Top Ten Beach Weddings Tips, How to Avoid Beach Wedding
Mistakes,   Beach Wedding Planning
BeachBrideToBe     Destination Weddings Made Simple!
                 Beach Weddings:  Plan for the Unexpected
                      10 Priceless Beach Wedding Planning Tips


Your beach wedding is at the mercy of mother nature.  Winds can whip up,  storms can roll in or it
can rain on your wedding ceremony.   With that in mind there are a number of things you can do to
deal with the unexpected.

1.  Plan for the unexpected by having a Plan B.  Formulate a plan with your coordinator, wedding
officiant, or wedding site to postpone the ceremony in case the weather doesn't cooperate.  
Weather on or near the beaches is fickle.  It can rain in the morning and the sun can break out an
hour later.  If moving the time of the ceremony won't work with your agenda, have an indoor site
available for the ceremony.  An indoor site on the beach doesn't mean totally indoors.  It can be a
covered gazebo, a lanai facing the beach or a huge outdoor covered deck or patio.  

2.  Plan for the tides.  You will want to schedule the time of your wedding for when the tide is out.
Imagine planning the perfect wedding, only to find out the beach is covered with water!  You can
find out the information locally through the local newspaper in the area where you are getting
married or by visiting Tides.info. This site predicts the tides at the time of the year.

3.  Plan for the time of day and heat of the day.  The morning sun is hottest at noon when the sun
is directly overhead.  Talk to your photographer when planning the time of the ceremony because
the position of the sun will affect the lighting in the pictures.   You don't want to be sweltering in the
hottest part of the day in your wedding finery,  

4.  Plan for negotiating the sand.   Its difficult to navigate the sand barefoot.  If the sand is a shell
filled rocky beach, wear sandals or flip flops so you don't cut your foot.  Scout the beach for the
easiest beach access for you and your guests.  Elderly grandparents and relatives should be taken
into consideration.  If your beach has a large patio overlooking your wedding spot, plan for seating
so they can witness your vows without having to navigate a lot of steps and the sand.  

5.  Plan for the beach goers.   Most beaches are public beaches, so you will have people on the
beach.  And if there is a wedding, they will watch it.   Early morning and late afternoons to early
evenings will have the least amount of people on the beach.   Some beaches are private or there
are private coves on the beach to have your ceremony.   If the beach is overly crowded,  find a
different location.

6. Plan for your guests.  Plan for their comfort by providing seating if the ceremony is going to be a
long ceremony.  Make sure you keep into account the needs of the elderly who might have trouble
navigating the beach.  

7.  Plan for the sound of the surf.  The ocean surf makes noise.  If its unusually brisk and windy,
the surf will be louder.  Some of your guests won't be able to hear your vows.  If you are having it
videotaped, the surf will be heard . There's nothing you can do but chalk it up to Mother Nature.

8.  Plan for the wind.   The wind on the beach can be gentle and calm or it can be wicked.  Again,
its up to Mother Nature.  

Have tiny weights sewn onto the sides and back of your veil so it doesn't blow into your face during
the ceremony.   Although the pictures may look amazing of your veil billowing in the wind, it can be
annoying during the ceremony if you are holding flowers, your grooms hand and trying to keep your
veil out of your face.

Forget having a unity candle.  The breezes are way too tricky to guess whether you can light it or
keep it lit.  Instead, have a sand ceremony.

If you or your fiance wear contact lenses, keep a bottle of lubricating eye drops handy.  The wind
can blow sand in your eyes or dry your eyes.  You don't want red eyes in your photos, nor do you
want the discomfort from your lenses.

9, Plan to keep the wedding  rings secure.  Keep the wedding rings in a secure spot during the
ceremony.  While it might be cute to have a ring bearer at your wedding, secure fake rings on the
pillow.   The risk is having the ring fall into the sand and having to search for the ring.

10.  Plan for food refrigeration.  If you are having your wedding reception on the beach, make sure
the food is properly refrigerated so that you and your guests don't get sick.   If you are having it
catered,  check with the caterer to see that the food will be served at the proper temperatures and
what will happen to any left over foods.
10 Common Beach Wedding Mistakes & How to Avoid        
                                             Making Them

1.  Not scouting out the wedding location in advance.  If you want the perfect beach location,  pick it
out yourself.   This might involve a pre wedding trip to the location to scout out the perfect spot.  If you
arrive a day or two in advance, you will have time to find THE spot.

2.  Sunburn  Everybody goes nuts when they get to the beach and want to hit the beach immediately.
 And its your last minute to get the golden tan.  Sunburn can ruin the wedding.  Use an SPF
sunscreen that will protect your skin.  Bad sunburns will cause fever, chills, blisters, redness, skin
peeling and flakiness and your clothing will hurt when you put it on.  Tan with your brain and use
your SPF sunscreen.

3.  Forgetting to bring the documentation you need for your marriage license.  Make a check list of
all the documents you need and carry them on the airplane or with you in a secure spot.  This also
applies to medications.  Carry them with you.

4.  Spending too much time in the sun.  Too much time in the sun can cause sunstroke or
headaches.   Too much sun can also change your hair color.  While sun bleached hair looks great,
if you've had your hair colored especially for the wedding, it can change the color of your hair and not
always for the best.  Also be careful when swimming in the chlorine pools because chlorine can
give blonde hair a green cast and add more red tones into brunette hair.

5.  Drinking in the sun.   Sure, its normal to want to have a drink on the beach, but sun and alcohol
are a dangerous mix.  You are excited, your friends and family are there, it seems natural to want to
party before the wedding.  Save the partying for after the ceremony so you feel your best at the
wedding.  Keep yourself hydrated by drinking ice water with lemon.  The bonus is that your skin will
glow and look healthy.

6.  Tan lines.  Keep in mind your wedding attire when tanning on the beach.  You don't want
definitive tan lines in your wedding pictures, much less bright red skin.  If your dress is strapless, hit
the beach in a suit that is strapless.  

7.  Makeup that is too light for your newly acquired tan.  If you are doing your own makeup for the
wedding,  buy a foundation that is a shade darker than your normal shade so that it blends with your
tan.  Don't overbronze with a bronzer because its liable to have sparkles in the bronzer that will show
up in your wedding photos.

8.  Not appointing someone to help with the ceremony.  You'll need someone to help set up the
wedding site if you are a DIY bride.  You'll be busy getting ready,  appoint someone to set up the
wedding site, arrange for the sand ceremony, etc.  

9.  Attempting to bring along everything you need for the ceremony yourself.  If you are bringing
along accessories, etc for the wedding, consider shipping them to the wedding site if you are flying.  
You'll have to pay extra  for excess baggage fees and shipping by FedEx or UPS is less expensive
and you won't have to haul it yourself.  If you are driving, this isn't such a problem.

10. Attempting to do everything yourself. Get help, ask your family, friends or hire a wedding
coordinator.  This is your day, your wedding and you deserve to spend some time relaxing and
pampering yourself.
Beach wedding sign by the ocean
Just married beach wedding