Three Tips For a Festive Beach Wedding Ceremony

I live in southern California—land of surf, sand, and beach weddings. Beach weddings evoke romantic images—and they can be—if you keep these 3 tips in mind:

Provide shade. During the summer, the sun can be brutal, especially if you’re wearing something other than a bathing suit! A festive way to offer guests some shade is by providing colorful paper umbrellas—your guests even could lead you to your beach wedding in a Mardi Gras procession of color.

Remember you will have “lookie-loos.” If you’re getting married on a pubic beach, then you should expect some folks to watch—or gawk! And know that some of these folks will pop up in your video/photos. And some of those folks probably should be arrested for wearing Speedos! Check out your intended outdoor beach spot a week or so before your wedding. When do crowds thin out? Is there a stretch that is less populated? While it will be hard to find a private spot, you at least can reduce the number of unwanted guests.

Be creative—an outdoor beach wedding is not a traditional ceremony. Be creative in every aspect of the ceremony—from what you wear to how you exchange vows and rings.

Rather than setting up rows of chairs, have your guests circle around you in a tight knit circle of love.
I’ve officiated at several beach weddings where folks actually dragged string trios onto the sand—only to have the music blown out to sea. Why not have a horn, trumpet or steel drum shout forth the joy of your day?
I’ve seen brides clomp through the sand in puffy dresses, complete with veil and train. You’re not in a church, so why imitate a church setting?
I feel for older guests and relatives who trudge through the sand in shoes—wanting to remain “proper.” Consider alternatives. Have folks switch into flip-flops before heading off to the ceremony spot. Perhaps you can provide a station where people can remove socks and shoes and then, after the ceremony, have moist cloths ready so they can wipe their feet before putting their shoes back on.
Sun glasses make for a fun beach wedding favor.
When I officiated Rob & Amber’s wedding in the Bahamas, their rings were presented on a seashell. Before exchanging rings, they washed their hands in a conch shell and had their mothers dry their hands. It was a poignant symbol that tied us to both the ceremony and the beach.

Simple, festive, fun. Keep these three words in mind as you plan for a memorable beach wedding ceremony!