A Wedding Ceremony on the Beach

The sun is setting over the soft white sand while waves crash in the distance. The scent of flowers  carries in the breeze with the fresh, crisp scent of the ocean.  The bride's gown  ruffles gently. Candles  light up the aisle. It's the perfect scene for you and your partner to exchange vows in front of all your friends, family, and the deep blue sea.

Sounds so perfect and simple. Yes, once you're at the altar that is. It's getting there that can be a bit tricky with outdoor venues. You'll need to think ahead and have your damage control planned out best you can. There's no bargaining with Mother Nature so aside from your basic wedding issues-- budgeting, creating the guest list, vendors -- you'll also need to take into many of the things associated with Outdoor Weddings.

Your Guests

First and foremost, you'll need to consider the guest's comfort. This starts with seating. Where will people sit? On benches,  chairs,  or will they stand? If you opt for chairs or benches, how will you ensure that they don't sink into the sand? Will you need to rent flooring?  If you opt to forego seating, what will you do with elderly or disabled guests? Will you need flooring so that people can wear their shoes  on the beach, or are you have a less formal wedding in which people can wear flip flops or simply take their shoes off?

Mother Nature

The next issue to deal with is the weather. How hot will it be? If heat is a potential issue, you've got to be prepared with plenty of water,  fans,  and shade, if possible. You might even consider handing out sunglasses  to your guests if you are having a sunset ceremony. Another option is to set up a tent  for your guests. Will there be a lot of wind? Scope out the venue ahead of time to see if it's usually windy. This can make a difference in what people wear, how you decorate, and whether or not you need a sound system.  Since wind and water can be noisy and overwhelm the voices of readers, the bride, the groom, or the officiant, it might be wise to rent a sound system. If you do, remember you will need something to power it, such as a generator. 

You might need to find a way of securing your ceremony programs  so that they don't blow off into the sea. Beware of teetering flowers  or poorly constructed aisle decorations  that could be whisked away by a slight breeze. Also remember that you might need a backup plan -- should the weather take a turn for the worst. Tents  can be a useful investment, but a combination of wind and rain can overwhelm even the sturdiest tents. An alternate venue is the only truly reliable way to make sure your ceremony isn't rained out. 

Lastly, you'll want to have some facilities on site. If you are hosting your wedding at a hotel or reception site, there will be restrooms inside. However, if you are having the ceremony at a separate location, you'll need to bring the essential portable toilets. 

Other Details

• If you are having a sunset ceremony, remember that you might want to take photos after the ceremony. How will you calculate the timing of the sun dropping and the ceremony length? Consider how nice morning ceremonies can be with subtle lighting, a cooler setting, and fewer people around (especially in public locations). You can also check the sunrise and sunset times for your location at SunriseSunset.com.

• Don't forget that the ocean moves. Check tide tables in advance and make sure that you won't get washed away before the recessional. (Of course, you should really set up about the high water mark anyway, to keep everyone comfortable, dry, and not smelling like the ocean!)

• Keep decorations to a minimum. Boldly colored flowers  or balloons  suffice and won't overwhelm the natural beauty of the site. If you use balloons,  be careful to collect and pop all of your balloons after your event is over; releasing balloons contributes to ocean pollution, especially when you do it right by the beach!