Ideas for the 7 Elements of a Beach Wedding
He asked, you said yes – now what?
There is so much information out there at times it can be very confusing. How do you actually get started planning your wedding? Regardless of all that confusion, there are some very basic elements to any wedding.
They are:
1. Location
2. Theme
3. Attire
4. Flowers
5. Physical arrangements at the site
6. Ceremony
7. Reception
1) So where do you intend to have your Florida beach wedding? Again there are many choices everything from very casual do-it-all-yourself to extremely formal all-done-for-you and a myriad of options in between. Most of the major coastal cities offer magnificent beaches, but not all of them are available for weddings. You need to narrow your search and can begin by deciding the Atlantic side or the Gulf side of Florida. Once you have narrowed your search
down to a few cities you can research the amenities available by doing a city search in Google. Often there will be photos that can help you decide.
2) Beach theme weddings can be a lot of fun to plan and a lot of fun for your guests. While enjoying the natural beauty of the beach, you may want to incorporate a theme into your big day. The theme could be something as simple as co-ordinating your colors from invitations, to favors, to bridesmaid dresses to flowers to the canopy you choose for the ceremony. Or it could be as elaborate as deciding on a Hawaii Luau with fire pits, and imported flowers, hula dancers and singers and a hawaiian band for the reception. Be careful don’t overdo your theme or you will find the details overwhelming, and remember the beach by itself is beautiful enough.
3) So now that you have decided where and what your theme will be it is time to consider what everyone will be wearing. It’s not much good wearing a really beautiful gown only to have it ruined in the 
salt water, or be so hot and heavy you are uncomfortable all day. That doesn’t mean you can’t have the wedding gown you have always dreamed of wearing. Consider other options like no elaborate head piece and veil, go simple, like flat open sandals or no shoes at all. Choose to have the wedding in the cooler morning or late afternoon for the beach wedding ceremony. Wear something light and loose in natural materials, for instance cotton, and for the men (who sweat more) suggest under vests to absorb the sweat and keep them feeling cooler and dryer during the beach wedding.
4) Flowers are always a colorful addition to your wedding. One of the highlights of having a beach wedding is the unique colors and varieties of flowers that are only found on islands like Hawaii and the Caribbean. Even if you aren’t having your beach wedding on an island, it has become relatively inexpensive to use these tropical beauties in Florida. A nice tropical option is orchids. Not only can they withstand hot beach temperatures, they are also beautiful. Another colorful option is hibiscus. The bright red and pink colors are a great selection for your bridesmaid dresses. But again remember it is your
wedding and if you want roses then by all means choose them – they too withstand the heat well. Some flowers to avoid are those spring flowers that will wilt and bend before the guest even see them – like tulips. You can even go exotic with Anthuriums or Birds of Paradise. When you have chosen your flowers, use them anywhere you can in your wedding. You can start off with invitations and use the flower in your centerpieces, decorations and bouquets, even wrapped around the standards of the canopy under which you will say your vows.
5) Soft sand can be difficult for the elderly or disabled to walk on. And it can be a real challenge for high heels. For yourself consider sandals or bare feet for your beach wedding. And for your guests, seriously consider getting some flooring for the seating and
tables to prevent them from sinking into the sand. You can choose to separate your ceremony from your reception and have the ceremony directly on the beach. Make it very short and accessible as possible – so guests don’t sit but rather gather round you as you say your vows. Then the reception can be a little more traditional – still overlooking the beach but perhaps outdoors on grass or in tents with floors or even in a restaurant/hall on the beach.
Remember that a beach wedding is an outdoor wedding and therefore you are at the mercy of the elements. For instance remember it may well be windy so don’t have things that are easily blown around as part of the theme of your beach wedding. And make sure that things like the centre pieces are heavy enough to stay where they are put. Use lovely heavy glass vases or add a layer of sand inside the containers to increase their weight. And you can outline the path to your beach wedding ceremony with stones or sea shells to give even more of a marine feeling to your beach wedding. Sound can be an issue between the waves and the wind, consider microphones and speakers if experience of the location managers suggests it could be a problem. You also need to be aware the sun can be extremely hot and it will be necessary to provide shade for your guests if the event is planned entirely on the beach.
6) Another beach wedding idea is to have the more traditional Unity Candle Ceremony replaced by the Unity Sand Ceremony. At your beach wedding, you can even scoop up the sand at your feet to use in the ceremony and as a permanent souvenir of the glorious beach where you had your beach wedding ceremony. It also solves the problem of the wind blowing the Unity Candle out.
The Unity Sand Ceremony is a ceremony a couple of minutes long during which the bride and groom pour sand into a Unity Vase from a separate container each and is really well suited to a beach wedding. This symbolizes their two separate lives coming together, being joined and continuing on as one. It is a simple, beautiful and heart felt ceremony. Other family members, particularly children of the couple, are also able to join in and feel part of the beach wedding ceremony.
7) A wedding reception usually follows the marriage ceremony. Keep the beach wedding theme by integrating your colors in the napkins, tablecloths, flowers and favors on the table. Use sea shells or abalone shells to serve the seafood.
Have a Hawaiian pit roast or a BBQ instead of a ‘normal’ meal or go seafood with options for those that can’t eat seafood. The wedding cake can be traditional, or designed like a sand castle with sea shells scalloped into the frosting or any other design that fits your theme. If you are planning to dance at the reception consider the transition from meal to dancing – does the space need to be cleared? Choose a live band or a DJ that will cater to the music you want. Decide in advance if it is a cash bar (where the guests pay) or all inclusive and make sure the invitations indicate “cash bar” when you choose it.
Yes there are tons of other details, but this will get you started and headed in the direction you want your Beach Wedding to go.
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