When most people envision a beach wedding, the chances are good that you\’re thinking of the white sand, a gentle ocean breeze and a stunning sunset as your backdrop. What you probably don’t envision are unwanted onlookers, strong winds wrecking your hairdo, and tropical bugs biting at your skin. While a beach is indeed a very special venue to get married, oceanfront weddings are not your typical church wedding, so it’s important to take under consideration a few things that you may not have thought of before saying “I do” at an exotic beach location. To help you, here are some top tips that should help make your wedding day at the beach go more smoothly.

Selecting Your Attire

Skip A Bulky Dress – Generally, the beach is known for being a casual place. A big ballroom style dress is not as well as accommodated on a beach as it in at a formal ballroom or traditional church. Walking on the beach will be trickier, as will having your wedding photos taken. If you have to wear a bulky wedding gown, a dress that easily bustles is recommended.

Material Matters – When planning a beach wedding, the bride, and her bridal party are well served to wear dresses that are made or trimmed with lace. Lace is a magnet for beach debris and sand to get stuck in. Dresses made of lightweight materials such as a charmeuse or chiffon allow your dress to flow in the wind. A knee length gown is another option to keep your gown from sweeping the ground.

Forget The Heels – The beach is not the place for heels, especially on your wedding day! Flat shoes are a much better choice because they don’t sink in the sand. Sandals, ballet slippers, wedges or espadrilles are all great choices for a beach wedding. If you’re planning on wearing a longer gown, have it hemmed wearing the shoes you’re planning on wearing that day. Don’t forget that sand tends to heat up as the day goes on, so if you’re planning on going barefoot, be sure to have an aisle runner available so you don’t burn your toes!

Put Your Hair Up – When you’re deciding how to wear your hair, the elements must be taken into consideration. A classical looking up-do will keep your hair looking great throughout the day and into the evening. If possible, do a trial run of the hairstyle you have in mind a day or two ahead of your big day to see how it holds up on location. If you must wear your hair down, consider hiring a stylist to help you with touchups throughout the day.

Skip A Veil – Windy conditions can make wearing a veil hard to manage, especially when taking photographs. Consider accessorizing your hair with fresh flowers or a tiara instead. Both make you feel beautiful without the added hassle!

Let The Men Be Casual – The beach is no place for a guy to wear a stodgy tuxedo! The point of a beach wedding is to keep it fun and casual, so allow the groom and any other men serving in your wedding party to wear a light pair of dressy, or semi-dressy shorts or pants so they stay comfortable throughout the ceremony and into the night!

Your Wedding Ceremony

Ready Your Guests – Be sure that all of your expected guests know that you are having your wedding on the beach. If any of them are traveling to join you for your big day, take some time to make add place “welcome bags” that are packed with items such as bottled water, a travel-sized sunscreen, a hand fan and a small towel under their seat. These items will help them keep cool and protected from the strong rays of the tropical sun.

Use The Natural Beauty Of Your Venue – Unlike basic wedding venues that must be decorated for each and every event, a beach wedding provides a stunning backdrop that needs very little to make it perfect. Should you decide that decorations are in order, take inspiration from the natural resources around you including dune grasses, sand, dune grasses, driftwood and other natural materials. Keeping it simple also helps defray costs associated with expensive island flowers and other more traditional wedding decorations.

Add Contrasting Colors – To make accents really stand out, select colors that are vibrant and contrast with the sand, rather than blending in. Colors like bright yellow, rich purples and hunter green are hues that will not get “lost” in the background like light coral, pale blue, or mint green will.

Work With Local Vendors Or A Wedding Planner – Working with local vendors or a wedding planner make sure that you have everything you need at the venue when you need it. If you are planning to get married at an all-inclusive resort, a consultation with the on-site wedding planner can save you a lot of time and hassle, as they can handle many aspects of your wedding on your behalf. Since they are most familiar with various vendors in the area, you can rely on them to source accordingly and help the local economy.

Have Your Paperwork Ready – In order to make your marriage legally binding, be sure that you have all of the proper paperwork and any needed permits completed to hold your wedding on the beach. If you anticipate that things could get loud, be sure to find out in advance if there are any noise ordinances that need to be followed. Generally, if you’re getting married at an All-Inclusive location, clearance for your beach wedding is assured if you go through the proper channels.

Keep It A Private Event – Not surprisingly, beaches are always crowded on holiday weekends. To keep your private event private, avoid planning your beach wedding when the rest of the world is going to be on vacation. Depending on the wedding location and venue, setting up canopies, aisle runners, and chairs may be strictly prohibited. In places like this you would be well served to rent an oceanfront estate that permits you to have a secluded beach ceremony and take photos on the beach.

Pick The Right Time – To get the best wedding photos, lighting plays a crucial role in capturing the moment. The perfect time of the day to end your ceremony is about an hour before the sun sets. This allows enough time to get plenty of pictures with plenty of natural lighting and more photo opportunities as the sun goes down.

Offer A Shoe Station – If your guests forget they’re going to the beach and wear shoes that aren’t meant for the sand and surf, provide them with a shoe check that allows them to swap their dress shoes for flip-flops and gives them a place to wipe the sand off their feet. It’s as simple as offering a bench, towels and buckets of water to wash the sand away.

Offer A Shady Space – Always remember that some people are sensitive to the bright sun and heat. To help keep guests comfortable consider using a canopy or asking your wedding coordinator to offer guests somewhere shady to sit.

Offer Seating – If you are planning a lengthy ceremony, be sure to offer your guests somewhere to sit. Folding chairs, wooden benches, and waterproof ottomans work well because they\’re sturdy enough to not get blown around by the breeze.

Keep Guests Hydrated – Before the ceremony takes place, set up a table complete with lemonade, ice water, punch or a signature cocktail for guests to enjoy while they’re waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Get Ready For Wind – It’s no secret that beaches tend to get windy. Keep in mind that anything that isn’t properly secured or tied down could take flight if a gust of wind hits it the right way. If you\’re using wedding programs use shells or tie them to chairs with ribbon to make sure they don’t blow away. Another idea is to print them on fans which serve as a way for guests to keep cool if the heat is getting to them. If a flower petal-lined aisle is in your plans, wait until the very last moment before guests arrive to put them down.

Don’t Get “Bugged” – Anytime you’re hosting an outdoor event, there is always a chance that insects will want to join in on the fun and “bug” you. Ways to keep the bugs at bay include the use of insect repellant and plenty of citronella candles burning in the background!

Make Your Voice Heard – The chances are good that you’ve spent a great deal of time writing your vows and planning your the ceremony. On the day of your wedding, make sure your voice doesn’t get lost in the noise of crashing waves and oceanfront breezes. Have your officiant use a wireless microphone and speaker to help broadcast all of your voices throughout the ceremony. In many cases, this is something that your officiant might already have. If not, inquire with the resort or DJ to see if they have one available for use. Don’t forget to complete a sound check before the ceremony starts to get the sound level just right and eliminate unwanted feedback.

Keep It Short And Sweet – One of the great things about a beach wedding is that it isn’t traditional. To help keep guests comfortable, keep the amount of performances and readings limited. Offer any speakers the microphone so that everyone can hear them clearly.

Have A Plan B – The one thing you can’t predict the weather. In case the weather goes sour, be sure to have a backup plan available. This could be an indoor venue or a covered area that shields you and your guests from the weather.

Plan Your Wedding Reception

Secure Your Decorations – The wind can wreak havoc with tall floral arrangements, extinguish candles and send other table decor airborne. As a rule of thumb, avoid using glass vases that break easily in the sand. If you have to have tall centerpieces make sure the florist secures them to the table using heavy objects. This could be adding natural rocks or glass beads to the bottom of the vase. For safety, use hurricane style lanterns with LED candles that can’t be blown out or pose a fire hazard.

Make Sure You Have A Powder Room Nearby – If you’re getting married on a public beach, be sure to locate where the nearest bathrooms are. If you can’t find any nearby, consider hiring an upscale portable lavatory for a few hours, especially if you and your guests are going to be imbibing at the reception.

Keep Your Shoulders Warm – While it might be hot during the day, evenings and nights on the beach can get chilly! To help make sure no one gets uncomfortably cold, offer a basket of comfy, stylish pashminas for your female guests to wear after the sun goes down.

Filled with information and tips for having the perfect wedding, Dean Riley enjoys helping others by researching and providing wedding planning tips. Visit http://www.weddingsbylydia.com/wedding-planning for more wedding planning tips.

Filled with information and tips for having the perfect wedding, Dean Riley enjoys helping others by researching and providing wedding planning tips. Visit http://www.weddingsbylydia.com/wedding-planning for more wedding planning tips.

Author Bio: Filled with information and tips for having the perfect wedding, Dean Riley enjoys helping others by researching and providing wedding planning tips. Visit http://www.weddingsbylydia.com/wedding-planning for more wedding planning tips.

Category: Marriage
Keywords: planning a wedding, private consultations for weddings, wedding design ideas