Beach weddings

Added: 01/13/2006

Do not want to have a traditional wedding? Then think about a beach wedding. Couples today want to do something different from what their parents did years ago. Many couples are getting married for the second time and want something completely different from their first marriage. Older couples are looking to recreate their wedding ceremony, but want to renew their vows in a fresh and exciting new way. A beach wedding is the answer to these scenarios.

Many people do not realize they can get married on a public beach. It's a lot easier than you might think! In many instances, there are no requirements or special permits involved for a beach wedding. For the couples who want something easy and romantic; something that doesn't involve being the next in line at the local courthouse, a beach wedding is heaven-sent. It's simple, it's fun and it's different. Besides, there's just something about standing under the wide open sky, with the waves crashing behind you, that makes the whole ceremony so magical and elegant. Make it a sunrise wedding and you'll have a memory so special, you might want to renew your vows in the same manner years down the road.

Beach Wedding Traditions. A beach wedding lets you involve your guests in many ways a traditional wedding cannot. Some couples love the "Blessing Shells". This involves giving each wedding guest a seashell after the ceremony. Everyone walks down to the water's edge, says a personal blessing or a prayer for the new couple, then, each person tosses their shell into the ocean. Guests can be given sand dollars or starfish as wedding favors. A more casual and relaxed Hawaiian theme is for the guests to place a lei around the bride or groom's neck. You can also have the bride place a lei around the necks of the groom's parents, while the groom does the same to the bride's parents, symbolizing the acceptance of each set of new parents into their lives. Instead of the traditional unity candle, (which by the way is very difficult to keep lit on a windy beach), couples choose to fill a heart shaped glass bottle with a handful of sand from the beach. This creates a nice little keepsake that will bring a smile every time you look at it!

There are things to remember when planning a beach wedding. Here are a few tips that are sure to help! First and most important of all is to purchase your marriage license before the day of the wedding. Keep it in a safe place until you can give it to the person officiating the ceremony. Be sure to bring your identification too.

Tip number two - remember you are at the beach. It is a public venue. There will be people watching and extremely curious about such things. A good beach wedding service will do all that they can to keep the public at bay, but there will be onlookers! Also, flat shoes or rather your own bare feet, is the best footwear for a beach wedding. Walking in the sand in high heels is not that easy. Save the beautiful shoes for later at the reception! A classy swept up hairstyle for the bride is a must, unless you want to fight with your hair when it comes time to take pictures.

Tip number three - try to schedule your wedding in the morning or in the late afternoon during the spring and summer months. The heat is too overwhelming and the beaches will be crowded with sunbathers during the middle of the day. Also, when you have your day picked out, consider looking at the Farmer's Almanac to see what your chance of rain might be. If the chance of rain is high, you might want to think about a back-up site, just in case.

Tip number four - resist the urge to feed the seagulls! They can be very aggressive and have no manners! If you must have a photo with them flying all about you, then try to make it right before you leave the wedding. That way, if something should happen, you won't have evidence of it in all of your pictures.

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