The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Celebration Full of Sunshine and Fun
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There’s something magical about a summer wedding…and it’s surely the most popular wedding season for a reason. Maybe it’s the long, balmy evenings, the abundance of beautiful blooms or the relaxed, carefree atmosphere that comes with the season. Whatever it is, a summer wedding isn’t just a wedding that happens to take place in summer – it can become the entire identity of your wedding day.
If you’re planning a summertime wedding, we’ve rounded up plenty of summer wedding ideas and inspiration to help you make the most of your wedding season. From florals and décor to food, activities and thoughtful touches for your guests, we think these ideas are guaranteed to get you excited for your big day.
🎥 Watch our Summer Wedding Ideas & Inspiration video here:
Summer Wedding Florals & Aesthetics
Summer is bursting with colour, making it the perfect season to embrace vibrant florals and bold styling.
Think:
- Wildflower-meadow inspired bouquets
- Dahlias and cosmos
- Citrus accents and fresh greenery
- Colour palettes inspired by sunsets, sorbets and the seaside
- Floral installation tablescapes and alfresco dining
Summer weddings lend themselves beautifully to vibrant, joyful styling, whether you’re planning a garden celebration, a marquee reception or an outdoor shindig on the grounds of a traditional wedding venue.
Summer Wedding Activities & Entertainment Ideas
One of the best things about a summer wedding is that the warmer weather opens up so many possibilities for guest entertainment.
Some of our favourite summer wedding activities include:
- Garden games such as giant Jenga, oversized Guess Who (with your guests’ faces!) croquet and cornhole
- Live acoustic music with an outdoor dance floor
- Team games such as tug-of-war
- Adult-sized bouncy castles
Adding activities throughout the day gives guests plenty to enjoy during those natural lulls, such as during photographs, awaiting your arrival at the reception, or as alternative options for those who don’t enjoy the dance floor quite as much as some.
Seasonal Food & Drinks
Summer is the perfect excuse to have fun with your menu.
Consider:
- Sharing platters and barbecue-style dining
- Fruit-inspired desserts
- Hydration stations
- Ice cream cart with signature flavours or ice lollies
- Signature summer cocktails
- Pimm’s stations
- Pretty edible flower ice cubes or flavoured ice cubes for drinks
- Wedding cake with citrus fruit decoration and vibrant colours.
…but seriously…the ice cream station!
Summer Wedding Attire
Summer weddings are also a wonderful opportunity to embrace lighter, more colourful fashion.
Brides might choose:
- Lightweight fabrics
- Floral appliqué details
- Converse / flats for comfort on grass
- Shorter dresses for evening celebrations
- Customised denim jackets as a fun evening cover-up
For grooms (and groomsmen), think:
- Lighter colour suits – soft pinks, creams or greens
- Linen suits
- Vibrant ties / pocket squares / buttonholes, mirroring the colour palette used for the bridesmaids.
Bridesmaids:
- Bright colours – inspired by sunsets, sorbets – showcasing a palette of colours for interest and cohesion, rather than a uniform look.
- Parasols for photo props / floral alternatives
The key is choosing outfits that keep you cool whilst embracing the life and energy of the season.
Thoughtful Favours & Extra Touches
The little details are often what guests remember most.
Some lovely summer-inspired wedding favours / extra touches include:
- Handheld fans
- Personalised sunglasses
- Parasols
- Sunscreen and insect repellant
- Stiletto heel protectors
All ideas that can be used on the day itself, so definitely not a waste of those have saved pennies. These thoughtful touches help your guests feel looked after, particularly if you’re celebrating on a warm summer’s day.
Create a Summer Wedding That Feels Like You
The beauty of a summer wedding is that there are so many ways to make it your own. Embrace the ideas you love, whether you choose to lean into the vibrant colour palette or simply select a couple of the outdoor game ideas, or maybe set up the ice cream station (yes, our personal favourite!)…you don’t have to go all-in on summer if you don’t want to, so long as your wedding says, “you”, that’s the key! The season offers endless inspiration that can be personalised & customised to you and your fiancé(e) (I mean, did you see the ice cream wafers?!).
You can find all our summer picks from the video, and more, in our dedicated Pinterest board. Check it out and start saving your favourite ideas now…
Having a summer wedding? Tag us in your photos over on Instagram @bridesociety_uk, we’d love to see sneak a peek into your wedding planning journey!
Thanks for watching/reading! Want even more from Bride Society? You can find us in all of these places:
Happy planning! ☀️🌸
— Rebecca and Laura, Bride Society x
