It’s hard not to love a summer wedding. The warm sunshine, beautiful outdoor settings, bright color palettes, and delicious food and drinks combine to create a truly memorable day. If you’ve had your eyes set on a summer wedding and the perfect summer wedding dress but are finding it hard to plan your big celebration, we’ve got you covered. This blog contains everything you need to plan the ultimate summer wedding: cocktail ideas, playlist suggestions, venue inspiration, theme ideas, and recommendations for guest attire. You’ll have everything you need to create the perfect summer wedding!
Cocktails for a Summer Wedding
Summer means pool days, bonfires, and most importantly… summer cocktails! There’s just something about sippin’ on a refreshing spritzer while feeling the warm sunshine against your face. If you’re having a summer wedding, here are the cocktails and beverage presentations you should consider. Keep reading to get inspired!
Champagne
You can’t go wrong with champagne at any wedding, especially a summer wedding! You’ve heard of the champagne tower, but how about a champagne wall? Your guests will love this gorgeous display of delicious drinks. And how fun is the “Sips About to Go Down” sign?
Photo by: Vienna Glenn
Aperol Spritz
A classic Aperol spritz is an easy choice for your summer wedding reception. The popular cocktail tastes and looks like Summer in Italy. Another plus, the cocktail only requires four ingredients: Aperol, Prosecco, club soda, and a slice of fresh orange.
Fruity Summer Cocktails
From mojitos and margaritas to sangria and daiquiris, fruity cocktails are a summer staple. If you have a favorite fruity cocktail, why not include it on your summer wedding menu? Customize your beverage with different fruits, mix-ins, and garnishes.
Signature Cocktail
One of our favorite recent wedding trends is the signature cocktail. Couples select drinks for their cocktail hour and/or reception that reflect their personalities, furry family members, personal stories, or just favorite drinks. We’ve also been loving the fun signs couples make to advertise their signature cocktails.
Real Martina Liana bride Lauren chose a fancy champagne and cotton candy cocktail for their celebration. Talk about sweet!
Bride: Lauren Seymour Photo by: Amber Brogdon
Even though their dog couldn’t join them for the wedding, this real Essense of Australia couple included their pup in the big day by making him the star of their signature drink. All we know is Sammy is selling us on this drink!
Bride: Ashley Thompson Photo by: Christine Wozz Photography
Mobile Bar
If you’re finding it difficult to decide on a few signature drinks, have a mobile bar at your wedding. A mobile bar provides more drink options and an adorable photo backdrop.
Photo by: Seydel Photography Mobile Bar: Belle Aventure Mobile Bar Co.
Songs for Your Summer Wedding Playlist
No matter the season, you want the dance floor at your reception to be packed from the moment the first song starts. The key: songs that will get everyone off their feet. Play up the summer feels of your wedding with songs that are tuned in to the season. We’ve collected a list of our favorite trendy summer songs and traditional summer songs that need to be on your wedding playlist.
Recent Hit Songs for Your Summer Wedding Playlist
- “Adore You” by Harry Styles
- “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd
- “Lover” by Taylor Swift
- “Peaches” by Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon
- “Summer of Love” by Shawn Mendes and Tainy
- “Levitating” by Dua Lipa featuring DaBaby
- “Golden Hour” by Kacey Musgraves
- “Watermelon Sugar” by Harry Styles
Traditional Songs for your Summer Wedding Playlist
- “Feel It Still” by Portugal The Man
- “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz
- “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus
- “What I Like About You” by The Romantics
- “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars
- “Summer” by Calvin Harris
- “Summer Nights” by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
- “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by Whitney Houston
- “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles
- “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton
- “Walking on Sunshine” By Katrina and the Waves
- “Summer Love” by Justin Timberlake
- “California Girls” by Katy Perry
Venues for a Summer Wedding
Summer provides the perfect weather for a beautiful outdoor wedding. We gathered some summer venue inspo from our real brides, and we’re loving these aesthetics! From ocean-front settings perfect for your beach wedding dress to garden scenes made for your floral wedding dress, the options are endless. For an indoor wedding, consider an elegant estate or rustic barn.
Bride: Adrienne Everett Photo by: Amanda Noel Photography
Bride: Ashley Duncan Photo by: Victoria Selman
Bride: Olivia Kiss Photo by: Anna Ray Photography
Bride: Marielle Golden Photo by: Organic Moments Photography
Essense of Australia Style D2477
Bride: Kendall Keyser Photo by: Audrey Rose Photography
Themes for a Summer Wedding
Your venue and theme will go hand-in-hand for your summer wedding. Once you have your venue locked down you can start dreaming of how the theme will influence the experience and design of your wedding. You could decide on an actual theme to guide your wedding or simply choose a color palette to inspire your day. We pulled together some summer wedding theme inspiration including boho, tropical, floral, glamor, bold color, and rustic. We can’t wait to see what you create.
Bride: Jade Harwell Photo by: Meche Ausina Photography
Photo by: Jenni Summer Studios
Bride: Molly Sorger Photo by: Anchor Pictures
Photo by: In A Maze
Photo by: Sarah Bradshaw Photography
Bride: Ashley Thompson Photo by: Christine Wozz Photography
What to Have Your Guests Wear to Your Summer Wedding
Although summer weddings allow for gorgeous photo settings, outdoor weddings may leave your guests sweaty and exhausted. While this might lead your guests to a more laid-back sensibility, it’s still better to be overdressed than underdressed. Wondering what to have your guests wear to your summer wedding? You and your guests should consider the wedding location, venue, and dress code.
For a general summer wedding, light and flowy chiffon dresses are the perfect way to conquer summer heat. If you’re planning a beach wedding, flirty and flowy dresses are ideal for your guests. Clothing in breathable fabrics paired with simple accessories like sandals are perfect for a casual beach wedding.