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A Wedding Ceremony on the Beach

The sun sets over the soft white sand while waves crash in the distance. The scent of exchange vows in front of all your friends, family, and the deep blue sea. It's so perfect and yet so simple... once you're at the altar that is. It's getting there that can be a bit tricky with outdoor venues. You'll need to think ahead and have your damage control planned out as best as you can. There's no bargaining with Mother Nature, so aside from your basic wedding issuesWedding'>Outdoor Weddings.

Your Guests

First and foremost, you'll need to consider the guest's comfort, and this starts with the seating. Where will people sit? On benches, chairs, or will they stand? If you opt for chairs or benches, how will you ensure that they don't sink into the sand? Will you need to rent flooring? If you opt to forgo seating, what will you do with elderly or disabled guests? Will you need flooring so that people can wear their shoes on the beach, or are you having a less formal wedding in which people can wear flip flops or simply take their shoes off?

Mother Nature

The next issue to deal with is the weather. How hot will it be? If heat is a potential issue, you've got to be prepared with plenty of generator. You might need to find a way of securing your aisle runners that could be whisked away by a slight breeze. Also remember that you might need a backup plan, should the weather take a turn for the worst. Tents can be a useful investment, but a combination of wind and rain can overwhelm even the sturdiest tents. An alternate venue is the only truly reliable way to make sure your ceremony isn't rained out. This is also something to think about before you commit yourself to a beach wedding. Are you the type of person who will be stressed if you don't know what to expect? You can't plan for sun, so if you'll feel better with a guaranteed plan, think about the uncertainty of weather before you reserve location. Lastly, you'll want to have some facilities on site. If you are hosting your wedding at a hotel or reception site, there will be restrooms inside. However, if you are having the ceremony at a separate location, you'll need to bring the essential portable toilets.

Color Scheme

Near the water, nature provides so many beautiful colors that you can choose to accent in your bridesmaids dresses, bouquets, table settings and decorations. Consider choosing a color scheme with your location in mind: if the two compliment each other, you'll be sure to have a breathtakingly beautiful ceremony. Here are some ideas for beach wedding color schemes. * Deep purples, reds, and oranges will compliment a sunset beach wedding giving the ceremony an incredibly romantic feel. * During the day, greens and blues are a great way to play with the colors of the ocean or to compliment the surrounding trees and the sky. * Neutral colors, like beige or ivory, are also a nice way to keep the focus on the beautiful setting of your wedding. It can also give the ceremony a comfortable and calming feel.

Quick Picks

 

Other Details

* If you are having a sunset ceremony, remember that you might want to take photos after the ceremony. How will you calculate the timing of the sun dropping and the ceremony length? Consider how nice morning ceremonies can be with subtle lighting, a cooler setting, and fewer people around (especially in public locations). You can also check the sunrise and sunset times for your location at SunriseSunset.com. * Beach weddings are often hosted by beach resorts or clubs: great places to have a fun reception. When planning your beach wedding, look into renting reception space at one of these resorts and you'll only have to rent one space! * Recently, many couples have been traveling to popular vacation spots (like Jamaica or the Bahamas for example) for their beach weddings. Is this something you'd be interested in? Although you may not be able to have as many guests, these intimate destination weddings are often some of the most beautiful and fun.  * Don't forget that the ocean moves. Check tide tables in advance and make sure that you won't get washed away before the recessional. (Of course, you should really set up about the high water mark anyway, to keep everyone comfortable, dry, and not smelling like the ocean!) * A fun and cheap way to have pictures of the ceremony is to give your guests cameras. Consider handing out disposable cameras to your guests for use during the ceremony and reception, and you'll have hundreds of photos by the end of the night! * Keep decorations to a minimum. Boldly colored balloons suffice and won't overwhelm the natural beauty of the site. If you use balloons, make sure to collect and pop all of your balloons after your event is over; releasing balloons contributes to ocean pollution, especially when you do it right by the beach!

Related Guides

* Beach Wedding Dresses * Seasonal Weddings * Wedding Themes * Wedding Gowns * Wedding Ceremony Decorations * Wedding Guest Books