Beach Weddings

Your Beach or Shore Wedding

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.

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.