Monday, July 7, 2008

Planning a Beach Wedding...on a budget


Summertime is here, love is in the air! What more could you ask for than a romantic, beach wedding? Ocean waves, sandy beaches, sunset, palm trees....ahhhh!!! How refreshing!

Some of the biggest issues that come along destination weddings are primarily the cost involved with Travel and Lodging for your guests. How do you make it affordable for everyone traveling, the Bride and Groom, their families, the wedding party, and of course the guests?

Depending on the size of one's guest list, the task could be easy or extremely hard to deal with. That's where we are here to help.

We have taken on the assistance from our handy friend LowBudgetWedding.com to help us in providing the best information for you to know how to plan a beach wedding. What necessary steps to take from finding your officiant to getting your marriage license.

Sit back relax and soak up all the information you need.

Beach Weddings on a Budget

The best part of a beach wedding is you don't have to be a celebrity to afford one. You can have a fabulous beach wedding on the most stringent budget, making it ideal for young lovers on a small budget or people exchanging vows for the second or third time in their lives. Regardless of your circumstances, if you don't want to start your married life enslaved to debts for your big day, a beach wedding is an ideal choice. Today traditional weddings can run anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000 or more, which is a large sum to part with when you are trying to begin your lives together.

A beach wedding can be extremely budget-conscious if you simply hire someone to administer the ceremony and invest in a few dollars in food, clothing and subtle décor. You already have the allure of the natural environment so you don't need a lot of fancy fixings like you do at a traditional wedding, which saves you a bundle of money. Beach weddings can be held in any waterfront area that has sand and a picturesque view.

Beach Weddings Give You A Creative Outlet

Beach weddings are much more flexible and creative than traditional weddings that can become boring or stodgy. You can let your personality shine through when you plan a beach wedding for a truly unique, refreshing experience. At a beach wedding, you can exchange your vows and have a reception all at the same place. With no travel required, you don't have to shell out money for a limousine. Best of all, kids can be included and they will love to play on the beach at your seaside ceremony, which is a major convenience for all your guests.

Best Beach Wedding Apparel

Because you are getting married on the beach, it is not necessary to buy a bunch of fussy designer gowns or old-fashioned suits. When you select your garments for beach nuptials, this is another area where you can really let your personality show. If you decide to wear a gown, consider a long train carefully because it will be heavy and swish around in the sand. A gown to the ankle, knee or tea-length is more comfortable for waterfront weddings. Light materials such as organza, chiffon, duchess satin and tulle are preferable if you decide to wear a wedding gown. You can also select an unstructured, less formal dress in white or ivory because it's a beach wedding. Remember you will be near the sea and sand, so choose clothing that will feel comfortable and bring a matching wrap in case you get chilly.

While some brides will still wear shoes to the beach, most go barefoot or wear strappy, dressy sandals. Affordable accessories should include shells and freshwater pearls for an authentic seaside feel.

Beach Wedding Accessories

Once again, your centerpieces, place cards, wedding cake and gifts for your guests can be presented very creatively at a beach wedding. Good elements to include in your designs include seashells, starfish and tropical flowers. Consider using sand castles and sculptures to decorate the area where your vows will be exchanged. If you use candles, remember that the beach can get windy and you may prefer to use the battery-operated tea lights to avoid a potential fire.

How To Make Sure Life Is A Beach

Although you can plan a beach wedding quickly and inexpensively, there are a few things to consider to make sure your life is a beach...and not the other word.


nature will always play some part in the success of your day so always have an “alternate” location or get portable tents to set up for partial shelter;

beaches can be breezy so select an area that is a cove so you are somewhat protected from the outdoor elements;

check with the local authorities to find out if you need a permit to get married on the beach and if there are any restrictions with regard to decorating, tiki torches, barbecuing, open fires, music and anything else you may want to include in your day;

bring along insect repellent, sunscreen and plenty of chairs so your guests are comfortable before, during and after the ceremony;

make sure to check the tides so high tide doesn't come in and wash away your wedding; and

keep all food covered to deter unwelcome guests such as bugs and seagulls.

With a bit of thought and planning, your affordable beach wedding can be one of the most memorable, enjoyable experiences you and your guests have ever had!

Thank you to Stacey Doyle for this "Beach Wedding" article.

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