Sourcing some additional fans might feel like a relatively minor cost overall, but for those hosting, catering and supplying weddings, the financial impact of coping with this summer’s heatwaves has spiralled.
“It has affected the industry massively. You are talking into the thousands [of pounds] for businesses,” says Michelle Miles, board adviser to the UK Wedding Association and founder of the Sustainable Wedding Alliance.
One of the biggest costs wedding venues are facing is the equipment and energy costs of trying to keep a space and food cool, she says.
“[Some] venues are having to bring in air conditioning units; they are at a premium when everyone else is wanting those units to keep their houses cool and businesses.”
Guests are also drinking more water – which brings another issue for venues.
“There has been a massive hit on alcohol sales. Venues would quite often rely on these to boost their profits, and people are…not drinking alcoholic drinks as much as they would on a temperate day,” says Miles.
It is not just the wedding party wilting in the heat but also the flowers. Peonies and roses – some of the most popular choices for a British wedding – saw their flowering window narrow from two months to two weeks.
“It has been an extremely tough growing season with water shortages, drought, no rainfall, slow germination in the heat, flowers going over too quickly,” explains Rebecca, from Lilac and Lace Floral Design.
For a recent wedding, she had to go to three times as many growers to get enough stems.
“For now, it’s more a time cost than a direct financial one. But using more growers often [has] larger delivery costs – I would estimate it costs £200 more in delivery.”