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Patrick Properties Hospitality Group

4 Tips To Keep Your Charleston Wedding Guests Cool For the Summer

May 12, 2016
4 Tips To Keep Your Charleston Wedding Guests Cool For the Summer
Virgil Bunao

It’s no secret that Charleston is a top summer travel destination – the days are long, the ocean breezes warm and the living is… well, you know. Think baseball games and beach chairs, art strolls and farmer’s markets, riverfront barbecues, scenic boat cruises and cocktail hour in the shade of a wide Southern porch. Sounds like an absolute dream to us (and, we’d bet, to a hundred or so of your closest friends & family!).

There are so many reasons to love a summer wedding in Charleston, especially with the fun & creative touches to keep your guests cool on today’s blog! Considering a celebration in the months of July and August? The PPHG event pros are here to show you that there’s nothing to sweat.

Keep your guests happy & hydrated

Before the ceremony begins, invite your guest to hydration stations set with chic glass apothecaries and infused water in your favorite combinations: citrus and basil, summer berries or fresh cucumber and mint. Or, greet them upon arrival with Lowcountry lemonade and iced tea, and pass bubbles alongside refreshing signature cocktails to kick off the celebration.

Lighten up with a seasonal wedding menu

Keeping the menu on the lighter side will energize your guests on a balmy summer evening, rather than weigh them down. Our Patrick Properties culinary team makes planning easy with selections like chilled gazpacho, swordfish tacos and salmon tartare on cucumber rounds. A raw bar with local oysters and shrimp with stone crab claws will be a hit. Lowcountry produce is also at its peak, so take full advantage! Think grilled Blackbird Farms vegetables or compressed watermelon with mint and feta. Icy treats like gelato or ice cream sandwiches for dessert? Yes please!

Create a stylish place in the shade

Lowndes Grove and The William Aiken House showcase incredible open-air settings, from lush gardens and bluestone courtyards to expansive terraces with a riverfront view. There’s plenty of room to get creative with dreamy décor that also invites guests to cool off out of the sun. How about a breezy draped cabana overlooking the Ashley River, or a lounge area beneath the shade of magnolia branches? Lawn umbrellas are another great touch for outdoor ceremonies that can double for your reception.

Celebrate summertime with cool, personal touches

Have fun with colorful fabrics and patterns, and play up the season with a few of our favorite details: authentic sweetgrass fans and cold lavender-scented towels, personal facial misters, and favors like sunglasses and flip flops that encourage guests to kick off their shoes!