. Here are the 10 biggest mistakes couples make when planning a summer wedding.
After all the work you’ve put into your wedding day, the last thing you want is an upset stomach, bloating, or a gas problem. Nervousness, excitement, and all the other emotions you’ll experience on your big day are enough to deal with – you don’t want to add to the problems by eating the wrong foods. A couple of foods to consider avoiding before the wedding include:
1. Not getting a backup boutonniere. This is true whether you’ve chosen to take pictures before of after the ceremony—a single bloom will wilt or at least start to look less, um, perky after a few hours. Your bouquet can be periodically placed in water but his boutonniere stays pinned to his jacket where it gets heated, hugged, fussed with. Having a backup boutonniere on hand will ensure his ensemble is in impeccable shape (until after the first dance at least!) and will keep your bridal portraits looking fresh.
3. Not providing enough shade. Shade is required at summer weddings. Even if most of your wedding takes place indoors, your guests will be drawn to the outdoors. Set up some seating under large trees where people can hang with cocktails firmly in hand. Set up an additional tented “lounge” with couches and cocktail table and chairs. Add a mini bar and some music (bluegrass band, pianist) so guests can comfortably take a reprieve from the heat without having to escape all the fun. PS—If it’s gonna be a scorcher, place small bottled waters and handheld fans on every seat at the ceremony so guests have a way to keep themselves cool. (No one likes an irritable crowd.)
4. Offering alcohol before the ceremony starts. The party doesn’t have to start after you’re pronounced husband and wife. Set the time on your invitations for an hour before the ceremony really starts and have a pre-ceremony cocktail hour. Let guests mingle to filtered sounds of reggae through your own iPod or hire violinists to stroll through the gardens. Anything that sets the right mood. Have waiters pass around signature NON-ALCOHOLIC drinks such as lemonade and iced tea in fun tumblers with straws. Or have a selection of vintage-style sodas (Izze, GuS, etc.) on hand for guests to help themselves. Let us just repeat these words: non-alcoholic drinks. There’s time to get to the good stuff later and you don’t need a pair of loose lips on hand for the ceremony you’ve been waiting all your life for.
5. Scheduling your portraits for high noon. Unless you’re going for that vintage silhouette look (we’re kidding of course), you definitely don’t want to take bridal portraits (or any pictures outside for that matter) at noon when the sun is directly overhead. If you don’t believe me, listen to an expert. “Direct sun causes deep unflattering shadows and very harsh light,” says Lara Robby of Lara Robby Photography. “Morning light is beautiful and so is twilight.” Whenever possible, take your portraits in indirect light or in the shade. And if you’re cool with bucking tradition, schedule your coupledom portraits for before the start to the ceremony when your timeframe may be a bit more flexible.
6. Forgoing a rain plan. Don’t put all your eggs in your weatherman’s basket. The last thing you want to be unprepared for is rain. Better safe than sorry. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. However you want to think about it, just do it. Spend a little extra to rent tents—just in case. Have a fully scouted, equipped, and planned-to-perfection indoor option—just in case. If everything is well thought-out, you can make a decision an hour ahead of time based on the hour-by-hour forecast and your guests will never know the difference. Love both your outdoor and indoor plan so you won’t be disappointed either way.
7. Choosing the wrong icing on the cake. Don’t worry, your cake’s not gonna melt like the Wicked Witch in Wizard of Oz. Most cakes will hold up well in the summer so long as you don’t keep them in direct sunlight (which could melt icings like buttercreams and ganaches). We asked Cheryl Kleinman of Cheryl Kleinman Cakes what she suggests for summer wedding cakes: “Rolled fondant- and marzipan-iced cakes are perfect and preferred in the summer,” she says. And if you want to display your cake during the reception (yes, yes, of course you do): “Avoid icings and fillings that require refrigeration such as cream cheese icings, whipped cream, pastry cream, and fresh fruit fillings.” If you hate to part with the idea of pastry creams and fresh fruit, you can always have a small-sized “trophy” cake (a mini showstopper that’s great to admire) and choose an alternative “summery” dessert instead.
9. Forgetting to stock a bathroom basket. Guests feeling sweaty? Hot? Flushed? Make sure everyone has a way to freshen up. Find containers that match your wedding-day decor—galvanized tin buckets, vintage wooden crates, ornate ceramic boxes—and use them to house freshen-up essentials: mini deodorants, sunscreen, blotters, bug spray, mints, mini water bottles, and so on. A little refreshment will go a long way in the hot summer sun!
- Sodas and carbonated drinks. Soft drinks have a number of bad effects on brides. Bloating is common, along with belching, so it’s best to avoid them – at least until after you say, “I do”.
- Starchy foods. Starches are also foods associated with bloating and gas. Stay away from potatoes, pasta, and rice on the day of and the day before the wedding. Corn and breads can have similar effects – try wraps or pita bread for sandwiches if you need a snack before the wedding.
- Caffeine. Water is the best thing to drink before your wedding. Avoid coffee, tea, sodas, energy bars, and other caffeinated products as much as possible. If you’re a daily coffee or soft drink consumer, at least limit the amount you have that morning. Caffeine reduces the amount of water in the body and can lead to dehydration during the ceremony – often a cause of fainting at the altar.
- Spiced foods. Spices can do all sorts of strange things as they’re eaten and digested. Spicy food will heat up your body and could cause extra sweating; some spices may irritate your stomach. There’s also a chance of bad breath or a small flake getting stuck between your teeth!
- Milk and dairy products. Limit the amount of lactose you eat on the big day. Yogurt, cheese, milk, and other dairy products should be fine in moderation but could irritate your stomach if you’re already anxious.
Think healthy, high protein, and low fat when you’re selecting foods to eat before your wedding day. Choose foods that are filling, but light. Avoid the foods listed above and also stay away from foods and drinks that contain a lot of sugar – sugars are good for short-lived energy, but usually leave you feeling tired and sluggish soon after. Plan a good breakfast the day of your wedding and pack a few nourishing snacks – but be sure to avoid foods that could cause bloating or an upset stomach. Also, make sure to keep hydrated by limiting caffeine and drinking plenty of water.
