Remembering your wedding day will bring back lots of happy feelings. You want your wedding day to go off without a hitch, and the beach makes a breathtaking scene for your ceremony and celebration.
The excitement of planning a seaside wedding is overwhelming. There are a number of considerations to make before saying "I do." If you're planning a wedding, you'll find lots of useful information and guidance on this blog.
More and more couples are opting for beach ceremonies, but few are aware of the details that must be addressed in advance.
Weddings are difficult to prepare in general, and those set on the beach present additional obstacles. The sand gets everywhere and your guests need to be cool and comfortable. So first things first: where will you get married?
You should start by inquiring with local hotels to find out what services they provide for weddings. The next step, after you've settled on a location, is to talk to your partner about how you can decorate the space.
Seashells are great decorative items because of their natural beauty and simplicity; don't use too many because they may cause allergies! What about floral arrangements?
Before saying "I do," every engaged couple should consider the following questions. Where do you envision your wedding taking place? Please specify the floral arrangements and/or table settings that you prefer. When planning a party, how many people do you recommend we invite to the beach?
Do you want any special accommodations for anyone in attendance? For example, what kind of food do you want to be served at the reception?
Now that summer has arrived, it's time to plan your beach nuptials. This blog post has you covered whether you're just getting started with planning or if you're in need of some solid, workable guidance.
The beach is a popular location for weddings because it is usually inexpensive, it has a laid-back vibe, and it provides a stunning natural backdrop. However, if you want your beach wedding to go off without a hitch, you'll need to put in some serious prep work.
No matter if this is your first or tenth wedding, it's always smart to have a backup plan. We've put together this list of helpful hints to make sure you're prepared with a backup plan in case something goes wrong, from ideas for the perfect venue and a reasonable spending plan to suggestions for how to arrange your dinnerware.
For your sake, we really do hope this is useful!
Why Have A Beach Wedding?
Let's go over the benefits of having your wedding on the beach before we get into the specifics of planning your beach wedding. In a nutshell, here are the features that set a beach apart:
- You won't need a lot of fancy decorations for a wedding on the beach, so it's a lot less stressful to plan.
- It's cheaper, and in many states, there's no charge for using the beach.
- It’s more fun and relaxed without the stuffiness of an overly formal wedding.
- The beach is a romantic, natural setting with an ambience that you won’t get anywhere else.
- Whether you're planning a small, private ceremony or a large, lavish celebration, beaches are the ideal setting for either.
- They’re perfect for a destination wedding.
- Locations on the beach are ideal for the adventurous pair.
These are only some of the reasons that make choosing a beach venue a great idea. So if you're still on board, let's look at how to plan a beach wedding.
Beach Wedding Preparations
Seek Out a Secluded Area
You wouldn't want dozens of random beachgoers to show up and ruin the ceremony by taking photos right in front of you. Rather, try to choose a beach that can provide some seclusion for the ceremony so that you and your guests may truly feel like you're in paradise.
Reserve a Seaside Spot Today!
We've already established that nuptials on the sand are inexpensive, if not entirely free. The use of a beach for a wedding ceremony may be permitted in your state; nevertheless, if you reside near a beach, you should research the laws and regulations in your area. There could be restrictions on activities like drinking alcoholic beverages and throwing rice on the beach, for instance.
A resort's exclusive beach is another option. Don't assume this is beyond your budget; many resorts provide excellent wedding, honeymoon, and guest accommodation packages.
You should be aware that sharing the beach with strangers, including sunbathers and noisy children, is a possibility. Inquire with the resort if you plan on using the beach there.
Think about your guests and whether or not they will be able to join you on your wedding trip. Guests should also be informed that the ceremony will take place on sand so they can dress accordingly.
Send Invitations to Allow Guests Time to Plan
Save-the-date cards are typically sent out no later than eight months before the wedding, but if guests have a long way to travel, you may want to give them a little more notice. It's more probable that people will show up to your wedding if they have plenty of time to plan and save money for the journey.
Although a save-the-date card is helpful for getting the word out about the wedding date, the invitations are the real deal when it comes to setting the tone and introducing your guests to the festivities. Your wedding invitations will set the tone for the entire event, so it's important that they reflect the theme and aesthetic you've chosen.
Include links on your invites to your wedding website so visitors may learn more about the location, attire, and logistics of your big day.
Get Into That Gown!
Beach wedding dresses, especially those worn during the warmer months, should be made of lightweight, breathable fabric. Dresses for formal occasions often have long trains, which can be inconvenient, dusty, and hot.
Prepare for the challenges, but know that a conventional princess style wedding dress will still look wonderful on the beach. In order to prevent it from dragging in the sand, you may want to have it shortened.
Leave the Veil Behind
When the wind picks up on the beach, wearing a veil can be a huge hassle. Because of this, you may end up with a sloppy photo of yourself. A thick veil may be able to hold its own, but why take the chance when there are so many other possibilities, such as flower crowns and hair vines?
Joy for the Bride and Her Feet
Walking in high heels on soft sand is a bad idea. Do not wear high heels, but rather wedges or flats. The option of going barefoot or donning a pair of barefoot beach sandals is also available for those seeking a carefree ambience. Be aware that the sand may be hot and uncomfortable for your feet, and plan accordingly by laying down a fabric runner or carpet.
Set a Beach-Friendly Attire
Your groomsmen might not enjoy wearing heavy suits in the middle of heat, and you really shouldn't wear high heels in the sand. Wearing light, beach-friendly attire that still looks formal is a good idea for the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Outfits for the beach don't have to be laid-back, but they should be practical for walking and lounging.
Proper Timing
In spite of the romantic notion of a sunset beach wedding, after the sun goes down the beach becomes pitch black, and your photographs will lack the desired atmosphere. Instead, pick an hour or two when the sun is still high in the sky and the beach's colours and vistas are at their peak photographic potential.
However, what's the downside? Due to the high temperatures, it is recommended to bring along some shade-providing items such as a parasol or sunscreen, and to pick flowers that can withstand the heat without wilting. Think about the people who will be celebrating with you. It's not right to force children to wait around in the hot sun for long periods of time.
Consider a Plan B
It's wise to be ready for the unexpected when planning a wedding on the beach (or at any outdoor site). You should always be prepared for things to not go as planned.
Think About the Groom's Attire
Black tuxedos might make you feel hot and stuffy on the beach, so it's best to avoid them. Fabrics like linen and cotton are preferable for comfort. Lighter colours, such as whites, browns, and greys, are more appropriate for a beach setting and help to keep the temperature down.
Set up a Shoe Swapping Area
Place a shoe station close to the venue so that attendees may leave their shoes there without bringing sand in with them. Put up a small sign to show where people should put their shoes.
A modest seat with some little towels for guests to clean their feet off with after walking in the sand will do for this purpose. Your guests will appreciate the effort.
Make Sure Your Guests Stay Hydrated
Water and other drinks might help keep your guests cool at a beach venue. As your guests wait for the ceremony to begin, you can have a table with cold beverages put up for them. The heat of the sun can make an extended ceremony uncomfortable, so try to keep things brief.
Tap Into Local Cuisine and Light Meals
You should base the food for your beach wedding reception on local favourites. If the reception is going to be held outside, a hefty lunch may not be what the guests are looking for. Take inspiration from beach life and provide light fare like sushi and a fruit buffet.
Even if you are planning on hosting a more elaborate sit-down supper, you can still get ideas from your surroundings. Those who are visiting from out of town will value the added chance to sample the fare served at local eateries.
Set up a Microphone
At the beach, the noises of the waves and wind can easily overpower human speech, so you'll need to either talk loudly or utilise a microphone. What could be worse than carefully rehearsing your wedding vows, only to have the volume be too loud for everyone to hear them?
Decorate Like Mother Nature Does
The white sand and the deep blue of the ocean provide a beautiful backdrop for your wedding vows, and the scenery is all set. Enhance the contrast by include elements like tropical flowers and other bright colours, or keep the design straightforward by using only whites and blues.
The Best Place Is Not Far Away
An exotic location like Maui or Bermuda is not required for the ultimate beach wedding. Find a nice, calm beach close by that you may take your loved ones to. You can rejoice with the people you care about without breaking the bank.
In addition, a beach is a fantastic location for other wedding events, such as the bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, and wedding party brunch.
Expert Advice for a Perfect Beach Wedding
Capture One-Of-A-Kind Shots
To make sure your summer photo album is full of happy snaps, some professional photographers recommend hiding out with your photographer to get some great beachy shots of your wedding.
Take off your shoes and meet your photographer at the beach at sunset for some very stunning pictures, they say.
Strategize Complimentary Features
Instead of trying to overpower the peacefulness of your environment, try to enhance it with the details of your day-of design.
Floral store owners concur that brides should "select décor that doesn't compete with the beauty of the beach backdrop but rather compliments it, such as ghost chairs and light, airy blooms."
Spotlight Decorative Accents
Decorating your area can be difficult if you don't know how to avoid the room being cluttered, but cleverly placing beautiful touches inside practical components of design is one solution.
Curators of weddings often employ this method to lend a unique touch to the chairs used in a beachy event. The pair added pattern and texture to the room with bespoke chair covers in a colour scheme inspired by the water.
Add a Touch of Tropical Elegance
Incorporating natural simplicity, wedding planner suggests the used dark wood against a sandy backdrop and lined the aisle with palm trees. Her crew built a dark wood canopy and used dark wood Chiavari chairs to create a striking contrast with the powdery white sand.
Don’t Shy Away From Colour
Professional photographers say that bright colours like reds, greens, and corals stand out beautifully against the backdrop of the beach, the water, and the blue sky. If you want to take stunning photographs, "don't be scared to mix and match some bold, solid colours."
Incorporate Playful Features
There is a lot you can do to make your wedding day truly unique by including beach-themed themes into various parts of the celebration. Some ideas include, tied a sailor's knot in the stem of one of the groomsmen's bright boutonnieres to give it a nautical, beachy feel.
Bundle Your Blooms
A beach bouquet is a great way to showcase the summer's brilliant colours. When putting up a bouquet with a variety of tropical tones, some florists recommend letting certain colours really stand out. It feels that springtime is best represented by bright yellows, hot pinks, with a touch of green.
Embellish Your Aisle
The atmosphere of your ceremony can be completely altered by the addition of decorative elements to the aisle, which can serve as a standalone focus point or enhance the look of your altar.
A professional photographer recalls an eye-catching design in which "the height of decorative grasses established a visual anchor up against the beach aisle."
Embrace Modernism
It's easy to get carried into a frenzy of bright oranges, pinks, and yellows while arranging a beach affair. Senior event planners and creative directors, on the other hand, value individuality alongside the incorporation of environmental factors. Using a complementary colour scheme and incorporating beachy textures and hues, "bringing in a modern style is great."
Optimize the View
The proprietor of a flower store suggests taking a spare approach to interior design in order to make the most of the scenic features of a beachside location: The beautiful scenery of the Caribbean was too important to us for us to utilise any decorations that might detract from it at our beach wedding.
Seek a Range of Terrain
A "toes-in-the-sand" advantage of any seaside setting means that less is more for sandy ceremony sites. the original Special Events creator, concurs. It will be much more convenient for the wedding party, guests, and couple to walk down the aisle if there is a grassy knoll or a wooden boardwalk nearby, she says.
Encourage Stress-Free Furniture
Avoiding bulky pieces of furniture is one of the best ways to complement a light background and a gentle atmosphere. An ethereal beach setting can be achieved with the use of ghost chairs, as suggested by the director of a bridal events.
Mild may easily bounce back and forth between the two locations because "The chairs make for a light vibration on the sand," as she puts it.
You Might Want to Consider
- Bugs: Mosquitoes and flies are possible, so don't forget your bug spray. Bug spray is a necessity on the beach.
- Wind: As the beach is often a place of high winds, it's important to take measures to prevent decorations from blowing away.
- Length: You should have a short ceremony so that everyone can relax.
- Toilets: Although public restrooms are available at most beaches and beach resorts, it may be a good idea to rent a portable toilet for the gathering.
- Shade: If a canopy can't be set up, at least make sure parasols are available to your guests.
FAQS ABOUT BEACH WEDDING
An official licence is not usually required to hold a wedding on a beach. To be sure, it is still worthwhile to learn the answer. A permit might not be required, but you should still research any rules or regulations concerning things like alcohol, noise, guest count, and bonfires. Check to see what the special permission covers and how far in advance you need to apply for it if you find out you need one. Such arrangements are normally handled by the wedding team if you are being married at a beach resort.
When planning a trip to the beach, bad weather is a major factor to keep in mind. If the weather takes a turn for the worse, guests will appreciate having a covered area to seek refuge in, such as tents. It's a good idea to have a backup venue in mind in case the weather prevents you from having a beach ceremony on the scheduled date.
Depending on the location and who owns the beach, as well as the number of guests, the cost of a beach wedding might be significantly higher or lower than that of a wedding held in a church or a hotel.
Morning: 8 AM to 10.30 AM
Nontraditional as they may be, many couples have found that having their nuptials early in the morning is the best time for them. The ceremony will run more smoothly and end earlier in the day if it begins early. The best time of day for a wedding on the beach is early in the morning, when the temperature is usually the lowest and the crowds have yet to arrive. You and your guests will feel more at ease and be able to transition more easily into a brunch or lunch celebration if the weather isn't too scorching.
Mid-day: 11 AM to 3 PM
A ceremony in the middle of the day has many advantages, like allowing you to sleep in and giving you more time to get dressed in the morning. As opposed to early morning weddings, this provides everyone time to get ready, including the little ones, making it a better choice for those who are having a large wedding party. The dinner reception that follows can go down without a hitch if the ceremony takes place in the middle of the day.
Late afternoon: 3.30 PM to 5 PM
By now, the sun will have set enough that its rays will be a little less harsh and the temperature a little more bearable. There will be some of the same advantages as the afternoon ceremony, with a more festive mood in the closing minutes as the sun sets. Many couples prefer having their nuptials in the late afternoon so that they can go straight from the ceremony to the reception for dinner.
Sunset: Depends on the time of the year
In order to have adequate time for photographs, it is recommended that the ceremony begin at least one hour before sunset. Don't forget to capture some portraits at sunset as well as some action photos. The softer light at sunset makes for more personal and romantic images, and the cooler weather and breathtaking scenery are further bonuses. You and your guests can skip the cocktail hour and go straight to dinner following this style of ceremony.temperatures and an amazing view. With this type of ceremony, you can also head straight to dinner afterwards with friends and family.
The best choices would be biodegradable ones. The best way to find out what activities are offered is to contact the resort you plan to visit. Popular options for couples include little beach balls, bird seed in a charming carrying sack, dried flowers (lavender, rose petals, etc.), and bubbles (a bottle for each guest).
CONCLUSION
Anyone who is currently engaged or who has recently celebrated their nuptials will attest to the significance of the location they select. The most obvious ones are either to have the ceremony inside or outside, to have the wedding in a holy setting or a exclusive beauty spot, and/or to have the reception at a hotel.
A wedding on the beach could be the beginning of your happily ever after. Envision your guests sitting on the sand as you say your vows amidst a stunning sundown and the soothing breeze of the ocean. You might think a lot of negative things about a beach wedding but remember that it's perfectly fine to keep the decorations for a beach wedding as minimal as you'd like, taking advantage of the beautiful scenery. The colours you choose for your wedding might range from bold contrasts to muted tans and corals to various tones of blue and green. There is no doubt that your beach wedding will look stunning with very little preparation.
You can save money on both your wedding and honeymoon by having both events in one place, such as a beach or other exotic location. Another factor to think about is that it's quite acceptable to invite fewer people to a destination wedding. Family and friends may get closer to you after sharing in an exciting and humorous vacation together. A wedding on a beach is a beautiful and romantic choice. Beach wedding is definitely an option for your dream wedding.
CONTENT SUMMARY
- The beach makes a breathtaking scene for your ceremony and celebration.
- The beach is a popular location for weddings because it is usually inexpensive, it has a laid-back vibe, and it provides a stunning natural backdrop.
- A resort's exclusive beach is another option.
- Beach wedding attires should be made of lightweight, breathable fabric.
- When the wind picks up on the beach, wearing a veil can be a huge hassle.
- Walking in high heels on soft sand is a bad idea. Do not wear high heels, but rather wedges or flats.
- Pick an hour or two when the sun is still high in the sky and the beach's colours and vistas are at their peak photographic potential.
- It's wise to be ready for the unexpected when planning a wedding on the beach (or at any outdoor site).
- Place a shoe station close to the venue so that attendees may leave their shoes there without bringing sand in with them.
- Water and other drinks might help keep your guests cool at a beach venue.
- At the beach, the noises of the waves and wind can easily overpower human speech, so you'll need to either talk loudly or utilise a microphone.
- An exotic location like Maui or Bermuda is not required for the ultimate beach wedding.