Outdoor Summer Wedding "Survival Guide"

It’s summer time in Texas! Yes friends, this week is officially the first week of summer! The birds are chirping, the flowers have bloomed and the skies are blue….and the heat index is 105! We hope that our “Summer Wedding Survival Guide” will help you solve the challenges of being a Texas summer bride.

OUTDOOR SUMMER WEDDING
SURVIVAL GUIDE

FLORAL

DO carry seasonal blooms…they will be the most resistant to the weather.
DO try to carry and all green bouquet…grasses, leaves ferns, etc.
DO make sure that your florist does all garden stems and has all the bouquets delivered in water. This will ensure that you have fresh flowers.
DON’T use fragrant flowers that will attract bees and bugs.
DON’T carry flowers that are heat sensitive. Gardenia, hydrangea, poppies, stephanotis, and casablanca lilies are all examples of heat sensitive flowers.
DON’T be afraid NOT to use color in your bouquet. An all white bouquet can look just as summery as a colored one.

MAKE-UP

DO use an oil-free moisturizer before applying your make-up. Oil based moisturizers can cause skin to look less “glowing” and more greasy.
DO use an anti-shine product before applying foundation. We recommend...

DO apply a light powder over your foundation to give yourself a more matte look and absorb some of your natural oils.
DO apply concealer on your eyelids before applying eye shadow. This will help it stay longer and prevent greasy eyelids that can make your shadow fall into the creases.
DO use liquid eyeliner. It will always outlast a pencil liner.
DO wear waterproof mascara. Let’s face it….this is going to be an emotional day – but you don’t want your eye make-up running down your face. Be safe and use waterproof!
DO layer your lips! You will be kissing your groom and drinking champagne all night so you need extra protection for your lips. Especially since there will be a photographer by your side every step of the way. Start by moisturizing your lips. Then, apply concealer all over. After that apply lip liner ALL OVER your lips to give your lipstick some staying power. Lastly, apply your perfect shade of lipstick followed by a light brush of gloss.
DON’T use creamy blushes. Use a powder blush that will give you a softer look and absorb oil.
DON’T take wedding day pictures without bringing an emergency make-up kit for touch ups.

CAKE

DO choose flavors that are fitting for summertime. Fruit and vanilla flavors are perfect and light. Anything to heavy might turn guests off.
DO decorate the cake the cake with seasonal flowers if they are fresh. Same rules that apply to the bouquet….apply to the cake.
DON’T use buttercream icing.

ATTIRE

DO choose a bridal gown that is made from lighter fabric and will breathe well…such as silk, cotton eyelet, chiffon.
DO consider big straw hats for a garden wedding, for you and or your bridesmaids. The hats along with brightly colored dresses or floral cocktail dresses for the bridesmaids will play up the season. The men in the wedding party can sport the classic navy blazer with khaki slacks, or seersucker suits.
DO dare to opt for the trendy shorter wedding dress. This will take 10 degrees off of your day.
DO wear open toed shoes. Keeping your feet and hands cool automatically cools down the rest of your body.
DON’T wear stilettos if you wedding is outside in a place where you could “sink” into the ground. Opt for flats if this is the case. You should keep your shoe choice in mind when picking out your dress and getting any alterations made.
DON’T forget the hair. Remember, straight hair will get straighter and limper, and wavy hair will get wavier and frizzier. You are safer going with a professional stylist who will give you a long-lasting updo or the trendy messy side bun.

GUEST COMFORT

DO make sure that there are areas where your guest can escape the heat. Providing an air conditioned tent will give your guests a place to cool off and enjoy refreshments.
DO provide you guest with fans at the ceremony. No, not the handheld electronic fans…make it pretty. You can get beautiful handheld fans that go with the colors of your wedding and you can even put the ceremony program on them! If you would like to give your guest the option to keep the sun off their face you can also provide parasols.
DO have cold water readily available for your guest throughout the event. You don’t want any emergency situations to arise….so please keep your guest hydrated. You should also have water available to all of your vendors as well.
DO have a Plan B. Even if you have your heart set on an outdoor wedding, if conditions are going to be unbearable for your guests there should be an alternative plan in place.
DO plan your wedding for late in the afternoon when the heat has died down some.
DO provide bug protection for your guests. If your guests start getting eaten by mosquitoes during your first dance chances are they will not be there by the time you cut the cake.
DO provide cold hand towels for your guests to freshen themselves.
DON’T use candles. Not only will they melt in the Texas heat, but they also put off unnecessary extra heat.
DON’T be unwilling to go to Plan B.
DON’T forgo save the dates. Summer is a popular time for family vacations. Give your guests enough notice so they can plan their vacations accordingly.

CUISINE & COCKTAILS

DO serve lighter fare at your outdoor wedding. In the Texas heat it will be hard to motivate your guest to eat heavy food and enjoy a glass of cabernet. Light food, such as gazpacho, shrimp or fresh fruit, will be perfect for your guests. We love chili-lime rubbed chicken skewers or grilled mahi-mahi topped with pineapple mango salsa.
DO include granitas and sorbets in between courses as a refreshing treat.
DO serve a refreshing and creative cocktail to impress your guests such as New Age Wine:



New Age White (an effervescent blend of citrus-y Sauvignon Blanc and fruity Malvasia) and New Age Rose (also effervescent, with Argentina's signature Malbec red grape and Merlot) add a distinctive Argentine touch when combined with various fruit juices for a South American Mimosa, Cosmopolitan or even New Age Sangria.

Yet, the most common way to enjoy New Age is on the rocks with a slice of lime or lemon. This highly refreshing drink is called "Tincho" after the cocktail's creator. In Argentina, New Age is usually ordered by the bottle for a group of friends to enjoy. The well-chilled New Age White or Red is brought to the table in an ice bucket, along with traditional "rocks" glasses filled with ice and sliced limes or lemons. The friends share the bottle and camaraderie together at the table. Common practice at traditional "happy hour watering holes" and night clubs in Argentina, this tradition is starting to catch on here in the United States.

New Age comes from Bodega Valentin Bianchi, one of Argentina's oldest wineries, founded in 1928 by Italian immigrant Valentin Bianchi. It is one of the oldest family-owned wineries in Argentina, helmed today by Valentin's grandson, Valentin Eduardo Bianchi.

This third-generation winery owner was given the nickname "Tincho" as a boy, a term of affection that, loosely translated, means "young Valentin" (as his grandfather was "older Valentin"). It is "Tincho" that fist added the lime to the New Age White. "Tincho", the drink, quickly became one of the most popular, refreshing cocktails served in the restaurants, bars and nightclubs in trend-setting Buenos Aires.



And of course....always carry SOMETHING BLUE!

Average highs and lows for Texas in the summer:
June 92 / 73
July 96 / 77
August 96 / 76

Special thanks to:

Stacey Murdoch from the Wildflower for her expert advice on florals.
http://www.thewildflower.com/index.php

Lauren Kitchens from Fancy Cakes by Lauren for her “sweet” advice.
http://www.fancycakesbylauren.com/