There is nothing more beautiful than holding a wedding in summer and being able to take advantage of the great outdoors without providing buckets for soggy umbrellas and cramming guests into stuffy wedding halls. Here are some of the many ideas out there to make your dream wedding unforgettable.

The Ambiance

The color trends this summer are lush green and blush pink. You can carry this through to flower arrangements, retinue attire, and overall décor. The latest theme is soft and delicate details such as vintage floral tablecloths, floral patterns in general, including on invitations, menu cards, and reception cards. For table center pieces one wedding nailed it with arrangements of soft pink and white roses in bud vases in the center of each round tables, along with taper candles and votives.
Holding a garden wedding is always a delight with marquees draped in vine–inspired florals overgrown on pergolas from ceiling to floor or just seating arranged in a gorgeous, flowering garden, or even by a pool. Another budding trend is to hold weddings in iconic buildings or settings like museums, libraries, or castles. Walking down an isle draped in delicate flowers and even with the sea or sunset in the background is as good as it gets. One couple joined their guests in releasing wish lanterns into the tropical sky. Don’t forget an outdoor dance floor.

The Dress

Since casual, bohemian-chic is all the rage this summer, try a lacy wedding gown that flows naturally and enhances your figure rather than a stuffy, over-the-top dress that makes you look like a meringue or worse, an 80’s prom dress gone wrong. The look is sensuous, yet understated with flowers that form part of your hairstyle and don’t sit on your head like a crown. If you prefer classic styles, aim for one with clean lines and that you can still dance in. Your bridesmaids can wear lace or soft chiffon in the pastel shades of your choice and will thank you for their freedom of movement.

The Menu

Jung Lee, wedding design expert and cofounder and co-owner of Fête, says “Unique and health-conscious options are also a huge trend we’ll see for summer. Rather than offering starchy pastas, couples are opting for dishes such as legume or zucchini pastas and cauliflower rice or steak. Lighter food allows guests to keep dancing into the night’s late hours. For dessert, customized Popsicles and shaved ice in vibrant, bold hues and macaroon ice cream are big.”
Have an outdoor cocktail hour with a Champagne bar, complete with made-to-order cocktails, refreshing signature drinks, bubbly-infused Italian ices, a lavish cheese spread, along with breadsticks and fruit, and why not snow cone or ice cream carts?

For the dessert table treat guests to a decadent spread including fruit tarts, mini eclairs, and two standout cakes — not to mention the bridal cake. According to Bryan Rafanelli, founder and chief creative officer of Rafanelli Events “Naked cakes, once all the rage, are getting covered up just a bit by icing that drips off the top and along the tiers. [This exposes] the layers of cake and icing, and it can still be decorated with other details.”

Whatever your amazing summer celebration includes, end off with a bang. One couple concluded their wedding with an explosion of white and gold fireworks to Édith Piaf’s “La Vie en Rose.”