10 Tips for the Perfect Summer Wedding

There’s something undeniably magical about summer weddings. The longer days, the golden light, the natural backdrops all lend themselves to creating unforgettable memories. But anyone who’s worked on one knows it takes careful planning to keep the day feeling effortless. At Sound With Us, we’ve seen our fair share of summer celebrations, and we’ve gathered our top ten tips to help couples make the most of this season and avoid any pitfalls.

1. Choose a Venue with Outdoor Appeal

Summer is the time to embrace the outdoors. A venue with open space gives you the chance to enjoy the weather and make your celebration feel more relaxed and scenic. Think gardens, fields, and countryside views. We recommend taking a look at The Barns at Lodge Farm or Botley Hill Barn for that perfect mix of natural beauty and versatility. Both venues offer outdoor ceremony options and plenty of space for guests to enjoy the surroundings.

2. Protect Your Guests and Your Musicians

While it’s great to aim for sunshine, your guests will appreciate having some shade during the daytime parts of your wedding. Providing appropriate cover ensures their comfort during the ceremony and drinks reception. The same applies to your musicians and performers—direct heat can cause issues for live music setups, with instruments, speakers, and other equipment being vulnerable to high temperatures. Stretch tents, marquees, or even parasols go a long way in keeping everyone comfortable and your equipment safe, especially if you’re hiring a wedding DJ or ceremony wedding musicians.

3. Plan for Hydration and Cooling

A hot summer wedding needs more than good energy to keep everyone happy. Make sure your guests stay hydrated throughout the day. Provide easy access to cold water, consider infusing it with fruits or herbs for a nice touch. Make sure your caterers have enough refrigeration and that the bar has more than enough ice to last the night. It might sound simple but it makes a big difference to energy levels and enjoyment.

4. Create Airflow in Your Spaces

Heat can build up fast once everyone hits the dancefloor. If you’re hosting your reception in a marquee or a barn, ventilation becomes crucial. Marquees can be great because you can open the sides, but even that might not be enough once the dancing starts. Hiring two or three large industrial fans is one of the best things you can do. They’re powerful, relatively quiet, and help keep the energy going without your guests needing to escape the heat.

5. Help Guests Stay Fresh

Being outdoors in the heat for hours can wear people down. It’s a thoughtful touch to leave out small supplies in the bathrooms like sunscreen, deodorants, or refreshing wipes. For that extra special touch, offer guest personal gift kits with little handheld fans (manual or electric). You can even print names or your wedding date on for a takeaway gift that’s also super functional!

6. Add Fun with Outdoor Games

When you have outdoor space, use it. Setting up games and activities is a great way to keep the energy light and guests engaged. You could go for something classic like tree darts or giant Jenga, or something a bit unexpected like archery or mini golf. It works well both before the wedding breakfast and later in the evening. We offer some playful activity and décor packages that make it easy to add these elements into your day.

7. Use the Sunset to Your Advantage

There’s a short window in summer evenings when everything looks cinematic. Plan ahead for that time. Check the sunset time for your date and make sure you have something planned around then. It could be a few golden hour family photos, a romantic moment for the couple, or a toast with sparklers. It adds something truly special to the atmosphere without needing to overproduce it.

8. Start the Party a Bit Later

One of the quirks of summer weddings is that guests often prefer to enjoy the outdoors while it’s still light. It’s common for people to drift away from the dancefloor to soak up the last of the sunshine, which can make it tricky to build that party atmosphere early on. That’s why the later you start the main party, the better. If sunset is particularly late, we recommend planning a slightly shorter live set following your first dance, then breaking for sunset photos and evening food. A longer second set can then kick off once the sun is down—this is when the dancefloor tends to fill up and the party really comes to life.

9. Take the Music Outside

If your venue allows, moving the DJ set outside can be a brilliant move. There’s something electric about dancing under the open sky, especially with a live saxophonist or percussionist weaving through the crowd. It adds an immersive vibe that’s hard to beat. For more on how we do it, explore our DJ Live page. And if you’re worried about volume restrictions or close neighbours, we’ve got silent disco options that keep the party going with no complaints.

10. Stay Over in Style

More couples are looking for ways to extend the celebration into the next day. If your venue offers glamping or camping, it can turn your wedding into a full experience. Sitting around a fire pit, toasting marshmallows, and sharing stories from the day creates a kind of atmosphere that a traditional venue rarely offers. We recommend checking out The Dreys or Winter Wilderness for this kind of vibe, or ask us about others that offer a similar setup.

Ready to Plan the Perfect Summer Soundtrack?

Every detail plays a part in how your day feels. When your guests are comfortable and the music fits the atmosphere, everything flows more naturally. At Sound With Us, we bring years of experience in crafting musical journeys that match the atmosphere, energy, and style of your celebration. So, if you’re looking for live bands for wedding entertainment, or a DJ for wedding afterparties, we’ve got you covered. 

Get in touch to start planning a soundtrack that feels just as unforgettable as your day.