Every wedding weather conversation I have with couples is about rain. Nobody plans for heat. And yet the number of summer weddings in the Northeast that have hit ninety-plus degrees on the day of has increased noticeably over the last decade, and it is going to keep happening. Rain plans are discussed at every venue tour. Heat plans, almost never. I want to write about a recent Brooklyn Botanic Garden wedding because it is the best example I have seen of a couple making the right call about heat, well in advance, and being rewarded for it.
What happened
The wedding was at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden on a very hot day. The couple had originally planned an outdoor ceremony. On the morning of the wedding, thinking about their older guests and the approaching heat, they made the mindful decision to move the ceremony into the Palm House. It was a same-day decision, made with care and communicated calmly to everyone involved. No panic, no last-minute scramble. Just a thoughtful adjustment to what the day was actually going to be.
Their florist brought the arrangements inside. The Palm House became the setting for the ceremony. Glass, plants, filtered light, and cool enough that everyone could be present. The wedding photographed beautifully. The room had its own character and the florals adapted naturally to the indoor space.
How we handled portraits
We did the couple’s portraits earlier in the day at the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge in DUMBO, before the heat peaked. We stepped outside briefly, got what we needed, and moved on. This is one approach if the timeline allows it. If your timeline calls for portraits during the hottest part of the day and that is the plan you want, that can absolutely work too. It just needs a little extra preparation, which is worth talking about.
The Palm House ceremony happened later in the day, indoors, in a controlled environment. The two parts of the day worked together because they were planned around the weather, not against it.
How to prepare if you are going ahead with heat
Not every couple will move inside, and not every couple should. Sometimes the outdoor plan is the whole point of the wedding, and standing in the heat with the people you love is exactly the day you want. If that is your call, here is what actually helps.
- Hydrate your guests. Water stations at the ceremony space, cold drinks passed on trays, coolers of small water bottles at the ends of aisles. Whatever your budget allows, err on the side of more water than you think you need.
- Shade and fans. If the ceremony space allows it, a tent or umbrellas over the seating. Handheld paper fans on every chair. Battery-powered misting fans are inexpensive and hugely appreciated. These small things change the entire experience of an outdoor ceremony in heat.
- Timing. If you can shift the ceremony fifteen or thirty minutes earlier or later to catch a slightly cooler window, that is one option. If you cannot, no problem. A shaded cocktail hour after the ceremony gives everyone a chance to recover.
- Wedding party care. Everyone standing in formal clothing in heat needs somewhere cool to be before and after the ceremony. A hotel room with air conditioning. A green room at the venue. A tent with fans. Anywhere with real cool air is worth arranging.
- Personal preparation. Eat and drink water in the morning. Have someone whose job it is to bring you water throughout the day. The exhaustion of a hot wedding day is real, and small preparations make it manageable.
If you are choosing to move inside
The decision to move inside is a personal one, and both directions are right for different couples. If moving inside is the call you make, whether ahead of time or the morning of, communicate calmly with your vendors and let the day adapt around you. Vendors are used to this. A calm decision made with intention will always be smoother than a panicked pivot in the last hour.
The Palm House at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is one of the most photogenic indoor wedding spaces in Brooklyn. Not every outdoor venue has an equivalent indoor space. This is worth asking about when you are booking a venue. What does the indoor backup actually look like? Does it have enough capacity for your guest count? What is the ceremony flow if you move inside? If you like the answers, you have built-in flexibility. If you do not, you know what you are working with.
Venues with strong indoor spaces if heat is on your mind
A few of my favorites for couples who want beautiful indoor coverage as either the plan or the backup.
The Foundry in Long Island City has real indoor character. Brick, industrial, plants, natural light. It reads as a full wedding venue whether you use the outdoor courtyard or stay entirely inside.
Tribeca Rooftop has substantial covered indoor space alongside its rooftop, which means you have flexibility built in without giving up the city.
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, with the Palm House, as I have already mentioned.
And more broadly, if the thought of weather anxiety is going to stress you out during planning, a beautiful fully-indoor venue is a legitimate choice. You do not have to book an outdoor venue with an indoor backup. You can just book a gorgeous indoor venue and never once think about the weather. That is its own kind of freedom on your wedding day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is considered too hot for an outdoor wedding?
Anything above eighty-five degrees with humidity is uncomfortable. Anything above ninety is genuinely difficult for older guests and anyone with health considerations. Anything above ninety-five is a real health risk for extended outdoor exposure. Use these as guidelines rather than hard rules, and pay attention to humidity as much as to temperature.
Should I move my ceremony inside if it is going to be hot?
If you have older guests, guests with health conditions, or any guest population that will suffer in the heat, yes. Make the call as soon as the forecast is clear. Same-day decisions can work if they are made calmly, and sometimes the day-of picture is the only time you can see the heat honestly.
What is the Palm House at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden?
The Palm House is a large glass conservatory building on the Brooklyn Botanic Garden grounds that hosts weddings and events. It is one of the most photogenic indoor wedding spaces in Brooklyn and works especially well as a backup or primary space for ceremonies during hot weather.
Is there an ideal time of day for outdoor portraits during a hot summer wedding?
Early morning and early evening are more comfortable for the people in the frame. If your timeline calls for midday portraits and that works for your day, it can still be a beautiful session with a little preparation for shade and hydration.
Do we need to tell guests in advance if we move the ceremony indoors?
You do not have to. Most guests will figure it out when they arrive. If you have a specific reason to give a heads up, like a guest whose mobility is affected or someone traveling from far away who might arrive at the outdoor space by mistake, reach out to them personally. Otherwise, the day handles itself.
What happens to florals if we move the ceremony indoors on a hot day?
Your florist adapts. Arrangements designed for outdoor use translate cleanly into an indoor space. Talk to your florist ahead of time if the possibility is on the table so they can be ready either way.
What if our venue does not have a great indoor backup for heat?
Talk to your venue about what they do have and what your options are. Consider a tent with air conditioning. Consider going ahead with the outdoor plan and preparing thoughtfully for the heat with water, shade, and fans. All of these are legitimate. There is no single right answer.
The short version
Heat is a real factor most couples do not plan for as much as rain. If your outdoor wedding is looking hot, you have options. You can move inside if your venue allows and it feels right. You can go ahead outdoors with thoughtful preparation. You can also just book a beautiful, fully indoor venue from the start and skip the anxiety altogether. All of these are legitimate. What matters is that you know your options and pick the one that fits your day.
If you are planning a summer wedding in New York and want to talk about how to build your day around the weather, get in touch.
