Ceremony ideas for a beach wedding

You've picked a beautiful location to get married. You will want to be sure that your guests are comfortable on the beach. If you are going for a more casual feel to your wedding, make this known on your invitations...something like "Attire is beach-casual". I would then make sure that flip flops are provided for each of your guests. We have some lovely "Just Married" flip flops on my wedding decor site that make an imprint in the sand as you walk!

As for seating. I would stick with chairs versus beach blankets. This way it's not awkward for your female guests in dresses to sit and stand.

A veil is not out of the question, but consider the wind when getting married on the beach. You don't want your veil to block your guests' view from seeing how beautiful you are on your wedding day!

Hope that helps!

Ever After Celebrations

www.weddingdecorplus.com

www.favorseverafter.com

I agree that you should denote on your invites that the dress is beach casual. I think it would be cute to have a place for shoes as you walk onto the beach. Maybe have a family member who's not already in the wedding run a "Shoe Check"-like a coat check-each person gets a ticket and the corresponding number goes on their shoes. Or you could let guests worry about their own shoes and carry them. I would say use chairs if the ceremony is going to be longer than 20 minutes. And really think about your guests-will Great-Grandpa George be able to stand in the sand for 20 minutes? Maybe you could have 2-3 rows of chairs for "Older" people/Honored Guests and have everyone else stand. I agree that blankets may get awkward with skirts. As far as acoustics and a veil, it will COMPLETELY depend on the day. I would say get a friend to go out to the beach with you and take a guitar-see how far away you can hear it. Maybe the veil could somehow be tacked to the back of your dress.

Congratulations for your beach wedding. My experience is that the acoustic guitar can have a pick up attached to it and connected to a small rechargeable amp. My husband has one and it was not too expensive. The music store can rent one too. It might be nice to be able to hear the ceremony as well. The wind makes voices travel. It would be nice for the videographer to a small mic on the officiate/minister as well. As for the wind and your veil, I suggest a Haku, A flower Lei for your head to hold the veil down when your love pulls it up to see your face. Beautiful. Let the guests take care of their own shoes, no cause needed... Chairs are a must for most of the guests. A rental company will deliver, set up and take down for about .89 c to $2.10 per chair, they also supply arches and other beach décor for soooo reasonable. As for the ceremony I love having a flower ceremony where you remember your life symbolized in flower petals, breath in the fragrance and release unto the wind.

Are you getting married right in front of the venue? They should be able to help with the chairs and what sorts of decorations can be cleaned up easily.

It would be really nice from a photography stand-point if your ceremony was right on the waters edge so any passersby would walk behind the guests and not behind the ceremony.

Check out what time sunset is and leave time for photos in that magic hour right before sunset. You will really be glad that you slipped away for some sunset on the beach photos when you get your album!

Have fun planning your wedding! You are going to have a blast!

I LOVE the Beach too so I am happy for your choice. Veils can be beautiful on the beach when the wind blows. Just make sure you have a little diamond like clip to use when you want it out of your face.

I just photographed two barefoot weddings. The bride said she didn't care what people wore as long as they didn't come in shoes. (ha ha)

Chairs are appropriate since they will need to sit while waiting for you and groom.

Just remember that you can't do anything on the sands or water that will hurt the environment. Maybe you can get some coconuts to lay around and people could drink from them later. Get a sunset calendar there is one on my website to see what time the sunsets on your wedding day. If you are looking for a beach photographer give me a call 541 484 4860

http://www.lovesimplyhappens.com

Congratulations!

Hi Celeste- I am having a beach wedding, too and here are some of my thoughts.

I think that chairs are your best bet because it will hurt people's backs to be sitting on the sand like that and may not be comfortable. Even though I am doing mine informal, I know "dear aunt mildred" will still wear her heels and sequence pants-suit LOL. plus, if you had 50 people, i would say stand, its a lot cheaper, but 125 people won't all be able to see you if they are standing...

i am not doing many ceremony decorations as it might be windy and blow over, and you have the natural beauty of the ocean. i also heard if you have a runner, it just doesn't work out well. i am putting some roses tied to the aisle chairs with a pretty ribbon. i thought of the whole arch idea but it was just too expensive.

i think people could carry around their own shoes... it would be the most efficient option.

Good luck!!!

Gina

I too am getting married on the beach in Costa Rica. The acoustics is an issue on the beach and if you have a 125 people I would recommend a microphone for the officiant at a minimum. We are having 50 guests so they will stand - no mic. Sitting on the sand may be difficult for older people. We are having an arch with banana leaves and palms for the aisle runner. I am current researching flip flops to have in a basket for guests along with a bucket of water and sun screen. We will have towels for people to wash of their feet. I am using parasols to conceal the wedding dress. I have not decided about the veil but think it would lovely in the wind. For music I have a friend signing acappella. We are using seasonal orchids and flowers for the bouquet,etc. The ceremony will be at 3:30 p.m. and we are working on the arrangements now and will have dedications to those who have passed. We are just getting started but this is the fun part. Good Luck

I am a ceremony musician and I also love that you're getting married on the beach! I'm in Virginia and do a lot of beach weddings with my groups. In my experience, strictly acoustic music on the beach isn't a great idea because if it's really calm you might hear it but if the wind kicks up (and it will!), the sound will be blown away. I always use a battery powered sound system and microphones for all of my outdoor weddings because I feel that it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it! Besides, I can turn one of the speakers around so that the bridal party can hear the music too so you'll know what's going on! With a sound system you are guaranteed beautiful music whether you hire a solo guitarist or a group with strings, winds or any combination. You also have the option of a microphone for you and your officient up front so that the really important stuff can be heard too. Best of luck to you!

Celeste, I am a wedding and event planner located in New York City and New Jersey and recently added Tampa Florida as another location. My speciality has always been Aruba destination weddings and recently expanded to the New York tri-state area and Florida. I arrange beach weddings all the time! You did not mention whether the location that you rented is a public or private beach, but will try to answer your questions. First of all, 125 persons is a pretty large wedding. If your guests have traveled a distance to your wedding, you certainly should not ask them to stand or sit on blankets. Decorations, chairs and wedding arches can be rented. You can also work with local florists as well. What about your wedding cake, wedding toast and food and beverages for your guests? Do you have that aspect arranged? As far as wearing a wedding veil, many brides wear wedding veils to the beach or pretty flowers in their hair. Ceremony should take place 1 hr before sunset.

Well at www.halosfavors.com we have favors for all themes and occasions. We also do dab around in a little decor but not too much, you can still take a look as we have fountains, little topiaries and so forth. Here's a coupon for your visit. special10 for 10% off your entire order.Hope to see you soon!

In Maui, on the beach, Heather Kotok does a flower ceremony where the petals represent all that brought you to this moment. You each take a handful of flowers, smell in all that life has given you, reflect on all the memories that have brought you to this moment and than release the flower petals unto the wind. Very beautiful.

A Hawaiian tradition is to wrap a lava rock in a ti leaf and leave behind at the ceremony spot as a symbol of our rings being forever in the location where you became joined in unification.

You can also dip the ti leaf in water and sprikle water on the rings three time as a blessing of the rings. Each item represents something for your love and your officant can talk of these things for your guests to understand.

The veil will end up in your MOH's hands along with the bouquets. Very pretty, just do your hair accordingly...

I love Veils in the wind.

No shoe bins, the guests will leave in the car, carry or otherwise manage...

Have Fun

Every bride on the beach deserves Swarovski Crystal Sandals.

View them at www.Foreverxxii.com

As a photographer in Florida who photographs about 50 beach weddings a year, may I make some suggestions?

Yes, if it isn't too windy acoustic music can be heard on the beach. A veil is wonderful with a nice breeze!! Most areas have a beach wedding company who will provide you with an officiant, arch, flowers and other items all in one vendor. This site http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.php is great for sunset data. Remember leave at least 20 minutes after the ceremony for sunset formals!!

The sand unity ceremony is nice. The shell blessing or blessing stones are nice as well. Use chairs and not blankets. Paint brushes or talcum powder are wonderful for removing sand from feet. Shoes look awkward on the beach. Target has wonderful just married imprint sandals.

I hope this helps...and I do photograph weddings all throughout Florida.

IN our cemeromy FH will meet me a little ways from the guest and this is our moment to say what we want to each other and them we will walk down the beach to our guest and say our other vows in front of them. We will have a four post made of bamboo"to be recyled in my garden later" holding up a canapy like thing. Sorry not sure what it is called. It will be maked out of sheer materail of roraly purple and yellow. This will wave in the breeze. "that is the idea anyways lol" The guest will be in a half circle around this. No real ailse just more of a group thing. The canapy is a quick take down since it is only hammered down into sand. Make sure you get long enough bamboo to go down far enough to be steady. The chairs will be covered in slip covers and have ties of my colors. The only flowers will be a small bouqet I will carry and maybe some in my hair. This is saving me LOTS of money. Good luck! If you have any idea for me PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

Hi Guys !!

congrats on the wedding...it will be great !! just try to remember it..anyway, my company makes patent leather flip flops that are personalized with your names and date of the wedding..we have assort.colors and sizes...different fonts to chose from..take a look at ............sandals4events.com.........we are the only company worldwide that make patent leather thong sandals...take a look ..I think you will like them..and your guests or bridesmaids will remember your special day everytime they slip on their sandals for years to come..

all my best,

Julia

Good luck with your wedding! It sounds beautiful!

Have you considered balloons for your reception? They don't have to look tacky, they can look very elegant! I am a new business just started up here in FL and I'm offering a special to all FL brides. Until Oct. 1, receive 50% off all balloon decor! I'm trying to build up my portfolio and would love to talk to you about your reception!

You can call me at (239) 603-1221, email me at **********@*******.*** or also check out www.laughingjack.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

I love the idea of a beach wedding!! the location sounds great, but yes many details to plan for. i like the idea of somewhere for shoes...or providing flipflops as a favor that they can wear at the ceremony. chairs would probably be best if you can swing it, especially for the older crowd.

sounds like so much fun!

robyn

www.meanttobesent.com