Beach Wedding Ideas & Tips

June 9, 2008 – 6:27 pm Thank you for visiting our blog! Please consider signing up for notifications of new posts to our blog via either email or your favorite newsreader using the links on the right. Take a moment to browse our store, as well, by clicking on one of the categories listed above. Thanks, and we hope you enjoy our blog!

One of the summer’s hottest wedding trends is beach weddings.  Whether actually located on a beach, or using a beach decor, a beach wedding motif really sets the scene for a relaxing, romantic day or evening.

If you are having a beach motif wedding, here are my top ten tips:

1. Let nature inspire all of your wedding decor, including the cake.  Check out this wave and beach motif wedding cake featured in Modern Bride magazine.  Just remember to choose an icing that won’t melt as easily, like fondant.

2.  Keep the favors simple.  Remember no chocolate or anything that could melt if it might be sunny.  Try salt water taffy or seashell candles.

3.  Check a tide chart when planning your event times.  Try www.tidesonline.com for a list of tide time charts.  Tides coming in are noisier than tides going out.

4.  Keep your guests comfy.  As the sun sets, it can really cool down.  You could include a note on the invitation reminding guests to bring a sweater/jacket to stay warm.  Or provide small throw blankets, just in case.

5.  A beach wedding is the perfect excuse to select a comfortable (and often less expensive) wedding dress.  Barefoot is a common option, but try adding an anklet to dress it up.  Check out some of these Hawaiian style beach wedding dresses.

6.  Plan for the unexpected.  This is true for every wedding, but when dealing directly with Mother Nature, you definitely want to plan ahead.  This will keep your stress level low, too, since you have already planned for all of the “what ifs”.

7.  If you don’t want to spend a lot on decor (which you really don’t need to since you already have the perfect backdrop: the beach!), your food selections can really add to the ambiance.  Shrimp is very popular, but you’ll also want to have some options for guests that do not prefer seafood.  Try selecting a local restaurant that is more familiar with the beach for your catering.  Fruits are a refreshing appetizer option.

8.  When choosing your hairstyle, keep the humidity in mind.  Check out this list of ways to avoid hairstyle problems at your beach wedding.

9.  Talk to other Beach Brides.  There are numerous resources on the web for you to chat with brides that have already experienced their beach wedding.  They might think of something you forgot, or just have some tips to calm your nerves.  The Knot also have an excellent resource for planning a beach wedding.

10.  Do it your way!  Just because everyone else has seashells on the table, you do not have to follow suit.  Add a little personality.  I’ve heard of calypso themes, clam bake themes, and even mini tiki huts for the tables.  The beach is a beautiful backdrop on which you can paint any picture you dream up!

If you are looking for wedding accessories, click the pictures below for my favorite guest books, unity candles, and champagne glasses.  Best wishes for an amazing beach wedding!