Tent wedding - August or October

August in Ontario can get hot and humid, but I'd rather that to the cold.

You can find fun ways to keep your guests cool...fans, water features, etc, but sometimes there aren't enough blankets and slippers in the world to make someone feel warm in cooler temperatures.

I am planning our to be 100% outdoors with a tent at the end of August. That said, I’m in Alberta and our weather in the fall can be very unpredictable....as in snow in September on occasion. I would personally have it a bit hot for the afternoon than everyone being too cold. I was at a wedding at the end of September in Ontario and by the time the ceremony was over everyone was frozen! I think doing an outdoor wedding is a gamble regardless, you just need to have a back up plan if the weather goes to pieces

Thank you for all your replies !

I vote October. August is typically humid in Ontario and you'll likely require air conditioning for the tent if you do it then, whereas October is usually similar to spring weather-wise or slightly milder. Allison brought up a few good points I also second.

SO! I vote August simply because I love the heat! I'd rather be hot than cold personally and I think a cool night could put a damper on the evening. The weather does get cold near the beginning of October so you'd definitely be running a risk doing it then.

Tough one! I went to a wedding in late October an hour from Mississauga years ago that was in a barn. We were warned where it was taking place so everyone just brought sweaters. It was more casual simply because it’s easier to dress warmly when it’s not formal.
For August though, I think it tends to start cooling down in the evenings...maybe that’s later in the month-it’s been awhile since I’ve lived in Ontario!
Another thing to consider, which someone told us after we were married, is when and how do you want to celebrate your anniversary. If you want to travel, what is an ideal time to travel. October is starting to get into rainy season in some places but August is still pretty hot too. If you want to travel to a different hemisphere, their seasons are different so you’d be visiting in the winter or spring.

I definitely see your dilemma! The end of July/start of August can be very hot and humid - my friend was going to have a tent wedding August 10 this year, but pushed it back to June 22 because of the humidity concern. She's also getting married at 2pm and reception starting at 5:30 so it would be right at the hottest point in the day.

I'm getting married in October, but everything is indoors so I'm not much help. However, my FH went to a tent wedding in Early September last year where the weather got pretty chilly after sunset (was in Northern Ontario so gets colder earlier on). The bathrooms/tent were all heated so you only noticed the cold when you had to walk to the washrooms.

Since your wedding is later in the evening, having it in August could work out, but I also hate the humidity, especially for a wedding/special occasion so I would be more inclined to go with October.

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Same as having heaters in October, if you have fans in August, I think you're good. I would personally go with August, if there isn't a price difference (sometimes venues charge more for summer, gets cheaper after September).

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Ceremony would be in a church later in the evening, and like I said dinner around 7:00 pm. They also have fans in the tent (not sure how it looks like haha or works). Kind of tempted of nice summer evening wedding.

I was told from the vendor that some brides are renting extra fans, but I don't think I would do that $$$$$$$ lol

Eee.... I love the warmth... so to be honest, I'd vote August. Yes, you have a risk of a hot/humid day, but realistically you also have the risk of rain too, even if less likely in August. I'd rather be in a flowy dress and a little too warm than wearing a coat while I dance because the weather turned super cold...

Especially evening time, if you're not having an outdoor ceremony at 2pm under the beating sun, you're really not even putting people in the heat of the day.

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Oh awesome, yes that should be fine then! As long as its all heated I would say go for October (in my opinion) you won't have to worry about humidity, plus the colours will be starting to turn

Maybe have a basket of blankets for guests to borrow just in case guests get cold

Thank you!

Although, now I am thinking dinner would be served closer to 7:00pm. At that time sun will be lower, setting behind the trees, maybe would not feel so hot. Well it might not even be super hot day...ahhh decisions decisions haha

Thank you for your reply!

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Yes the washrooms are heated and very short walk (2 minutes) from the tent. Thanks for pointing that out!

I was a bridesmaid in a wedding that happened Thanksgiving long weekend about 5 years ago...the tent was heated but it was still a little cool (not uncomfortable though)
its an odd question but are the washrooms heated? Everyone was fine in the tent until they had to go to the washroom which was in its own unheated building a short walk from the tent. Once the sun went down it got COLD...so coming into the tent after that, you just couldn't get warm again.

I'm not in Ontario - but my wedding will be in October aaaaaaaand I'm in Manitoba which tends to be colder than Ontario!

With that being said, we plan on having an outdoor ceremony (given, it will only take about 15 minutes at most) and after supper which is in a pavilion (heaters can be plugged in...) we will be having bonfires (weather permitting)!

I think out of the two options I would go with October though. I didn't want to risk the humid/hot weather with me sweating and on top of that, according to this wedding test here on WW - October is actually turning out to be the most popular wedding month for North America rn (Test time! The Results).

P.S. Congrats on your engagement and welcome to the wedding wire community!