The photographs from a garden wedding at two in the afternoon look wonderful. The guests in those photographs are often sweating through their kente and counting the minutes until the canopy. In a country where afternoon temperatures regularly pass thirty degrees, planning for heat is part of planning for an outdoor wedding.
Pick the hours carefully
The easiest fix is timing. A ceremony in the late afternoon, from around four o’clock, avoids the worst of the sun and lets the reception run into the cooler evening. Morning ceremonies work too, if the programme is short. Avoid scheduling long outdoor events between midday and three.
Shade first
Canopies, marquees and tents are not optional for an outdoor wedding in Ghana. Make sure every guest seat is under shade, and the high table too. Check where the sun will be at the time of the ceremony, because a canopy that shades seats at noon may leave half of them in full sun by four.
Air movement
Standing fans and misting fans make a large difference under a canopy. Ask the tent hire company whether they supply them and whether the venue has power points or whether you need a generator. Hand fans with the couple’s names printed on them double as souvenirs.
Water, everywhere
Have chilled water available from the moment guests arrive rather than waiting for the meal. Bottled water on each table, a water station at the entrance and ushers who walk around offering drinks during the ceremony will prevent most heat problems.
Look after elders and children
Older relatives, pregnant guests and young children feel heat first. Seat elders in the coolest, most shaded spot, close to the front so they do not have to walk far. Have a quiet indoor or shaded area where anyone who feels unwell can sit down. Brief your ushers to watch out for guests who look faint.
Dress code advice
Let guests know the event is outdoors so they can choose lighter fabrics and comfortable shoes. Heels sink into lawns and sand, so a note about flat shoes for a beach or garden ceremony is a kindness.
Protect the food
Heat affects food safety as well as comfort. Keep buffet food covered and out of direct sun, and talk to your caterer about how long dishes can safely stand outside. Cakes with fresh cream need cool storage until the last moment.
Have a backup
Heat is predictable, but so are sudden storms in the rainy seasons. Ask the venue about an indoor alternative or extra tent cover in case the weather turns.
Guests remember how they felt at a wedding long after they forget the decor. A cool, shaded, well-watered crowd will stay, dance and celebrate. A hot, thirsty one will start looking for the car park.
