If you’ve ever experienced summer in Virginia, you know there are hot days… and then there are hot, humid, walk-outside-and-immediately-feel-it days.

Emily and Dave’s wedding at The Maine of Williamsburg was definitely the latter.

The humidity was intense, but you would never know it from the joy throughout their day. They were surrounded by the most amazing friends, shared some of the most heartfelt vows, and spent so much of the day laughing together.

And while we couldn’t control the weather, we could prepare for it! Having a great wedding team, a little flexibility, and a few surprisingly simple things on hand made all the difference.

When Virginia Humidity Shows Up on Your Wedding Day

This was one of the most extreme examples of humidity I’ve encountered on a wedding day.

Every time we wanted to move from the air conditioning to outdoor portraits, we had to plan ahead. The temperature difference was significant enough that I needed to leave a camera outside for about 10 minutes before we planned to take outdoor photographs. Otherwise, the lens would immediately fog.

And it wasn’t just the cameras!

Some members of the wedding party who wore glasses experienced the exact same thing. It really was that humid.

It’s a small detail most couples would never think about, but it’s a good reminder of why I always recommend leaving a little breathing room in your wedding timeline. Sometimes we simply need a few extra minutes to adjust.

A Few Tips for a Hot Virginia Summer Wedding

If you’re planning a summer wedding in Virginia, a few simple things can make everyone much more comfortable.

Fans are your friend! Handheld or battery-powered fans are easy to keep nearby and incredibly helpful between photographs.

Have plenty of cold water available and make sure you’re actually drinking it. Wedding days move quickly, and it’s surprisingly easy for hours to pass without stopping for water.

I also recommend keeping a soft cloth or handkerchief nearby to gently blot sweat between photographs. It’s simple, but on a really hot day, you’ll be glad you have it.

And don’t be afraid to adjust the photography plan.

We don’t need to spend 45 uninterrupted minutes outside just because that’s what the timeline says. We can take photographs, head inside to cool down, drink some water, and go back out when everyone is ready.

This is also where having a great wedding team matters so much. The best teams know when to follow the plan and when to adapt it. On a day like Emily and Dave’s, that flexibility allowed them to enjoy their wedding instead of worrying about the weather.

The Weather Wasn’t the Story

Yes, it was hot.

Yes, it was incredibly humid.

Yes, we had cameras and glasses fogging up every time we walked outside.

But none of those things are what I’ll remember most about Emily and Dave’s wedding at The Maine.

I’ll remember their people.

They were surrounded by the kind of friends who make a wedding day better—the ones who laugh with you, jump in when something needs to be done, and celebrate your marriage wholeheartedly.

And I’ll remember the vows.

Dave’s words were heartfelt, romantic, and incredibly funny. There was so much genuine emotion throughout the day, but there was just as much laughter.

Those are the moments you can’t manufacture for photographs.

And Then There Was the Bubble Exit

The perfect ending to the day?

Bubbles. So many bubbles.

We brought bubble guns to help fill the space, and when those bubbles caught the flash—WOW.

They seemed to glow around Emily and Dave as they made their way through their friends and family. There was movement everywhere, huge smiles, and so much energy.

It was one of those moments where something incredibly simple turned into a little bit of magic.

And it felt like the perfect ending to their wedding—joyful, fun, and surrounded by the people they love.

Celebrating Emily & Dave at The Maine of Williamsburg

Years from now, Emily and Dave aren’t going to look through their wedding photographs and remember how much everyone was sweating.

They’re going to remember the laughter.

They’re going to remember those heartfelt vows.

They’re going to remember the friends who surrounded them.

And they’re going to remember running through a sea of glowing bubbles at the end of the night.

That’s the story worth preserving.

If you’re planning a summer wedding in Williamsburg or elsewhere in Virginia, I’d love to help you create a photography timeline that gives you beautiful photographs while leaving plenty of room to actually enjoy your day.

Let’s connect!