, and continue through your day. If you notice you haven’t used the restroom in a couple hours, you probably haven’t had enough water. This is the number one thing that can take you out. Please, please, please drink water and stay hydrated!

Protect from the sun
You don’t want to give yourself sunburn on your wedding day (or any day, for that matter). Absolutely wear sunscreen! If you can’t stand the smell of sunscreen or are worried about white-cast, talk to your makeup artist about will work best for you!

If you have found light, breathable, long layers – even better! I find that lightweight layers that allow for airflow are best for protecting from the sun. This may be a wonderful suggestion for your guests if you plan on having any part of your wedding outdoors. You may even see me wearing a long-sleeved sun shirt while photographing your wedding.

Another option can be “sunbrellas” and parasols! Reflective sunbrellas can be unsightly because they’re made of a reflective material with a dark underside, but they are a huge lifesaver in the sun. It can be several degrees cooler under a sunbrella. A parasol is not as effective, but gosh darn they’re cute!

Set your look
Your makeup artist will be the ultimate expert on what will work best on you, but be sure to bring your own touch up kit too! Your HMUA probably won’t be able to be with you for your entire wedding day, so make sure you or someone in your wedding party has a kit on hand for when sweat attacks!

I always have extra setting spray, q-tips, spoolies, tissues, blotting papers, bobby pins, claw clips, and a paper fan for my couples. You can also use a fine mist spray bottle with distilled water in lieu of an expensive setting spray, and then fan quickly to reset your makeup (and cool you down!) Talk to your MUA about using water to set though, it may interact with some foundations.

Experiment with what kind of hairstyles work best for you in the heat! Updos make work best for some people, but if you’re like me and have long, dark hair, an updo is like having a small, heavy oven on top of your head. For my own midsummer wedding, I opted for soft waves with a couple braids, and my head was cool for the entire day. Having airflow in my hair was absolutely necessary. If you’re battling humidity too, talk to your hairstylist about what products will be best to keep your hair looking gorgeous all day long.

Have a backup plan
Back in 2017, I attended an August wedding with my newborn son, and we watched the outdoor ceremony from a reception venue window with a couple elderly guests. It was just too hot for any of us to spend a 30 minute ceremony outside, even though it was mostly shaded and guests were seated. Some guests couldn’t make it up the stairs to watch from the upstairs window, so they ended up missing out on their beloved family members marry.

If you’re planning a summer wedding in a warmer climate, make sure you have a back up plan for your ceremony in case the temperatures soar (or if it rains!). This is especially important if you’re inviting children and elderly. Many venues have an indoor ceremony space or a separate chapel so no one is sweltering during your vows. If your area doesn’t get too humid, you may even opt for a tent! Even if there isn’t a separate ceremony space, I’ve seen some beautiful and ingenious dual purpose spaces.

Schedule around the heat
The best way to outrun the hot weather is just to schedule around it! No, you don’t have to forgo your wedding date. Consider having your ceremony close to sunset, or perhaps a morning ceremony followed by brunch!

I photograph many small, intimate weddings and elopements. In the summer, I recommend sunrise and morning ceremonies to my couples so we aren’t caught in the sun’s afternoon rage. Not only are you more likely to enjoy cooler temperatures, but the light is generally softer all morning long – which means less squinting and sweating!

Obviously, an early rise isn’t feasible for a lot of couples, and that’s totally okay!

Consider scheduling your wedding for later in the evening when temperatures start to drop. If you can have your ceremony in the shade, away from direct sun, even better! Talk to your photographer about the best times for photos, and how you can adjust your timeline so that you get the best images possible while keeping your wedding day experience enjoyable and stress-free for both you and your guests.

Take care of your guests
Paper fans, refreshing drinks, and cold treats will not only delight your guests, but will help them deal with the heat as well. You want them to celebrate the biggest and best day of your life with you, so give them every reason to stay instead of hiding away to escape the heat.