Four Seasons in One Day
Realistically that is what you could get with a summer wedding, if recent years are anything to go by it could get pretty wet. Seemingly gone are the days when you could book a wedding in the height of 'summer' and pretty much guarantee beautiful sunshine and clear blue skies with fluffy white clouds. Sadly the last few summers have shown that the traditional summer's day of July or August can be a chilly, breezy washout which can be a dampner, if you'll pardon the pun if you've chosen your venue because of it's great surroundings and gone for a gazebo and ice cream van for your wedding.
The turtle felt forever was a long time to hold his peace
But that doesn't mean doom & gloom, well not necessarily. In fact steering away from high season can reap you rewards, not just with a chance of better weather but also possibly a better deal. Quite a few venues have high and low season so plumping for a spring or winter wedding could save you a considerable amount of money, or mean you can have a few more guests and save on arguments over whether Auntie Doris, who once sent you a pound coin sellotaped to a birthday card, can come!
From a photographer's point of view summer can present it's own set of challenges. At times (but I can't remember what times) the heat from a high summer sun can be uncomfortable not only for yourself, in all your finery but also your guests who are left cursing themselves for buying the cheap polyester outfit for practicality over cool cotton and linen comfort. Do also spare a thought for the poor Groom. He generally doesn't need an excuse to sweat on his wedding day and as well as checking where the rings are every five seconds he also has to try and locate any nasty looking wet patches before they become a problem. A problem big enough to have to be Photoshop'd (at no extra charge).
Bright and high sun can also cause a bit of squinting from the bridal party and may play a part in where some shots are taken. All can be overcome of course but thinking about a winter wedding could give you a set of photo's that stand out from the crowd. Think black & white shots with bare trees or fairy lights, flickering fire side scenes or a light frost on the ground. Or perhaps an April wedding, with soft spring lighting, beautiful sunsets and an abundance of buds and flowers springing into life.
Cheese? Cake?
Whatever you decide a good professional photographer will work with the weather, whatever the weather and get the very best images possible from your day but I believe the days of thinking a wedding has to be high season to guarantee the need for suntan lotion and shades are a thing of the past and besides it wouldn't be the same without Doris. Would it?