Why have beach weddings become so popular? Besides that fact that we see the news about celebrity beach weddings all the time, who doesn’t love the beach, and wearing wedding flip flops? Well, maybe there are some who don’t, but most people do enjoy being on the beach at anytime for any reason.
It sounds so simple, doesn’t it? But we have heard from many couples who excitedly started to plan their wedding on the beach and soon discovered that it is just as difficult to plan as a more traditional wedding at home.
But don’t be discouraged if you really think getting married ocean-side is the thing for you. It certainly can be done and with some help, the process can be made to run smoothly.
How Much Is It Going to Cost?
This might need to be your first question. If you are assuming that you can put together a simple beach wedding and save loads of cash, you might be disappointed. Certainly, if it is just the two of you and its an elopement, you can get married most anywhere for a reasonably small amount of money. But if you are traveling, guests are traveling, and you are planning a reception event – then the costs will mount up. What we are saying is that you likely shouldn’t plan this kind of wedding to save money, but because the beach is the ideal spot in your mind for your wedding. You will need most of the other stuff you have a wedding at home, and might even need to have a wedding planner who has experienced with sandy wedding locations.
Where Will We Have the Wedding Exactly?
People love weddings, and if you are out in a public area where people are strolling around, they will, we say, they will stop and watch. That maybe alright with you, so go for it. Of course, you might also have people playing games nearby and creating a bit more noise than you like. So maybe you want to keep your wedding event private. This could be something that a wedding planner can do for you…that is, help you find a private beach for your wedding. It might even include a residence on the beach where you and your family/guests can stay. How convenient would that be?
Ocean Tides, Storms, and Noise
Remember what we said earlier don’t talk yourself out it now. If you hadn’t thought of these things before, you can now and be prepared. Tides are not as predictable as sunrise and sunset times, but there is some regularly to them. You just want to check and get the odds in your favor by planning your wedding when the tide will be low. Otherwise, your wedding could face a mini-tsunami.
Regardless of where you might have an outdoor wedding, you have to have a plan B in case of rain or other bad weather. That holds doubly true for a wedding in beach areas. We are talking hurricanes here. You can’t predict a hurricane exactly when you are long range planning your wedding, but you should avoid the seasons of the year that are the worse for the location you are going to. In the event of something less dramatic like a rain storm, if you have rented a resident on a private beach, you could have your wedding in it. Or, if you have an indoor reception site, the ceremony could possibly be moved there. Whatever the plan is, it just needs to be a plan worked out in advance.
About the ocean noise. Yes, the ocean is magnificent, but it can be noisy and overwhelm the voices of the officiant and couple. You should check into a portable sound system that would be adequate for the location and size of the wedding. This is not as simple as back home. Where’s the outlet on the beach? You’ll need some long extension cords or a battery operated sound system. And then as always with mechanical equipment you need to make sure you have someone experienced working with that equipment, knows how to trouble shoot, and make it work for you not against you (think screeching sound).
Another option for reducing problems with wind and noise to get a beach wedding canopy.
Other Little Details:
1. You hope it is a sunny day. Be sure to use sunscreen and consider having sample size bottles of sunscreen available to any of your guests who didn’t think ahead. If it is hot, cold bottles of water on hand are great. Beaches tend to be windy places, so think about getting a simple wedding dress and veil and how to keep it all under control in some wind. For example, small weights can be put on your veil.
2. What beach wedding shoes will you and your guests wear? (If shoes at all!) High heels are out. Make sure your guests know it is not only ok, but preferred to wear sandals or flip flops.
3. Are there little children at your wedding? Most children get bored pretty quickly at any wedding, but with a beach wedding there’s plenty for them to do in their eyes. But you don’t want them strolling off into the ocean. You could have someone hired to tend to the children playing in the sand nearby during the ceremony.
4. Of course, there are other matters you’ll tend to like other wedding including: beach theme wedding invitations; beach theme wedding cakes and cake toppers; beach theme wedding favors, the beach wedding theme decorations, centerpieces and reception.
There’s a lot to think about and plan for as you can see, but if a beach theme wedding is your ideal wedding, you can make it happen.
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