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Weddings are meant to be joyful celebrations, but this summer, many couples in the UK faced an unexpected challenge: extreme heat. Aimie and Ryan, for example, had planned their wedding for a July weekend, hoping to avoid rain. Instead, they found themselves in the middle of a heatwave, with temperatures reaching 30 degrees Celsius. Their ceremony took place in a glass-walled church in West Yorkshire, which made the heat even more intense. Aimie remembers her makeup melting as soon as she put on her dress, and her husband Ryan sweating so much that guests kept handing him tissues during the service. To help everyone stay cool, they quickly rented a marquee for shade and hired an ice cream van, adding extra costs to their already expensive day.

This situation is becoming more common as heatwaves happen more often due to climate change. Zoe Burke, who works for the wedding planning app Bridebook, says that more couples are talking online about how to deal with hot weather at their weddings. Last summer, searches for wedding fans were five times higher than in 2019. For wedding venues and suppliers, the heatwave has meant spending thousands of pounds on things like air conditioning and extra electricity to keep spaces and food cool. Guests are also drinking more water and less alcohol, which affects the profits of venues that rely on selling drinks.

Flowers have also suffered in the heat. Popular wedding flowers like peonies and roses had a much shorter blooming period this year, sometimes lasting only two weeks instead of two months. Rebecca from Lilac and Lace Floral Design said she had to contact three times as many growers to get enough flowers for a recent wedding, which increased delivery costs by about £200. Because of these challenges, some couples are now choosing to get married in cooler months like June, September, or even October. Wedding planners are advising couples to pick lighter fabrics for their outfits and to avoid the hottest part of the day. Some designers are even using new materials with zinc oxide to make dresses feel cooler. In Europe, where temperatures have gone above 40 degrees Celsius, planners are moving ceremonies to later in the day or offering locations in cooler countries like Denmark and Sweden. Venues in the UK are also making changes, such as adding more plants for shade and installing better cooling systems. Experts recommend wearing light clothes, providing plenty of water, and being careful with cakes that can melt in the heat.