Thinking about having a beach wedding? There are few things quite as beautiful as the ocean, so whether you’re planning a destination wedding in Hawaii or a coastal celebration here in California, to help make the planning process easier, here are a few tips for Red Bow Weddings readers:
Consider the weather
Red Bow Weddings traveled down to Boony Doon Beach in Santa Cruz for these beautiful photos, courtesy of Scot Woodman Photography. The weather was sunny and bright, which made for fantastic photos. It was also chilly and windy. Woodman suggests keeping in mind the weather when planning your beach wedding. Coastal areas tend to be cooler than inland locations, so check to see if there could be a chance of rain. How will you and your guests feel if things get really chilly during your seaside ceremony? Aim for times during the year when the weather is generally warmer on the beach and consider looking for a cove to use to help shield your party.
Attire
If the weather is going to be nice and warm, you’ll love the wispy, whimsical style of these dresses from local designer Tawny Holt’s “Armour Sans Anguish” line of eco-couture clothing. All Armour Sans Anguish items are reasonable priced, especially considering these are one-of-a-kind items you’ll find nowhere else! If the weather is going to be cool and windy, you’ll want to aim for fabrics that are thicker to help keep you cozy and comfortable. Check out Louise Stella Designs for a unique and artistic garter like the one shown here. Also, if you’re going to hold the ceremony out in the sand and don’t want to go barefoot, consider having a pair of jeweled flip flops, sandals, or flats to make walking on the beach easier while still feeling festive and pretty.
Hair
Red Bow Weddings models Ashley, Tiffany, Brittany, and Natalie have elegant beach ready styles courtesy of To Dye For Hair Studio in Modesto. Since the beach is generally windy, romantic pulled back styles, like this one being worn by Tiffany, are an elegant way to keep your hair from blowing in the wind while still offering a soft feminine touch. Kate Sodorstrom of To Dye For Hair Studio recommends shampooing your hair no later than the day before your wedding to allow for an easy style.
Skin and Make-Up
Getting ready for a wedding can feel stressful, and we all know stress can have an effect on your skin. Tess Kirk, esthetician at To Dye For Hair Studio, recommends getting your facial 2-3 weeks prior to your wedding, and all waxing should be done at least 4 days prior to reduce any inflammation and redness. Kirk also suggests that Red Bow Weddings readers who plan to have a beach wedding look for a make-up artist that knows how to properly emphasize your features for outdoor lighting. No one wants to look overly powdered and cakey!
Permits/Legal
Not all beach weddings will require a permit. Depending on the size of your wedding party, you may be able to do without one. You’ll most likely need a permit if you are planning to reserve part of the beach, or you are planning a larger wedding. Regardless of your wedding size, be sure to talk to local authorities to be certain. You don’t want any unpleasant surprises on your wedding day!
Privacy
If you’re having a small ceremony and are not reserving part of the beach, be aware that there is a chance that other people will be out enjoying the same beach as you. For some, this isn’t a problem, but for others, a feeling of privacy is important. Talk with your future spouse and decide what is best for you.
Depending on the beach you’ve chosen, you’ll want to be thoughtful about how accessible your location is going to be. Will you have to hike up or down a small rocky hillside to get to the beach? Will that be difficult for any of your guests, such as grandparents, children, or anyone with physical challenges? How easy will it be to bring down your weddings props, like chairs and tables? How about parking? If parking is limited, one option is to rent a party bus for guests to arrive as a group. If you’ve hired a wedding planner, they should be able to assist you in this part of your beach wedding planning. If you’re your own wedding planner, scout out the site first if you can, or call and speak with visitors’ bureaus and departments of parks management to get a better feel for what to expect.
Décor
You’re having a beach wedding, so why not extend the theme to your décor as well? Gentle ocean colors can be reflected thoughout the wedding, from the attire to the floral arrangements, as shown here in this refreshing bouquet from Allen’s Flower Shop, or this charming flower ball carried by one of Red Bow Weddings youngest models, Ashley. If you’re going to have candles at your ceremony, protecting them from the wind with hurricane glass or jars is a great way to keep the romance alive at your wedding. Your guests will admire the soft elegance of this seaside theme wedding cake, complete with starfish and seashells by My Sweet Spot of Modesto, and these adorable beach theme invitations from Hand Stamped Invitations by Ashley Romo. Creating the beach wedding of your dreams can be easily realized with local wedding professionals from Red Bow Weddings!
Here at Red Bow Weddings, we congratulate you on your engagement and upcoming wedding! You know you can always count on Red Bow Weddings to bring you the very best in local wedding professionals for the 209 Bride!
Taylor Swaty is a freelance writer, wedding officiant, and certified massage therapist. While planning her own wedding, she found that the process can be overwhelming for many couples, and has teamed up with Red Bow Weddings to help reduce the stress of wedding planning by offering helpful how-to and informative articles. She can be reached at taylor@taylorswaty.com.
Special thanks to Taylor Swaty and all the shoot sponsors below!
Feature designer: Tawny Holt- Armour Sans Anguish
Photographer: Scot Woodman
Hair and Makeup: To Dye For Hair Studio
Cake: My Sweet Spot
Flowers: Allen’s Flower Shop
Garter: Louise Stella Designs
Invitations: Hand Stamped Invitations by Ashley Romo
