13 Summer Wedding Mistakes to Avoid in 2017

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Summer wedding season is officially in full swing. RSVP cards have likely been returned, and brides-to-be are in home-stretch mode. But with the end in sight, there are still a few important summer wedding mistakes to avoid. Below, four top wedding planners explain what makes them cringe most. Some focus on off-putting, clichéd trends for 2017, while others lend words of wisdom that are applicable for the warmest season regardless of the year. Here comes the 13 insightful caveats.

Excessively-Formal Events

“Brides and grooms should remember that summer weddings don’t need to be as formal as weddings during other seasons. Take the warm weather into account, and the fact that not everyone may want to get dressed to the nines. Summer does, however, create the opportunity to incorporate joys of the season into your event—incredible flowers, summertime activities, and fun food like barbecue and Popsicles are worth considering.” —Bryan Rafanelli, event designer

Café String Lights

“They’re a fun and festive addition to a summer evening reception, but the light attracts bugs! Don’t turn your guests into snacks. Instead, be sure to place a lantern with a citronella candle on every table. You can also be creative and incorporate it into your centerpieces.” —Colin Cowie, wedding and event planner

DIY-Everything

“We all love the DIY trend that’s hit the wedding world, but when it comes to a summer wedding, don’t go overboard. An outdoor wedding has the ability to feel more casual than an indoor, banquet-space wedding. But if you’re DIY-ing or skipping the black tie, make sure you don’t go too casual. It is your wedding day, after all. Things that can be safely DIY’d are favors, a refresher station, and fan programs.” —Colin Cowie

Overly Light Food

“Overly light food options. Summer is the perfect time for lighter, healthier, dishes—refreshing gazpacho, spring salads topped with watermelon, chilled shrimp cocktail—all of which are more than weather appropriate. But make sure you have a few hearty options mixed in there to keep your guests going all night on the dance floor! Comfort foods like sliders, barbecue skewers, and lobster rolls are all summer-friendly choices that won’t leave your guests aching for more.” —Mindy Weiss, event planner and Wedding Paper Divas style partner

Neutral Color Palettes

“Playing it safe with a neutral color palette. The all-white, cream, and green wedding is a popular choice for summer weddings because it feels so crisp. But don’t be afraid to take advantage of the rich hues of summer and incorporate a pop of color! Add a splash of rich orange or vibrant purple to really stand out from the rest.” —Mindy Weiss

Minimalism “Going too minimalist. Natural, minimalist wedding decor tends to be big in the summer—but things can end up looking bare. While you don’t want over-the-top decor and overly sculptured florals, you still want things to look fresh, bright, and natural. Think clean linens and loosely arranged wildflowers against an organic, picturesque setting.” —Mindy Weiss

Too Much Alcohol

“Alcohol overload! Summer lends itself to so many trendy drink ideas like fruity lemonade with vodka, summer beers, lemon shandies, sangria, and much more. Just remember that guests need to stay hydrated in that hot weather! Include lots of nonalcoholic drink options and plenty of water stations to keep both the drinkers and nondrinkers refreshed all night.”—Mindy Weiss

Messing-Up the Timing

“Couples should know where the sun will be at ceremony time to make sure that it won’t be shining directly into the face of the bride and groom, or for that matter, the guests. Ideally, the sun should be off to one side or blocked by trees. Additionally, couples should consider the time of sunset when deciding on their invite time. If you are dreaming of a candlelight dinner, you’ll want your dinner to start after sundown, which in May and June could be close to 9:00 p.m. or later.” —Jung Lee, wedding design expert, cofounder and co-owner of Fête

Holding Your Ceremony During Day-Time Heat

“Everyone is miserable when they are all dressed up in a very hot and sunny space. Flowers, food, and waitstaff—like guests—don’t hold up well either. In order to avoid this potential issue, adjust your start time so that your event starts later in the day when the temperature drops and the sun is positioned lower in the sky. Find shaded areas for the ceremony and cocktails. Remember that when guests are uncomfortable, they are most likely not enjoying themselves.” —Jung Lee

Getting Married by the Woods

“Whenever possible it’s better to locate your event away from wooded areas, where insects tend to aggregate. It also makes sense to have a professional spray the property where you will be having the wedding if it tends to be a buggy time of year.” —Jung Lee

Using Mud-Soaked Areas

“If you are hosting some of your wedding on grass, watch for rain in the days leading up to the event. Certain areas may get muddy, so limit traffic in these areas in order to not tear up the grass. Grassy areas that do not receive much direct sunlight may stay wet, making them unusable.” —Jung Lee

Forgetting About Comfort

“Don’t forget about general comfort. Couples should always consider having the following items for an outdoor ceremony or any portion of your wedding that is outside: parasols, fans, and cold water.” —Jung Lee

Not Enough Summer-Survival Essentials

“Not having enough ice, shade, bug spray, or tequila.” —Bronson van Wyck, event planner

This story originally appeared on Vogue.

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