Tips for Planning a Small Beach Wedding
Beach weddings are romantic, fun, and care-free. There is no way you can seriously expect to have a serious beach wedding, as they are quite non-traditional and the beach atmosphere just defies the laws of somber solemnity. Be that as it may, one should not make the mistake of thinking that beach weddings are an easy event to manage: beaches are highly unpredictable locations. So, how do you plan a beach wedding? Simple: hire a beach wedding planner. Hire a meteorologist. Hire a tide observer. Hire someone who studies sand patterns. Hire another to check out wind movements. Hire two other persons for miscellaneous. Sit back and relax with a cocktail.
First, the Beach – there are public beaches, private beaches, and destination resort beaches. A beach wedding would mean sharing the space with other visitors and sight-seers, but if you want your event to be small and private, avoid the public beaches and ask around for people who own beaches and would be willing to let you hold your ceremony on their property. If it is a destination wedding, ask if they can provide you with a secluded beach location, and book in advance.
Daytime wedding? Sunscreen! – It is quite possible that the sun is hottest at the beach. It doesn’t matter what color your skin is: everyone can get sunburn, and skin cancer. Make sure you stock up on sunscreen and tell your guests to do the same, or you are definitely asking for unwanted tans.
Sound system – The waves are a lovely back drop to your private occasion, but they can become a front drop and over shadow every other sound going on at said event. Invest in a good sound system so that the waves won’t take center stage.
Plan for Wind – The waves aren’t the only factor to consider: the wind is there. Like the sun, it seems the wind is, well, windier at the beach. Try to find out how windy your beach options can get at certain times of the day, and plan accordingly (or just get that person studying wind movements).
Do you need that Veil? – Billowing capes are dramatic and cool. Billowing veils can quickly become a nuisance when they refuse to just billow behind you, but whip around your face. Nix the veil, or get an appropriate veil (stylists can help with that: add them to that list of persons to hire).
Ditch the Heels…or Not – Walking on the beach in any kind of footwear is trying, to say the least. Heels? No need to say more. So, one could go for the hidden boardwalk in the sand, or wear some beautiful white sandals (and surreptitiously shake the sand out of them when no one is looking).
There is such a thing as Appropriate Beach Dress, and Hair – That ball gown you want to wear may not be appropriate. Neither is that heavy mermaid dress. Beach wedding dresses need to be of a certain fabric: light and airy. The dress (or dresses) one picks has to be made for the beach, to prevent sand getting trapped in it (or it getting trapped in the sand). Also, the hair do has to made taking the beach clime into consideration (add hair stylist to the list).
Catering and seating arrangements are easier to take care of, as long as those above are properly handled. Last, and most definitely not the least, get a wedding planner versed in beach weddings to advice and guide. And all those other professionals that have been listed above.