One of the most memorable events in a couple's life is their wedding ceremony. The days when you were required to plan and organize stiff, formal, drawn out affairs are long gone. Today, couples have the opportunity to choose every aspect of their union, which includes the location. What a great time to think "outside the box". Why not go for a more casual ceremony? Perhaps a seaside ceremony with a stylish casual wedding dress.
The first thing to consider is location. Choosing the appropriate beach is crucial to the success of the day. Your dreams might include an exotic destination wedding on a tropical beach, or maybe a local beach closer to home. No matter where the beach is located, here are a few things to consider:
Privacy: Large beaches can be crowded with the public and other weddings. The smaller, less popular beach locations can offer more privacy for your ceremony.
Access: Many beaches are close to the main road, but others can be harder to find, especially if guests are from out of town or unfamiliar with the area. Also, don't make your guests walk a long way to the beach or ceremony location, which may be especially difficult for those with physical limitations (walking in sand is not always easy for everyone). Make sure there's adequate parking close by.
Facilities: Some beaches offer restrooms and shaded areas to help guests stay out of the sun. If your wedding will be short and sweet, or if it will just be you and your beloved, you may not need these amenities. But, if you're planning the reception there also, these things are important features to consider. You might think about providing bottles of water or hand-held fans if guests will be out under the sun for any length of time (you can get these custom designed just for your wedding).
Atmosphere: The tide will affect the cleanliness of the beach. Seaweed, jellyfish and debris may wash up and litter the shore, so be sure to check if the beach will be cleared before the ceremony. If not, you'll need to make arrangements to do this on your own. You don't want to trip over driftwood or have smelly, slimy seaweed ruining the day!
Terrain: All beaches are not the same. Some stretch on for miles; some have soft sand while others are more coarse (important if you are going barefoot); others have rocky outcroppings with cliffs in the background; and some have patches of grass. The size of your wedding and the accessibility for guests will help you determine which of these types of beaches you'll want to use for your ceremony. You could also choose a cliff location overlooking the ocean and skip being out on the beach with the crowds altogether.
Scenery: Consider the time of day for the ceremony and the backdrop of the location because these things will affect your photographs as well as the feel of the wedding.
Regulations: Different countries or states may have specific requirements or fees for beach weddings - not all beaches can be used for weddings or public gatherings. Make sure you check with the local ordinances before deciding on a location.
Don't set up your ceremony too close to the water's edge because the tide may move in on you. Make sure you have an alternative plan in case the weather turns bad unexpectedly on the day of wedding. If you'll be walking in sand, you might want to choose flip flops, wedge sandals or even bare feet for the entire wedding party. It's usually too windy out on the beach to wear a veil and it will just be a distraction and inconvenience while saying your vows.
Brides will want to choose a casual wedding dress that fits in with the natural setting and works with the weather. You should opt for a tropical wedding dress that's comfortable and in a lightweight fabric. Beach wedding dresses can really be anything you want them to be, from a traditional formal gown to a very casual beach wedding dress.
What a romantic vision - a ceremony performed on the sparkling sand, with you wearing flowers in your hair and an enchanting beach wedding dress.
The first thing to consider is location. Choosing the appropriate beach is crucial to the success of the day. Your dreams might include an exotic destination wedding on a tropical beach, or maybe a local beach closer to home. No matter where the beach is located, here are a few things to consider:
Privacy: Large beaches can be crowded with the public and other weddings. The smaller, less popular beach locations can offer more privacy for your ceremony.
Access: Many beaches are close to the main road, but others can be harder to find, especially if guests are from out of town or unfamiliar with the area. Also, don't make your guests walk a long way to the beach or ceremony location, which may be especially difficult for those with physical limitations (walking in sand is not always easy for everyone). Make sure there's adequate parking close by.
Facilities: Some beaches offer restrooms and shaded areas to help guests stay out of the sun. If your wedding will be short and sweet, or if it will just be you and your beloved, you may not need these amenities. But, if you're planning the reception there also, these things are important features to consider. You might think about providing bottles of water or hand-held fans if guests will be out under the sun for any length of time (you can get these custom designed just for your wedding).
Atmosphere: The tide will affect the cleanliness of the beach. Seaweed, jellyfish and debris may wash up and litter the shore, so be sure to check if the beach will be cleared before the ceremony. If not, you'll need to make arrangements to do this on your own. You don't want to trip over driftwood or have smelly, slimy seaweed ruining the day!
Terrain: All beaches are not the same. Some stretch on for miles; some have soft sand while others are more coarse (important if you are going barefoot); others have rocky outcroppings with cliffs in the background; and some have patches of grass. The size of your wedding and the accessibility for guests will help you determine which of these types of beaches you'll want to use for your ceremony. You could also choose a cliff location overlooking the ocean and skip being out on the beach with the crowds altogether.
Scenery: Consider the time of day for the ceremony and the backdrop of the location because these things will affect your photographs as well as the feel of the wedding.
Regulations: Different countries or states may have specific requirements or fees for beach weddings - not all beaches can be used for weddings or public gatherings. Make sure you check with the local ordinances before deciding on a location.
Don't set up your ceremony too close to the water's edge because the tide may move in on you. Make sure you have an alternative plan in case the weather turns bad unexpectedly on the day of wedding. If you'll be walking in sand, you might want to choose flip flops, wedge sandals or even bare feet for the entire wedding party. It's usually too windy out on the beach to wear a veil and it will just be a distraction and inconvenience while saying your vows.
Brides will want to choose a casual wedding dress that fits in with the natural setting and works with the weather. You should opt for a tropical wedding dress that's comfortable and in a lightweight fabric. Beach wedding dresses can really be anything you want them to be, from a traditional formal gown to a very casual beach wedding dress.
What a romantic vision - a ceremony performed on the sparkling sand, with you wearing flowers in your hair and an enchanting beach wedding dress.
