Tips for Planning a Beach Wedding

By brainstorming beach theme wedding ideas and answering a few simple questions about your vision for your wedding day, you can plan a successful wedding on the beach with less hassle than you thought possible.

If it's a destination beach wedding, you will need to start planning early. Choose your wedding date and beach venues as soon as possible in order to give your guests the lead time to request vacation days and book travel.

For a wedding at a local beach, you still need to book your ceremony and reception venues as early as you can. Beach side weddings are very popular and the choice locations book up fast.

Don't forget to check on the marriage license requirements in the county where you will be getting married.

Learn how bride Lisa Spooner saved over $20,000 on her dream wedding

The selected wedding site location is important. The chosen beach should be as much out of the public's view and territory as you can get while still having necessary amenities available (bathrooms, parking).

Avoid unwanted interruptions with private or little-used areas -- Skiers and passing boats can create a noise problem.

Once you find a beach you like, locate the closest public access and contact the city or county about permits and any special rules they may have regarding weddings on the beach.

Sometimes the visitors bureau can tell you where to find the information, in other locales it's the county planning commission or public works.

Even in counties where no permit is required there are often regulations that apply. Be sure to ask county authorities.

Beach theme weddings are at the mercy of the elements. Hurricane season begins in June and ends in November, so paying attention to the forecast is important the nearer the date draws. A contingency plan, and wedding insurance, is essential in case foul weather hits.

The time of day is also a consideration when planning a beach wedding. Having the ceremony at low tide is beautiful, but if the tide comes in around the bride's, groom's and officiant's ankles, that ruins the day. In some beaches, the tide comes in violently, so this is also a safety issue.

Many beaches also have rules to protect wildlife that prevent certain activities, like taking photos with a flash at dusk during turtle mating season.

Public and private beaches will have specific rules and ordinances about alcohol, bonfires, noise, tents and decorations, wedding insurance and security (some locations require security for weddings with over 100 guests). Check on all of this before committing to a wedding reception site.

If you like the idea of a reception tent on the beach, check out tent rental prices first. Sometimes a tent may not be cheaper to rent than a venue.

The comfort of the guests is another consideration.

Consider your wedding guests when planning your event. Are there restroom facilities nearby? What if a heavy rainstorm or strong winds come along?

Special wind breaks are often available for rent- this would keep the bride's veil and the platform from being wrecked. Windbreaks would protect guests sensitive to being buffeted by high winds.

The local chamber of commerce should be able to recommend rental companies and other vendors familiar with handling beach side weddings.

Elderly people may find negotiating soft sand difficult. Renting special beach-ready wheelchairs allows them to attend without injury or discomfort. Find out if the beaches in the area you are considering for your event are wheelchair accessible.

Parking is also an issue when planning a beach wedding. Most public beaches have parking lots near certain access points. If you are getting married at a vacation home, check your contract. Some rental properties have rules as to how many cars may be in the driveway.

When applying for any permits, inquire if swimming is allowed on the chosen beach. If a lifeguard is required, one may be hired. If no swimming is permitted, inform the guests in the wedding invitations or decide to choose another beach.

A simple solution to many of the above stated issues when planning a beach wedding is to have the ceremony on the beach and the reception at a nearby location. This gives you the reception venue as a backup ceremony location if the weather turns bad.

The wedding party's attire is a major issue. Long, flowing skirts are ruined by dirt and sand. Walking on the beach with high heals is impossible.

You would be wise to choose a beach wedding dress without a train and a headpiece with no veil, or a fascinator with a small veil.

Appropriate wedding attire for the beach and footwear must be chosen to ensure success and safety.

Barefoot, flat sandals or flip flops are popular and appropriate for weddings on the beach.

You must understanding the rules and regulations for the location and have a backup plan for bad weather.

As long as you and your vendors understand and can work within the rules, the event will go smoothly.

It is impossible to understate the need for alternative locations when planning a beach wedding.

Weather, change in city politics, oil spills or other environmental concerns and other problems erupt to destroy wedding plans.

The alternative plan could be a different date, or a different location. The speed of implementation depends on how thorough the alternative plans are.

Planning a beach side wedding requires special attention to specific details, but with careful planning you can have a successful beach theme wedding that will be remembered fondly by the wedding party and guests.

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