Your Guide To Planning A Beach Wedding

Planning a beach wedding is a lot of work. If you want to make the planning process easier, you need to be realistic about what you can and can’t control. So let’s talk about the one thing you can control: the location. If you’re planning a wedding, you have lots of options. But if you want the ultimate beach wedding, you need to know about the planning considerations that come with the territory.

How to walk.

If you don’t want to go barefoot or wear sandals, consider a hidden wooden walkway for your aisle so you can more easily walk in your heels.

Accommodate guests.

Look into accessibility for your guests. Many beaches – especially those that may be more private are only reached by steep staircases. Help guests beat the heat by supplying sunscreen, fans, and even sunglasses.

Have a plan B.

As with all outdoor weddings, have a back-up plan in case of weather.

Public or private?

Private beaches are difficult to book unless you’re having a very intimate wedding. Public beaches allow for more guests, but require a permit and usually can’t guarantee a way to keep out curious onlookers.

For the reception.

If you hold the reception on the sand, you’ll need to rent tents and may need permits for serving food and drinks. Most beaches don’t allow alcohol for regular beachgoers, but you can always check to see if there are exceptions for events.

Always research.

The key is to research your local beaches and find out their requirements regarding the amount of guests allowed, privacy, alcohol, bonfire rules, etc.

Engagement length.

Because of the difficulty with finding a location and all the permits and ordinances to keep in mind, longer engagements are often better for beach weddings.

Sound issues.

You should have microphones for the ceremony, as it will likely be hard to hear the proceedings over the sounds of the ocean and wind.

Experience counts.

Find a planner who has done beach weddings before, so they will be familiar with the necessary permits, ordinances, and other issues that may come up. The same goes for a photographer – lighting can be tricky by the water.

Consider properties.

Beach resorts are a great option since they deal with weddings regularly and often have some wonderful all-inclusive packages.

Accessory choices.

Cathedral veils, no veil, a headpiece, or pretty flowers in your hair are better in the wind. Longer veils flow beautifully, while shorter styles can wind up in your face. Although beach waves may seem like a natural choice for your wedding hair, an “updo” will keep hair out of the way.

Have a Daytime Ceremony

The ocean presents one of the most beautiful settings so couples should consider having their wedding during daylight hours, Once the sun drops below the horizon, the water goes black and unless you have a full moon, the sea is lost. But having a daytime wedding means you need to consider choosing a ceremony design and flowers that can hold up in the heat.

Have a daytime ceremony; at night the ocean is hard to see, especially in photos. Even sunset is risky, as once the sun sets, it sets fast. If you’re expecting hot weather, morning nuptials will help everyone stay cool.

Prepare a Wind Plan

As much as you think the rain is your enemy at a beach wedding, it’s the wind you need to worry about, windy afternoons and evenings can be chilly, sandy, or completely drown out the sound for the ceremony. Take time to learn about the typical weather for your particular destination and always have a backup plan.

The right dress.

A sheath dress in a lighter fabric will feel better on the sand, and grooms might be better off without a suit jacket.

Not all dresses, fabrics, and veil styles work for a beach wedding. An airy sheath is most sand-friendly, but if you want to wear a gown with a fuller skirt, make sure you choose a dress constructed of a lighter fabric that allows for more movement.

Also, don’t be afraid of trying a colored option, pale pink and pale blue dresses for the beach. keep in mind a veil is a bit like a sail in the wind. The less fussy your veil, the prettier your photos will look.

Have a Sound System

Between the wind and the waves, there’s a lot of background noise at a beach wedding, always suggest using a microphone for the ceremony. Also, make sure you use a windscreen cover for the microphone so that your guests are not frustrated by the fact that all they hear is the wind and not your vows.

Many seaside resorts are anchored by beautiful beaches, but unless you “bought-out” the property, you might have to share your wedding venue with hotel guests. If the possibility of having little Sally splashing around and yelling during the ceremony concerns you, make sure you ask the resort if privatizing the beach for your wedding is possible before you book.