How to survive a summer wedding during a UK heatwave

A couple of weeks ago everyone was still carrying umbrellas and pretending we might get a “light jacket” sort of spring. Now the UK’s suddenly talking about one of the hottest May Bank Holidays on record, and wedding season has launched straight into “why is my face sweating before I’ve even parked the car?” territory.

As somebody who spends a lot of time photographing weddings in suits, churches, barns, gardens and occasionally what feels like the surface of the sun, I can confidently say that British people are not designed for heat. Especially not when formalwear is involved.

There’s always a point during hot weather weddings where people stop trying to fight it. The ties loosen. Shoes quietly disappear under tables. Guests migrate towards tiny patches of shade like exhausted wildlife documentary footage. Somebody starts fanning themselves with the order of service. And honestly? That’s usually the point where the atmosphere gets better.

I think couples sometimes worry too much about everything looking “perfect” all day. But weddings aren’t really meant to feel polished from start to finish. They’re emotional, busy, unpredictable days where people are trying to hug relatives, drink prosecco, avoid crying during speeches and survive in a three-piece suit during a British heatwave.

That’s why the best photographs rarely come from moments where everybody’s standing perfectly still and smiling directly at a camera.

The moments people actually connect with later are usually the ones in between. Your mates laughing outside with sunglasses on during the drinks reception. Somebody desperately trying to cool down with a tiny handheld fan that’s achieving absolutely nothing. Windswept hair. Kids running around covered in melted ice cream. Guests sitting outside as the evening cools down and everyone finally relaxes properly.

Those are the moments that feel real.

And summer weddings do have a completely different energy once the heat starts dropping later in the evening. People loosen up. The dancefloor gets louder. Guests stop caring whether they look perfectly polished and just enjoy themselves. From a photography point of view, that’s gold, because people look far better when they’re actually having a good time rather than trying to perform for photos all day.

Also, it has to be said: if your wedding lands during this current heatwave, nobody sensible is expecting perfection anyway.

Literally everybody is warm.
Your florist is warm.
Your photographer is warm.
Your uncle who insists “this isn’t even hot” is definitely warm.

And weirdly, that shared suffering seems to make weddings even more fun.

So if you’re getting married this summer, don’t panic if things feel a little chaotic, windswept or slightly sweaty at times. That’s just a British summer wedding doing exactly what British summer weddings do.

And years from now, those are probably going to be the photos that make you laugh the most.