Jennifer Ansbach creates and officiates custom-designed non-denminational and spiritual ceremonies for your wedding.
Your Beach or Shore Wedding
Tailored Ceremonies
Rev. Jennifer Ansbach
New Jersey Wedding Officiant/Ceremony Writer
Tailored Ceremonies Wedding Traditions
(908) 910-5670
Dreaming of a beach wedding? I can help you
make it a reality!

From your dream to the big day, you'll need to
decide what kind of beach wedding you want: a
formal affair in view of the ocean or a
take-off-your-shoes-and-stand-at-the-water's-edge
intimate, casual ceremony.

I can advise you on the permit procedures for
different beaches, and if you are looking for a
simple ceremony, I can help you find the beach that
allows weddings without a permit.

Your ceremony can be customized to reflect your
relationship to each other and to the sea: did you
always dream of a beach ceremony? meet as
lifeguards here at the shore? spend your summers
sailing together? From the greetings to the
readings to the vows themselves, I'll help you
create a ceremony as individual as the two of you.

I even have a small public address system to rent
for a nominal fee with my services so everyone can
hear the ceremony over the sound of the waves.
Couple's
names:
Wedding Date:
Phone
Number:
Type of
Ceremony:
Religious
Non-religious
Spiritual
Location of
Ceremony:
Email:
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planning newsletter!
How can I help you create your dream ceremony?
(908) 910-5670
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Secrets to a Memorable Beach Wedding


  • Start with your image of your day--how casual or formal would you like it?

  • Do you have a theme in mind? Whether it's a small seashell or sailboat motif that carries
    through the reception or an all-out Key West theme, these choices help you determine
    the rest of your options.

  • Make sure your save-the-date cards and invitations give your guests an idea what to
    expect so they aren't surprised at walking barefoot in the sand.

  • Choose a ceremony site that will allow you to have the ceremony you want--some restrict
    the number of guests, whether you can have chairs or a tent, or limit the times you can
    get married on the beach. Don't forget any permits that may be required!

  • Remember to consider the time of day--morning ceremonies offer a break from the
    strong mid-day sun, more privacy, and softer lighting. Late-morning to afternoon
    weddings usually require a shorter ceremony and a canopy for guests to take a break
    from the heat. If beverages are allowed, consider offering bottle of water with custom
    labels as guests enter the seating area to keep them hydrated! Sunset weddings are
    lovely, but remember that if you hold the ceremony at sunset, the sun won't be around for
    your portraits!

  • Decorate the space, making a sacred place for the vows. You may choose to rake the
    sand smooth and create a ring of large shells, flowers, or even sand castles around the
    edge of a smaller space. Maybe you'd prefer your beach wedding to be a more formal
    affair, with candles, luminaries, or rented torches guiding your guests down the rented
    floor space under a canopy.

  • Be certain you can accommodate older guests or guests with disabilities--walking on
    the sand is challenging for many people. Party rental vendors can help you plan this area
    of your wedding.

  • An arbor, arch, or chuppah helps provide a focal point for larger ceremonies and sets
    aside a space for the ceremony itself to happen. Soft tulle, flowers, raffia, or seashells
    may also contribute to the mood you want to set. Don't forget to set aside a small table
    for your sand ceremony, if you choose to have one. They provide a great photo
    opportunity and fit wonderfully with the beach.

  • Choose a wedding minister or officiant who can give you the ceremony you desire. If you
    want to create a custom ceremony, I specialize in personal, meaningful ceremonies
    without restrictions on religious or secular components.

  • I have specific readings for beach weddings to suggest to couples, from Edmund
    Spenser's "Sonnet 75" to Sara Teasdale's "Enough" or "Peace," there are many poems
    or prose pieces to choose from. Perhaps Anne Morrow Lindbergh's A Gift From the Sea
    provides some of the most well-known passages. I have only included a few examples
    here; once I get a better sense of the style and tone you are looking for, I can make more
    targeted suggestions.

  • Choose music that coincides with your location: a single acoustic guitarist may be
    enough and allow you to include instrumental versions of songs such as "Kiss the Girl"
    from The Little Mermaid to Jimmy Buffet. A more formal wedding may call for a flutist to
    play classical choices.

  • Finally, check with your ceremony location to determine whether flower petals can be
    thrown or if you should use bubbles or, for an evening wedding, sparklers.
Looking for an officiant or minister for your Jersey Shore
wedding? Fill out the inquiry form below or call me today to find
out more about how I can help you have the beach or seaside
wedding of your dreams!