Beach Wedding

Your wedding is a special event, and nothing is more special than a Beach Wedding. There are few spots on this planet as inspiring as our beaches. The never-ending ebb and flow of the water, the seashells tucked into the sand, the sun rays dancing on the water, and the horizon that seems to go on forever - it's absolutely intoxicating and romantic. Many couples decide that a beach wedding is the prefect way to begin their married life. If you have set your heart on getting married on the beach you will need to plan carefully to make your day as perfect as you imagine. Firstly you have to select a perfect beach wedding location. There are many amazing beaches around the world where it is possible & legal to marry. Stetching around the world from classic locations in Florida, Hawaii, California & the Caribbean to far away deserted beaches in Australia & tropical paradise islands in Fiji & the Cook Islands. Many destinations offer cliff top or ocean view weddings - where you can marry outside with views overlooking the beach but with the facilities of a private villa or hotel. Santorini in Greece & the Amalfi Coast in Italy are a couple of great examples for these type of beach style weddings. Don't miss The Complete Guide to Weddings Abroad which will show you the best resorts, the best beaches, the best locations, the best planners plus everything you will need to know to have a perfect wedding day on the beach. To make the most of your beach wedding see our beach wedding tips - which will help you realize how you wish your beach wedding day to proceed. Things to think about are the heat - as many beach wedding destinations can get extremely hot - especially at mid day. On many beaches that face west it may be practical to have your wedding just before sunset - which will lessen the heat factor & also make a spectacular romantic backdrop for the ceremony & the wedding photos. Many couples decide to go to paradise resorts that offer beach weddings & ceremonies while combining thier honeymoon. Often these resorts will have a beautiful area or gazebo set aside for weddings next to the beach. Often, getting married in a resort next to the beach lessens some of the problems that can arise with a ceremony on the sand. Often resort hotels will have private beaches to get married on so you can get privacy. Also they will have facilities - such as shade, drinks etc which will make the ceremony go smooth for everyone. Also these resorts can provide the reception on a beautiful terrace - but wedding photos can still be taken on the beach. Many resorts do offer ceremonies that also do take place on the beach along with the reception facilities.

For a ceremony on the beach you can achieve some really beautiful decoration to make the day really special. It is wise to use an expert local wedding planner to help with this & the legal side - in many locations there are some truely talented wedding planners that can create wonderful beach wedding decorations - but it is often possible to arrange everything yourself. Planning what to wear is important - light fabrics are essential - both for the bride & groom aswell as the guests. Flat footware - not always popular with the guests - is also essential. Keep in mind to have lots of liquid to keep everyone refreshed. Don't miss The Complete Guide to Weddings Abroad which will show you the best resorts, the best beaches, the best locations, the best planners plus everything you will need to know to have a perfect wedding day on the beach. Beach Wedding Dresses Beach weddings are considered more informal than their church counterparts. Full formal skirts and poufy headpieces aren’t required. Instead, a sleek, casual style is called for. That isn’t to say your day will be any less special or glamorous than that of a church wedding, it only means you’ll want to go with a different type of dress or gown. An informal wedding dress looks classy and elegant for your beach wedding, without being too over the top. It has many different styles, a halter or strapless top or sleeves for those who prefer to co ver up a little more. All are slim but flowing with various lengths.

Accessories Wedding dresses are so casual, in most cases, a veil is not required. If you do want to go this route, you’ll need one with a style to match the dress. Something informal will do fine. You can also wear f lowers or rhinestone studded barrettes or a hair band. Your hair style need not be elaborate, wear it long and flowing or pulled back in a stylish ponytail encircled by pearls or flowers. Of course, if you’re wearing a simple beach wedding dress, you’ll want simple footwear as well. The last thing you want is sand in your $350 white satin pumps. Some beach brides go barefoot, while others don an elegant pair of flip flops or even some strappy sandals.

Consider the Weather You’ll also want to take the weather into consideration. It might be a beautiful day, but for some reason, the ocean inspires wind. If you feel your dress or veil will blow around, you’ll probably want to consider other options. If you’re wearing a hat, make sure it’s pinned securely. It may also be a little chilly depending on the time of day and the month of the year. A strapless number during sundown in late September may not ward off the chill. Flowers If you’re afraid you couldn’t carry a floral bouquet with a more casual frock, you can rest assured this isn’t the case at all. Flowers are most definitely welcome, though a simpler bouquet might be in order. Try a few long stemmed white roses or lilies tied with a blue satin ribbon (for your “something blue”) or carry a small round bouquet or basket filled with daisies, lilies or roses. Flowers are the perfect complement to a beach wedding dress! Convenience One of the selling points of beach wedding dresses is that they don’t take as long a s a more formal gown to order. This is good news for a couple who plan a short engagement. In many cases, they can be purchased “off the rack.” Alterations are usually minimal and in most cases, not even required. Romance If a romantic destination ceremony is your idea of the perfect wedding backdrop, consider a casual but elegant wedding on the beach. With the perfect dress and the perfect man, the only thing left to order is the perfect sunset. A number of brides believe a beach can be the perfect venue for a wedding. It certainly can be—if you make the right preparations. Success is definitely within your reach—but you need to plan for it. Here are the top five things you can do to ensure that your beach wedding surpasses your personal expectations: Pick the right location. Location is obviously a prime consideration in real estate, and it’s highly important when you are planning your beach wedding as well. Some prime locations you might consider include Miami Beach, with its exciting night life, and the Florida Keys, with its incredible scenery.

Hire a wedding planner. While you might think that a wedding planner i s a luxury, it can be a necessity when you’re planning a beach wedding. Be sure you let your planner know whether you are interested in a large event or a relatively intimate affair. Also, you need to tell your planner whether this will be a formal affair, with traditional wedding attire, or a casual event, with Hawaiian shirts and beach wear. Choose a convenient reception spot. Ideally, you want the reception to be held close to the actual wedding site. That way, your wedding party and your guests will not have far to travel. Make sure you have a professional photographer. While you might be tempted to save money by hiring an amateur, in the end, you’re likely to be disappointed if you do not employ a professional to take your wedding photos. Remember, part of the thrill of a beach wedding is having spectacular pictures to remember it by. Don’t forget to consult your clergyman. Some members of the clergy do not support the idea of having a beach wedding. Therefore, if you’re planning a wedding along the waves, you’ll need to check with your clergyman to make sure he’s willing to perform the ceremony in the sand. Otherwise, you could end up with an unpleasant surprise at wedding time—all the guests are assembled, but there’s no one around to preside over the exchanging of the vows.

Do's & Don'ts for

the Night Before Your Wedding

1. Don't drink a lot of alcohol at the rehearsal dinner. Limit yourself to a glass of wine or champagne for toasting at dinner. Instead, drink plenty of water – it will make you feel and look good for your wedding day. 2. Do eat a good dinner. Don’t just nibble – you’ll need plenty of energy for the day ahead. Stay away from spicy foods or rich, heavy desserts. They may give you indigestion and stop you from getting a good night’s sleep. 3. Don't go out after the rehearsal dinner. There will be lots of friends, relatives and out-of-town guests that will want to see you – but resist the temptation and go home directly after the rehearsal dinner. 4. After the rehearsal dinner, do spend time with people that are close to you… your parents, your bridesmaids or your fiancé. Try not to be around people that can be annoying or cause you any stress. 5. In addition, do spend some quiet time alone to meditate or visualize your wedding day. Try taking an aromatherapy bath with fragrant candles and soft music and just relax! Use this time to really visualize your wedding day. Picture it clearly (with details) in your mind – everything flowing perfectly! 6. Don't over do it! The night before the wedding is not the time to be putting together your favors or to begin packing for the honeymoon. Make sure you plan accordingly and have everything done before the rehearsal dinner – if not, ask for help!! 7. Do go to sleep early. This may be difficult with all of the excitement. Allow yourself some time to wind down after the rehearsal dinner and before you climb under the covers. Do something you enjoy that relaxes you, such as reading a book or listening to soothing music. The bath may help you get drowsy!

Secrets Of Planning

The Perfect Weddings

Everybody dreams of having a perfect wedding, but like all planned events even the wedding ceremo nies generally have one or more glitches, which need to be smoothed. Ultimately one has to remember that the day is for and of the bride and groom and the planned choices that they've made should be honored above the choices of others. Most important thing is to remain calm and cool and stay with your plans. Before planning your wedding it's important to know exactly what you want before you start making those final decisions that many times can't be reversed. Talk about what you want with your finance. You'll more than likely have a budget that you need to stick to so you'll have to decide what's important to you that you won't give up versus what you're willing to part with. Your first decision will be the wedding date. If the ceremony will take place in a church or some other heavily used building, confirm that the date is available. If it isn't you'll have to settle on another, so it's a good plan to have several possibilities when you are ready to book. You'll need to plan your budget carefully. Use common sense when choosing some things for your wedding. Where possible think of ways where you can cut costs. For instance, if you want to hire a DJ to handle the music at your reception you might want to ask around to see if you know anyone who can do this for you at a low price. When you start buying the things that you need for your wedding use a list that includes all costs and items that you need and make sure that you stick to it. Contact merchants in your area that offer the services that you need and see if you can negotiate a better price. After all, it never hurts to try. Choosing the photographer for your wedding is one of the most important decisions that you'll make since your photos, like your memories, will last a life time. Take your time looking for the right photographer before making your final decision. Ask to see plenty of samples so that you can see the range of photos that the photographer can take. You want to be certain that the pictures that you want are possible. You need to decide how many people that you're going to invite to your wedding. Be realistic when you're counting heads. If your budget doesn't allow you to have a huge guest list you'll have to start making cutbacks and limiting those family members and friends that will be getting an invite. After you have your headcount, you'll need to find a caterer that you can afford and who will be able to prepare the foods that you plan to serve. Remember that there is more to choosing a caterer than cost alone. So you have to decide on a number of things while planning for your wedding. And to be sure that you have taken care of all aspects get somebody - a friend or sister to help you with the planning. And it definitely pays to have some body help you decide on things like music for the reception, the decorations and the menu etc. Above all you must enjoy the planning and the execution of one of the most special days of your life. Enjoy!