Summer Weddings
If you and your partner are seeking a summer wedding, does it get any more beautiful than British Columbia?
There are dozens of decisions to make when it comes to planning your wedding; location, budget, venue, open bar/cash bar, guest list. Usually, you can control those outcomes to the best of your ability, guaranteeing most results. When it comes to summer weddings in British Columbia, you have incredible options. Winery weddings in the Okanagan and Lower Mainland are gorgeous. Perhaps you’d love a banquet wedding on a golf course! If that is the case, our province has many. BC has no shortage of gorgeous parks, farms, and wedding venues.
Photos by Michelle Chartrand Photography
However, there is one element of your summer wedding that you can’t predict, despite best preparation: the weather.
Pros to hosting a summer wedding in British Columbia:
The hope of ideal weather; warm mornings and evenings, gorgeous sunsets.
The ability to have an outdoor ceremony and reception. Rent a few tents and you’re set!
Many venue options that are best suited for the summer; wineries, farms with floral fields, backyards with great landscaping and blooms, patios, glasshouses, golf courses.
Most people have time off or prefer to take time off of work in the summer.
You don’t need to worry about wearing anything warm over your dress! You can even rock bare feet depending on the venue. Everything is more relaxed on a sunny day.
An outdoor reception and dance floor is way more attainable during a summer evening.
Eloping is made easier; whether it is a favourite park, a family member’s property or the beach, there just seems to be more options when the weather is warm!
Wedding photos at sunset. Golden hour is every photographer’s favourite.
Photos by The Koebels
Cons to hosting a summer wedding in British Columbia:
Unpredictable weather. For the last few years in BC, the forecast has been incredibly unpredictable month to month. In 2021, June faced boiling hot 40+ degree weather like no other year, but just a year later we’ve mostly had rain! Neither are ideal.
Extreme forecasts mean the possibility of natural disasters, such as forest fires that cause extreme smoke. Not the best air for your guests to breathe in, let alone the rare chance of your venue getting evacuated in the Interior. Extreme? Yes. Impossible? Sadly, not in British Columbia.
Did we mention your guests may be boiling? You’ll have to pay for tents, rain or shine if this ceremony is outdoors and perhaps invest in some industrial fans as well.
A bigger budget. Wineries, golf courses etc., will have higher price tags during their most popular season. Which is… summer! You can almost always find a cheaper price at a venue during the off season, depending on their business model.
Kids may be at your wedding. For some, this is no problem. For others, they may wish for a child free event. School is out for the summer, which means it may be harder to find a babysitter. This isn’t as big of a deal as other factors, but still something to consider.
Vendors book up fast, as their busiest time of year is from May - October. Book in advance!
This isn’t to discourage you, this is just to prepare you as summer weddings are truly worthwhile.
Photos by Nancy Bree Photo
The wine is chilled, the beer is cold, the sunset will paint rainbows in the sky and your future summer wedding will be incredible. Like anything, though, you’ll need to think of your budget, risk factors, and priorities when dreaming up a summer wedding in British Columbia. It’ll be amazing, but not without some planning! Luckily, we can help with almost everything but the weather. Send us an email to plan for next summer: Lauren@elyseandco.ca
