Hosting a Summer Celebration at Alto Vineyards Winery: 8 Essential Components to Consider

One of the biggest days of your life is well on its way. The roads leading up to say ‘I Do’ at the end of the altar are fraught with checklists and a lot of planning.

Having a wedding at a vineyard during the summer season is ideal, as it provides both great weather and a picturesque location for beautiful events.

For your wedding, you need to ensure both the wedding party and the guests are comfortable in order to enjoy your wedding at its peak.
In this article, we look at eight key components that will make your summer wedding a day to remember.

Prioritize your guests’ comfort
It doesn’t matter if you are having an intimate event or a large-scale one, the people coming out in support of your wedding hold a special place in your heart. Guests play an integral role in several other factors affecting the venue - including the venue and budget among other aspects.

One of the ways to ensure that they have a great time and are comfortable throughout the wedding is to consider a dress code that will be suitable for the weather. For example, if you are having your wedding at a winery destination in Southern or Central Illinois, then you should enforce a ‘smart casual’ dress code that will allow guests to wear sun dresses, chinos, and other summer-related clothes.

Upon arrival at the venue, consider providing your guests with parasols or sunglasses if the ceremony is taking place outdoors, or alternatively, provide them with hand-held fans to help alleviate the heat when outdoors or indoors.

The venue details
There are many wineries up and down the country that will serve as an ideal backdrop for the union of two people in love. However, in the summer you need to make sure that your you utilize facilities during the day to minimize your guests’ exposure to the beating sunlight.

It is important to thoughtfully utilize the outdoor uncovered and shaded areas, as well as indoor ones with air conditioners, for the ceremony and reception activities. This will allow your guests and the wedding party to enjoy the perfect summer weather without having to worry about handling the heat.

In addition to shade and air conditioning, you need to discuss with the event manager and ensure that all the requirements are met to store and prepare the food and drinks for your wedding without the risk of them spoiling due to the weather.

Logistics concerns
Because weddings at Alto Vineyards are destination weddings, you would have to make logistic arrangements i.e, bring everything together on the day of the wedding or the day before to make it a success.

Depending on how far from your hometown our venue is, you may have to look at accommodation for you and the wedding party. You may have to consider transportation or accommodation for the guests as well.

Summer is a peak season for vineyards, so you will have to book accommodation and vendors months in advance to ensure that you are not disappointed.

Your plans need to factor in when the perishables that you are purchasing make it on time for your event. For example, if you plan on having fresh produce in your meals, it would be preferable to purchase wholesale and have it delivered ahead of time by a small margin, rather than on the day of the wedding. Another factor would be flowers, they need to come in on the day of the wedding or night before to protect them from damage and wilting.

That being said, you must be flexible, have several contingency plans in place, and be prepared for various challenges or last-minute changes.

One of the ways to overcome certain struggles is to conduct test runs for whichever aspects are within your control - such as rehearsal weddings, dress fittings, taste tests, etc.

The attire
On your wedding day, all eyes will be on you. When you are picking out your attire, you need to consider clothes that will work well in the seasonal temperature. The last thing you may want is to sweat in layers of lace and material and feel uncomfortable on the happiest day of your life.

Fabrics, silhouettes, and color choices play a big role in choosing dresses for the bride and wedding party. There are many summer-friendly dresses that will still have the bride feeling like a princess on her special day.

Hydration stations
You may consider setting up refreshment stations for your special day. Not only will this refuel your guests throughout the event, but it will also serve as a way for them to stay cool and hydrated.

Your refreshment stations can include ice drinks and coolers, decanters with infused water, water bottles, lite snacks, summer fruit bites, and other care products such as sunscreen and fans to beat the weather. Alto Vineyards has a selection of wines that will satisfy every taste and will provide refreshing treats for your guests throughout your event.

Alternatively, you can provide your guests with a goodie bag that has all the essentials to keep them cool and hydrated during the wedding. The bag can include a cap, snacks, water, and even a small bottle of hydration mist that will keep them cool and won’t affect their makeup.

Time to host the wedding
In the summer, you are bound to feel the heat, but it is natural for the intensity of the weather to dwindle at certain parts of the day.

The weather is usually at its peak around noon, so you can consider having your wedding at times when the weather is not too intense. This would mean having either a morning wedding or a late afternoon wedding that can play out into the evening. You will still need to have in place means to protect your wedding party and guests from the elements, but these options will provide reasonable temperatures to celebrate in.

Food and drink
The menu is one of the most crucial aspects of your wedding. When planning out your menu, you should consider food that will be in season and foods that are fresh and light - most importantly, they need to be in line with your theme. You can pick freshly prepared lobster to go in pasta, chicken for salads, a sushi bar, flatbreads, and bruschetta to name a few.

Because of the warm weather, consider having summer desserts that will soothe the palates of your guests - opt for sorbet, ice creams, and fresh fruits as part of the offerings you serve,

For the drinks aspect, you can pair the meal courses with wine from Alto Vineyards or request specialty wine drinks like sangrias or mimosas. Get in touch with a sommelier, who will provide you with the right options of wine that will elevate your menu.

For dining, you can choose to have a sit-down dinner or a buffet with various refreshment stations around the venue for when guests mingle with each other.

Sound considerations
Music is important to any wedding. Consequently, you may wish to set up a good PA system so that your guests may better experience the message of your chosen songs.

Also, in the vineyard, it may be difficult to hear the ceremony. The sound system will facilitate the sharing of vows and the emotion of the event.

Announcements to your guests will be better conveyed with this sound system. Upon request, Alto Vineyards, and most other venues, will provide all of your sound needs via a state-of-the-art PA system, microphones and stands, and bluetooth music streaming capability.

Final thoughts
Planning for a summer vineyard wedding is exciting when you think about all the beauty and atmosphere it will consist of. But in the midst of summer, there is the heat and intense sunlight that need to be factored into your plans.

There are several ways you can make accommodations for this during your wedding plans, this includes creating a relaxed dress code, opting for a light summer menu, considering where in your location the ceremony will be held, and keeping guests hydrated and cool at all times. Integrating the craft wines and beautiful venue that Alto Vineyards offers will add a customized and unique element to your day. Together all of these factors will help make sure that your wedding is an enjoyable and memorable experience for all in attendance.

Contributed by Rosie Maclean who is a writer passionate about luxury, fashion trends, and the living large lifestyle. She captures opulence and elegance in her stylish, insightful articles, inspiring readers to embrace a life of sophistication and glamour.

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