One of the most important parts of wedding planning is deciding on where to say, “I do.” After all, you can’t have a wedding without a venue.
Whether you’ve already picked out the perfect place or are still considering your options, if you’re reading this article, then a beach wedding is probably at the top of your list. And why wouldn’t it be? White sand, beautiful blue skies, palm trees swaying in the breeze, the sound of waves crashing in the distance – a beach venue offers you plenty of opportunities to create a unique wedding experience.
The thing is, there are many factors to consider and details to think about when planning a beach wedding, from local and destination beach locations to weather conditions and ceremony specifics.
In this guide, you’ll learn what it takes to plan the beach wedding of your dreams.
Beach Wedding Locations
The first thing you’ll want to decide is whether you want to have a local beach wedding or destination wedding on the beach. Your decision will make a huge difference on the planning details.
No matter where you choose to host your wedding, most private and public beaches have special requirements that may include permit fees, clean-up charges, container laws, and alcohol and food restrictions.
Private Beaches
If you don’t want to worry about onlookers, vendors, photobombers, and outside distractors, a private beach wedding is an excellent choice of venue. If you host your wedding at a hotel, private community, or resort, like Cabo Esperanza, you’ll have direct access to the beach and more privacy for your ceremony and reception.
A private beach wedding may not be as easy on the budget as one set on a public beach, but it’s more convenient and secluded. If you host your wedding through a resort, you may have access to an on-site wedding coordinator. Hiring a wedding planner is also a great investment, as they can help you figure out the details, especially if you plan on having a destination beach wedding.
Public Beaches
There’s an abundance of public beaches available for wedding usage. Finding the one that suits your needs may take some time and research, but it’s worth the effort if you’re looking for a budget-friendly seaside solution.
Keep in mind that you may have to deal with outsiders watching and background noise, but it’s not impossible to have an intimate ceremony and reception on a public beach.
If you don’t have time to do the research yourself, consider hiring a local wedding planner, asking friends and relatives for suggestions, or allocating a portion of your budget to a wedding planning team familiar with your chosen destination. For example, if you want to have your wedding in Mexico, you could look into a Cabo San Lucas wedding planner to help you discover the best beaches in the area.
Weather and Seasons
Whether you host your beach wedding in an area nearby or plan on exchanging vows overseas, you’ll want to consider the season and what kind of weather you might expect on your wedding date.
Different countries have different seasons, and one country’s summer may be another’s winter. Once you’ve figured out where in the world you’ll host your beach wedding, research that area’s weather patterns, especially if it’s prone to rainy seasons and typhoons/hurricanes.
You should also consider:
- High and low tide times
- Wind factor
- Shaded and direct sunlight areas
- Bugs
Also be sure to have a back-up plan should a storm cloud rain on your sunny ceremony.
Beach Wedding Tips
Beach weddings come with their own unique challenges. Things like attire, scheduling, and other often overlooked details make planning a bit more of a process.
Here are some things to think about and tips to help you plan your beach wedding with ease.
Beach Wedding Attire
If you’re having your wedding directly on the beach, you’ll need to consider what the best options are for outfits and shoes. After all, it may be difficult to walk through the sand in stilettos, and a long, lacy wedding gown may pick up sand particles and rip.
Consider your wedding guests as well and what will be most comfortable for them to attend your ceremony in.
Beach Permits
It’s important to consider what permits and rules both public and private beaches require, especially during a global pandemic when governments and wedding venues have health and safety requirements set in place.
Also, if you want to host your ceremony or reception on a public beach, you may need to secure a permit to reserve the area. Before you sign on the dotted line, consider the amount of space the permit covers (will it accommodate your guest list?), the amount of time allotted, how many guests are allowed in the area (is social distancing enforced?), and any fees associated with obtaining the permit.
Conflicting Schedules
In order to avoid bumping into someone else’s celebration or event, consult with a wedding planner or check in on any special events happening around the same time as your beach wedding. These might include beach clean-ups, construction, public activities, festivals, and other weddings.
Dreaming about a beach wedding versus planning a beach wedding are two entirely different things. There are various moving parts and things to consider when deciding whether a beach wedding ceremony and/or reception is the right choice for you and your fiance.
From local to destination beach venues to the little details involved in planning a beach wedding, we hope you’ve gathered the essential information needed and feel even more excited about what’s involved in saying “I do,” near the sea.