Summer weddings in North Carolina come with long golden evenings, late sunsets and venues at their greenest. They also come with real heat and humidity, quick afternoon thunderstorms and, near the coast, the start of hurricane season. None of that should scare you off. It just means building the day around the weather instead of hoping it cooperates.
Time the day around the heat
The single biggest summer decision is when things happen. Midday and early afternoon are usually the hottest part of the day, and summer thunderstorms often build in the afternoon. Many couples move the ceremony later, closer to the evening, so guests are outside during the more comfortable part of the day and the reception runs into the cooler night.
- Look up the sunset time for your date and location, and plan the ceremony and portraits around it. Summer sunsets are late, which gives you plenty of evening light.
- Keep any outdoor portion short, and move cocktail hour into shade or air conditioning if you can.
- Schedule portraits for the softer light of late afternoon or right before sunset, and ask your photographer about shaded spots at your venue.
- Build some slack into the day-of timeline in case a storm pauses things for half an hour.
Keep guests comfortable
Guests remember being hot more than they remember the centerpieces. A few small touches make an outdoor summer wedding much more pleasant:
- Water stations and a drink served the moment guests arrive, before the ceremony starts
- Shade for the ceremony seating, or a ceremony site that is shaded at your start time
- Fans, programs that double as fans, and a cool indoor space for older guests and anyone who needs a break
- A note on the invitation or website about outdoor portions and comfortable footwear, especially on grass
- Bug spray and sunscreen in a basket, since mosquitoes are part of summer evenings outdoors
Rental companies can supply fans, tents, shade structures and portable air conditioning for some setups. Our wedding rentals guide covers power and logistics for outdoor sites.
Have a real plan for afternoon storms
Summer thunderstorms in North Carolina can pop up quickly, bring heavy rain and lightning, and move on within an hour. Your backup plan should cover more than rain:
- Confirm the indoor or covered alternative, how many guests it fits, and who decides when to move and by what time.
- If you are using a tent, ask about sidewalls, flooring and how it is anchored. Our guide to tent weddings goes into detail.
- Lightning is the real safety issue. Agree in advance that everyone heads inside when thunder is close, and follow official weather alerts on the day.
For more on heat and storms, see our outdoor wedding weather guide.
Cakes, flowers and makeup in the humidity
Heat and humidity are tough on anything delicate, so bring the experts in early:
- Cake: some frostings soften quickly in the heat. Ask your baker which finishes hold up best, and keep the cake indoors or in the shade until it is time to cut it.
- Flowers: some blooms wilt faster than others in summer heat. Your florist can suggest sturdier choices and keep arrangements cool until the last moment.
- Hair and makeup: tell your hair and makeup artist your ceremony is outside in summer, and ask about long-wear products, setting techniques and touch-up kits. A trial on a warm day is the best test.
- Menu: lighter food and plenty of cold drinks suit a summer evening. Ask your caterer how they keep food safe and fresh outdoors.
Coast, mountains and travel
Summer is peak beach season, which affects coastal weddings in a few ways. Rentals, hotels and restaurants near the beaches can book up and cost more, and traffic to the coast can be heavy on summer weekends, so give guests realistic travel times. If you are marrying near Wilmington or on the Outer Banks, reserve a room block early.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30, so coastal couples should read up on contracts, insurance and contingency plans. Our guide to hurricane season and coastal weddings covers what to ask. If you want a little relief from the heat, higher elevations in the mountains are usually cooler; see our mountain weddings guide and vendors around Asheville.
Holiday weekends such as Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day give guests an extra day off, which can help travel, but they also raise hotel demand and some vendor rates. Weigh both before you pick one.
Finding vendors who know summer
Vendors who have worked many North Carolina summers will have tricks for heat, light and storms that you would never think of. Ask each one how they handle a hot outdoor wedding and what they would change about your plan. When you are ready to start, you can search the directory by city and category, or read our spring wedding guide if you are still deciding on a season.