PHOENIX — A record-breaking “extreme heat” warning issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) is upending the Arizona wedding industry this weekend, forcing couples to abandon outdoor ceremonies as temperatures are projected to hit 118°F (48°C).
The heat emergency has sent wedding planners and vendors into a logistical frenzy. What began as a standard spring wedding season has evolved into a high-stakes effort to prevent heat-related illnesses among guests, many of whom are arriving from cooler climates.
Emergency Adaptations and Escalating Costs
For Annabelle Abel, a bride set to wed at the Phoenix Country Club, the forecast necessitated a rapid tactical shift. Originally planning an entirely outdoor affair, Abel has been forced to procure industrial fans, parasols, and umbrellas at the eleventh hour.
“I’d always said I would take 120 degrees over rain,” Abel told local outlet AZ Family. “I didn’t think it would actually be close to 120 degrees.”…