How to plan a beach wedding

I think they are beautiful.. I wish we would have stuck with a beach wedding, but opted for a lake instead.

As far as the sand & dress, Were still taking pictures on the beach before the ceremony. I dont see it being that big of a deal but you do as you wish, dont let anyone talk you into something your not comfortable with.

I am not getting married on the beach, but have been a guest at beach weddings. If it is a private beach, it can be beautiful. However, if it is a public beach, be prepared for people, pets, loud musci/laughter.

Hmm...Im thinking the beach is going to be a no still. With my luck there will be a hurricane or storm too. The beauty of it is what keeps bringing the idea to the table. Me and FH had decided no but then my grandmother said...what about the beach? Causing us to reconsider.

Thanks

I am not having my Wedding directly on the beach. I love the beach and thinks it's beautiful but I wanted it more as a "backdrop" for everything.

I am getting married in a gazebo that "overlooks" the beach.

I thought a wedding would be too 'casual' directly on it and I've seen beach weddings before, and everyone stopped to stare and I just thought this would be a bit more private. Not really, but more so than directly on a public beach.

Im getting married on the beach. Did a lot of research.... Said that if you dont get your dress wet then the sand just shakes off. What beach have you decided on?

I live by the beach as well and have attended many beach weddings. I HATE them! I love the ocean, and go to the beach as often as I can, but I hate going in heels.

Cons to a beach wedding: Tourists, practically naked people in the background, wind, the ocean is LOUD so you can't hear the vows, and then the sand. It gets everywhere.

I think it's smarter to find a beach front venue. That way you can have the view, but the comfort of a practical venue.

OK I am 99% we are going to take beach wedding off the table all together for all of the reasons stated above! Thanks

Sky I live in florida so I have a lot of beaches I could have chosen from. We really want a mountain wedding...go figure right? I'm not from here originally though but after being here several years I have had enough of the ocean and tourist lol

We are having ours on coronado island in CA

Not sure if you live near a pier but that is always an option. We are getting married in Nassau on the beach but not in the sand on a pier. Here is a picture.

We were guests at a beach wedding, and it was a public beach behind a hotel...Nothing says beautiful wedding like a brightly colored jet ski rental booth and a large man in not so large bathing suit in the back round of your pictures. It was extremely hot & humid, during the hurricane season so it was windy as crap...oh the joys of sand in your eyes and mouth...

However, the beach where my sister wants to get married is fairly secluded.

We live 5 min from the shore but opted for an indoor aquarium wedding.

I officiate about 100 beach weddings a year.

Yes, public beaches are public and there is always a fat man in a speedo LOL.

I schedule the weddings for shortly before sunset -- less heat, better lighting for photos, less chance of rain, fewer people on the beach.

Short dresses are great for beach weddings -- or at least skip the train.

Resorts have semi-private beaches, so you're dealing with only the guests, not the general public.

Always have a back-up location in case weather does not cooperate.

If you're far enough from the waves, the noise won't drown out the ceremony.

Whichever way the breeze is blowing, stand where your veil will blow out behind you.

We are getting married on a Maui beach and understand that it is public, but we are marrying at 8:30 in the morning so it shouldn't be to bad. The reception is up the hill at a Golf Course Restaurant with lawns that overlook the water. I am not concerned with the sand as the dress isn't all that important to me. In fact I am having the train removed on my dress to make it easier to walk in the sand.

@Rebecca, love the pier.

I will say that not all resorts have semi private beaches. The one we went to was on a very public beach area where none of the 5 resorts have private beaches because there is no way to keep the public out. However I will say that them having a ceremony at 11 am was prime time for fat guy in a speedo lol

Beach weddings beautiful.... But they are usually a mess!!

@Mags, I know how you feel! I live in FL too and just about everyone expects you to have a beach wedding. I said no right off the bat, I wanted to get married in TN. Then realized that was completely unrealistic money wise so we are getting married at a botanical garden. It's GORGEOUS, and we get to have an inside reception : )

I have planned many weddings, and living in FL, I've definately done my share of beach weddings. Here's my honest opinion for what it's worth: Beach weddings are beautiful for pics, but it's difficult for guests to hear, you will get sand not only on your dress but also in your hair, You are unable to "reserve" your area so you have people in the background swimming playing frisbee etc., and don't forget that ominous bird poop! My advice, have your festivities at a beachside location and enjoy the picture opportunity but not the inconvenience. Hope this helps

We are having a beach wedding but I did not want to be on the sand either. Instead we found a venue that is ocean front and we will have the ceremony on the ocean lawn looking over the beach and ocean. I also did not want to deal with sand or have our guest deal with it either. But we love the ocean and it felt right for us to go back to where we met to marry.