So you have a opted for a summer wedding. The great thing about a summer wedding is you can bank on the weather (mostly) and you can make the most of the outdoor venues. So, we thought we’d help with some inspiration with our summer wedding ideas below.
Here are 30 summer wedding ideas to make yours a sizzling show-stopper, whatever the weather. You can do all of this (and much, much more) with a summer wedding.
30 Summer Wedding Ideas
1. Flower crowns
Designs featuring eucalyptus, pastel petals and whimsical gypsophila will add romance to your summer bridal style.
2. Gin bars
One of the trendiest tipples around this year, gather several types of gin to serve in a variety of cocktails… the quirkier, the better! Gin goes really well with fruit. If you like the sound of this, you’ll love these 14 super stylish drinks bar ideas, too.
3. Colour co-ordinated
Why not ask your male or female guests to each wear something co-ordinated? Perhaps you’d like everyone to include a splash of blue, for the gentlemen to go jacketless, or for the ladies to choose a sweet floral accessory…
4. Garden games
From croquet and giant jenga to space hoppers and sack races, how wild will your garden games be? Here are six quirky garden game ideas to get you started.
5. Hay bale heyday
Perfect for a rustic wedding venue that has gardens or grounds, create a simple seating area to chill out in – some hay bales with blankets and Pimm’s on offer is sure to attract guests. If you like this style, then you’ll love Laura & Fraser’s field wedding.
6. Couple’s cocktails
Not limited to just Kilner dispensers, we think it’s time to make his-and-hers cocktails the star of the show. Add a selection of fresh fruit garnishes, edible flower petal ice cubes and colourfully striped straws to turn these drinks into a centrepiece.
7. Ceiling style
Channel the style of a country fair by stringing up pompoms, paper honeycombs and handmade bunting (a triangle per guest, perhaps?) to give your décor height.
8. Pick and mix
This style of feasting isn’t only for sweets! Hire food and drink stalls instead of traditional caterers so guests can mingle while they munch, avoiding a heavy sit-down meal.
9. Beer by the bucket
Team it with a vintage bathtub of ice and your guests will have a self-service bar to get stuck into! Make sure your photographer snaps some photos before they disappear.
10. Ice cream
Make ice creams both delicious and decorative at your summer wedding by hiring a vintage ice cream bicycle cart.
11. Time for tea
Whichever side of the cream and jam debate you sit, there’s no denying that sweet strawberry conserve, indulgent clotted cream and freshly made scones epitomise the taste of summer…
12. Live music
Create a festival vibe by choosing a live band in place of a DJ for the evening entertainment. You could also swap a string quartet for an acoustic guitarist to create a laid-back ambiance for the ceremony. You’ll find more ideas in this A-Z of wedding entertainment.
13. Festoon lighting
Form an illuminated trail between different parts of your venue by hanging up festoon lighting.
14. Barbecues
Hailed as a crowd-pleasing option that’s full of flavour, swap the traditional wedding breakfast for a hog roast or barbecue. Complete the culinary line-up with salads, cheeses and chutneys, and you’re guaranteed full stomachs and very happy guests.
15. Summer saviours
Prepare a basket of flip flops, sunglasses and sun cream and leave them in the wash rooms for guests to grab. You don’t want the risk of lobster skin in your group photos and they will love you for it!
16. Picture perfect
Your guests’ snaps will be ultra beautiful if you make a photobooth backdrop to frame them. As simple as a suspended picture frame or as elaborate as a vintage doorframe decorated in cascades of flowers, the choice is yours! Here’s how to DIY your photobooth on a budget.
17. English garden
A favourite when it comes to wedding themes, summer is the perfect season for an English garden style wedding. Choose a venue with pretty gardens of its own and you’ll have built-in décor to match!
18. Marquee magic
Inspired by Pippa Middleton’s impressive glass variety, channel the same style with transparent sided marquees or, on a smaller scale, by hiring in acrylic seating.
19. Outdoor ceremonies
Why not make the most of the good weather and say your vows in a woodland glade, beneath a floral arch, or in a romantically decorated lakeside gazebo…
20. Jam jar florals
Enlist everyone you can to collect jars, then pretty them up with ribbons and sprigs of garden blooms. Pair them with milk churns or enamel jugs if you want to display taller sprays of flowers like delphiniums and stocks.
21. Beach weddings
Why wait for your honeymoon to enjoy the beach when the UK boasts a fantastic coast of its own? Marry right on the sand, or hire a village hall or even an old maritime museum for some more weatherproof options. Planning a beach wedding? Here are six stunning seaside photos you simply have to get!
22. Summer fete
Give your wedding all the fun of the fair with fete-inspired games – everything from hook a duck to carousel rides! For a quirky twist, we’ve seen couples swap coconuts for pineapples for a more unique take on the classic coconut shy.
23. Seaside seating
Create a super-comfortable lounge area for your guests to kick back and relax in after the wedding breakfast. Fill it with a collection of colour co-ordinated striped deck chairs, perfectly placed to watch all the action.
24. Wedding signs
Seeing as you’ll be making the most of your chance to enjoy al fresco elements, why not put up some rustic signs to direct your guests so they know where’s best for dancing, drinking or dining? Here’s how to give your tipi venue bohemian style.
25. Tipi venues
With sides that can be opened up to reveal the outside, tipi venues offer the best of both when it comes to indoor and outdoor wedding venues, making them perfect for the British summer!
26. Space for shade
You’ll be crossing everything in the run-up for streaming sunshine on your wedding day – but have you planned for that actually happening? Make sure your venue has parasols ready to provide shade.
27. Naked cakes
Overflowing with juicy berries and filled with light, fluffy buttercream, the naked cake is the ideal laid-back cake for the summer season. Just make sure you position it out of the sun to stop the buttercream from melting!
28. Sweet peas
These small, beautifully scented, summer-flowering blooms come in a range of hues, from pastels to brights. Work them into your bouquet for a whimsical style that smells divine.
29. Shepherd’s hooks
No country wedding should be without these! Peg the charming shepherd’s hooks into the ground to mark out pathways, then hang dainty jars containing mismatched candles or flowers from them for a pretty effect.
30. Easy breezy
Embrace the relaxed, al fresco atmosphere of the best summer weddings in your set up. Look for opportunities to introduce tulle drapes, creating an airy feel for your venue, or tie lace bows to chair backs. Or perhaps you could add streaming silk ribbons to your bouquet.
