As the mercury climbs, I look at my calendar containing my forthcoming ceremonies and I utter a silent prayer for the humidity to stay low on those days.

The one thing I hate about living and working outdoors in south-east Queensland is our long, hot summer.  If it were a dry heat, I could live with it. But it's not! The humidity creeps down from the north and blankets Brisbane and surrounds with air that is so heavy it leaves you feeling sticky. The minute you begin to move, you sweat. That is what I hate.

For weddings in south-east Queensland, the heat and humidity of summer pose their own special challenges. A couple of years ago a groom almost fainted at a Boxing Day wedding I conducted because he could not cope with 35-degree heat and his formal wedding attire. And he was standing in the shade, too.

A wedding outdoors without shade for the wedding party can be most uncomfortable for every participant - the bride and her attendants smiling as the carefully applied makeup slides away with the sweat - the groom and his attendants pulling at their suits as the clothing clings unmercifully to their backs - and the celebrant who has been out in the sun longer than any of them struggles to carry on with a smile with sliding makeup and sticky clothes! Not to mention the poor guests trying to smile while they fry in their seats!

Indoor venues can be equally challenging if the environment is not comfortable in summer. Ceiling or other oscillating fans just will not properly ventilate a room with 150 people in it in summertime - even if there are windows you can open to further ventilate the venue. If air conditioning is available - crank it up the minute you get inside if the venue hosts haven't already done so.  A bridesmaid almost fainted in a chapel ceremony I did just recently because the old venue just heated up like an oven even with the windows open.

I always discuss venues with my clients as well as the formality of their wedding attire and how they intend to stage things like seating for family/guests.  It's vitally important to raise these issues, in my opinion, because sometimes clients don't think about these things and they end up enjoying their day less because of this.

If you are contemplating a summer wedding, especially one held outdoors, please think about these things. Also ensure you have a ready supply of water at hand in case someone is feeling the heat and needs a drink. Brides, grooms, their attendants and their witnesses (if not in the wedding party) should ensure they stay hydrated on the wedding day, but not with alcohol or spirits. If the bride/groom have the wobbly boot on at the wedding, the wedding can't take place - it's as simple as that, because it's a legal issue. Drunk witnesses must be replaced with sober ones, too. Water on the day is the way to go.

Happy New Year!