So, you’ve decided on a beach wedding. That’s not surprising as they have become much more popular over the last decade. Imagine being on the beach with the love of your life as ocean waves whisper close by, and your family watches as you profess your love with the most beautiful backdrop imaginable. It is truly a beautiful thought, and I’m sure you want your day to go as perfectly as possible. With a beach venue, there are a lot of things that can be done ahead of time to ensure that you have the absolute best day that you can.
How to prepare for your beach wedding:
1. Know your venue
Okay, so you know you want to marry on a beach, but is it a private beach, or is it a public beach? If the beach is private property, well, then you really don’t have much to worry about. But if you are looking to use a public beach, there are some things you need to keep in mind. Depending on the public beach location, you may need a permit to hold your nuptials there. You may also be able to reserve a small section of the beach for your wedding to ensure that there are no unwanted guests nearby. Make sure that you contact the local officials to see what you need to do before your day. You don’t want to get all set up just to be asked to leave.
2. Find the right attire – A beach wedding might mean that you need to consider a different dress or suit depending on what you had in mind. You wouldn’t want a dress with a very heavy train. That would make it more difficult to walk in the sand, and your dress will probably drag sand with it. Look for some lighter options. Also, it might be hot, so consider wearing lighter fabrics. You know that every beach day is impacted by wind, so make sure you’re ready for it. Consider an updo for the day, and reconsider that long veil that you had planned because it could be annoying to control, or even with enough wind, it might just blow away.
3. Décor – The best thing about beach weddings is that the venue itself is one giant decoration. So, there isn’t much need for a ton of extra decorations. Please keep it simple and remember you don’t want anything that will blow away. Consider just a beautiful arch, suitable seating for your guests, and a few decorative items or flowers to pull it all together. Remember that if you are going to include anything lightweight, they need to be weighed down or attached to something sturdy. Also, be careful choosing chairs because they need to be sturdy in the sand. You don’t want any guests toppling over in the middle of your vows.
4. Weather – Yes, it’s the one thing we can’t truly predict, especially on a beach. Beach weather can truly make or break your day. But just because it looks sunny at 4 pm doesn’t mean there won’t be a torrential downpour at 6 pm. Consider renting a tent to keep any unwanted raindrops at bay. That will also help keep you and the guests cool if the sun is out.
You may even want to make arrangements with a nearby indoor location as a backup in case mother nature decides lighting is in the cards for your special day. If you want to keep your wedding outside no matter what, then you should consider wearing waterproof clothes or at least clothes that don’t become see-through when wet. Also, a cute idea: party favor umbrellas to hand out to each guest as they arrive at your ceremony. Then you don’t have to worry about your Uncle Tommy passing out under the extreme heat or Aunt Betty fussing about her hair getting wet.
5. Photographer – This may seem obvious, but always make sure that your chosen photographer has experience shooting on a beach. The lighting is much more complicated, and the wind can make for some blurry, uncomfortable shots. Always make sure that you look at some beach wedding examples, so you know your day will be shot beautifully.
6. Reception – Consider where you want to have your reception. If you’re doing that on the beach too, then you will have to consider everything listed here but to the extreme. It can absolutely be done, but it will be a lot more challenging to make sure it goes smoothly. Even just making sure napkins and tablecloths don’t blow away needs careful consideration.
So, consider having your reception at a location that has the facilities and experience to help you pull this off perfectly. You would have staff there to help as well. This would definitely allow you to relax a little more and enjoy your day.
7. Timing – What time of day do you want to tie the knot? If you’re using a public beach, then this is a critical consideration. Beaches are less crowded early in the morning or in the evening. So, if you want some privacy without a kid trying to build a sandcastle 3 feet away, then consider not having your ceremony in the middle of the day.
With the heat being a factor, beaches are cooler when the sun hasn’t fully risen or set. So, consider having your wedding when the sun isn’t at its peak. I’m sure your guests will be thankful for not having to sweat in their dress clothes.
Following these steps will ensure your beach wedding goes by without a hitch. The most important thing is to plan ahead so that you can fully enjoy your day when it comes. If you’ve already got a plan for when something crazy happens, then you’ll be able to sit back and enjoy your day without worry.
