When planning beach weddings, it's always best to tackle all of the big decisions first, like what kind of dress you want to wear, where you want to wed & what time of year you want to hold your ceremony. However, once your Beach Bum Vacation travel experts help you nail down these choices, it's time to start thinking about the smaller details that can help turn your big day into one you'll remember for the rest of your life.
To help ensure everything goes smoothly on your beach wedding, try incorporating these elements into your ocean-side ceremony:
A shoe station for guests' convenience If your ceremony is being held on the beach, followed by a reception indoors or off the beach, keep your guests' feet in mind. You don't want them to spend the night with sand in their shoes. For this reason, some wedding planners recommend that you provide a shoe station for your guests to smoothly transition from the ceremony to the reception. This area could provide buckets of water & towels so your loved ones can rinse the sand from their feet before slipping on their party shoes & dancing the night away.
Refreshments to keep guests cool When your friends & family members are on the beach waiting for the ceremony to begin, it can be easy for them to become parched under the hot tropical sun. To keep your loved ones as comfortable as possible, set up a small stand with simple refreshments at the ceremony site. Even if you just offer water or lemonade, your guests are sure to appreciate the thoughtful gesture.
Cozy comforts to warm up the ladies One of the major benefits of beach weddings is the weather. When you get married in a location like Hawaii, Mexico or the Caribbean, you can indulge in the warmth of the sun upon your shoulders as you profess your love to your soon-to-be spouse. However, if you're getting married next to the ocean, there is always the chance that the cool sea breeze will get just a little too chilly for your guests, especially women in lightweight dresses. For this reason, it is often a good idea to bring a small basket full of pashminas. This way, the ladies in your life can wrap them around their shoulders if they get too cold.
Pebbles & seashells to tie down loose items While that amazing seabreeze can feel great as it runs through your hair & over your shoulders, it could also blow away any loose items, such as ceremony programs or flower petals lining the aisle. For this reason, try using pebbles & seashells to hold down any items that could potentially blow away. If you have your heart set on a petal-lined aisle, make sure you set down the flower petals at the very last minute to ensure they stay in place for the ceremony.
