Keep yourself safe by planning ahead

June is the beginning of wedding season. To ensure that the event will go as they want, couples book most things, like venue, catering and entertainment, half a year or more in advance. Naturally, that is too early to know exactly what the weather will be like. Last month, I saw how that can become a serious curveball when I found myself on my way to perform at an outdoor wedding during the hottest weekend of the heatwave!

It is in situations like this when proper planning becomes life-saving. First of all, my contract, which we signed all the way back in September 2025, has a clause stating that the client must provide shelter from extreme weather. Although those words mostly make us think of rain, thunder, hail and snow; the increasingly hot summers have showed us how a clear sky with a bright sun can be just as problematic, if not more.  

Two weeks before the ceremony, when the forecast said that those days would be well above 30°C, I spoke with the bride to know how that contract requirement would be met. She assured me that the venue had something sorted. Their solution was simple: they put me under the shade of lush trees.

It was comfortable for me and safe for my electronics, which can get disrupted or damaged by the sun. It also made it possible for me to play my sax safely, despite the fact that it is an instrument made of metal, and therefore can get hot enough to burn if you are not careful.

In addition, I brought my personal fan, a flannel to wipe sweat, and plenty of hydration. The ceremony and reception were lovely despite the challenging weather, because everybody looked at the forecast in advance and took the necessary precautions.

While it is true that we cannot outmaneuver all weather conditions, and there are moments in which the wise and safe thing to do is to cancel or postpone, proper planning can and do save a lot of situations!