Beach Wedding

By Dianne In wedding On December 3, 2014

For those who love the ocean a relaxed beach wedding can be very appealing. But beach weddings can also have their pitfalls and problems that you should be aware of.

Here are a few tips to help make your beach ceremony the idyllic, coastal wedding of your dreams.

The Dress: There are a few things to remember when buying a wedding dress to suit a beach ceremony. You definitely do not want to get a gown with a train no matter how small the train is, as chances are it will get sandy and wet and you are left uncomfortable not only for the whole of the reception, but also keep in mind….. that the magical moment of dancing your bridal dance with a heavy, wet, sandy hemline is going to be extremely challenging to say the least.
As most beach wedding are held in summer you may find your Special Day, turns out to be an extremely hot day, so it’s best to choose a gown with a breathable fabric that won’t leave you overheating.
Remember; High Heels and sand definitely do not work well together…..But you are in luck as there are some lovely beaded alternatives that look gorgeous, whilst you and your bridesmaids, are in fact unbeknown to your guests still bare footed.
Visualise your ceremony: Do you imagine a formal affair or something more causal. How formal or informal your ceremony is will affect most aspects of your wedding planning from invitations to dress codes. It is important to keep the comfort of your guests in mind when you make your decision. It is not always practical to have a very formal wedding if you’re planning to have your ceremony on the beach.
Decide how many guests you want to have: If you are having a small wedding it is not as necessary to provide seating, unless you have elderly or heavily pregnant guests where a few chairs may be necessary, as it is if you are having a larger wedding guest list. But do check with the Council that you are allowed to have chairs on the beach before hiring them.
Make sure your guests are comfortable: If the forecast is for hot weather consider providing cold water and parasols as your guests arrive on the beach.
Make sure your vows and the Ceremony will be heard by your guests: The ocean is without doubt a beautiful backdrop for a wedding, however, it can be very noisy with the wind and the sound of the relentless crashing of the waves. You will need to make sure your Celebrant is going to use a public address system so your guests can hear your ceremony.
Choose the best time of the day: As the middle of the day is generally the hottest time of the day on the beach, Mid-day ceremonies should be kept shorter than morning or afternoon ones.
Find your perfect spot: Scout out your preferred beach at different times of the day to see where is busiest or has the most shade or least wind. Once you have picked your location consider if you want any decorations like sails, candles or torches and then check to see if the Council allows them.
Check what the tide of the ocean is going to be for the day of your wedding. You don’t want half way through the Ceremony for everyone to have to scramble up the beach interrupting your Ceremony as the waves come higher up the beach and lapping at the bottom of everyone’s dresses / pants and feet.
Consider using bubbles instead of confetti or rose petals as most Councils won’t allow the later.
Don’t be a litterbug: Make sure you assign someone to be on litter duty to pick up those empty water bottles etc., and make sure that nobody leaves anything provided for your ceremony behind on the beach.

Enjoy your planning and …I’ll see you on the beach!

Dianne.

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