A destination beach wedding provides the perfect natural backdrop for a romantic ceremony. After choosing the destination and inviting your guests, one of the next and possibly the most important step is to choose your wedding dress. Here are a few tips we like to share with our destination wedding clients for choosing the best gown for their beach ceremony and/or reception.
1. Avoid a longer train
This one might break some flowing train-loving brides, but if you’re not going to have bridesmaids bringing up the rear or a red carpet/some type of runner laid out over the sand, we would advise opting for a gown with a shorter train for a beach wedding. You may even want to opt for a shorter dress if your destination and vibe call for it.
2. Choose a dress that complements the destination
A destination or beach wedding can vary greatly in terms of vibe and formality. For instance, if you opt for something more casual and relaxed on a public beach, the dress you choose would be quite different from one you would choose for a more formal affair on a private resort. Make sure the dress you choose for your beach wedding complements the destination and surroundings. In addition, you want it to go with the overall vibe you are trying to convey for your big day.
3. Choose the fabric wisely
Depending on the destination and season of your beach wedding, things can be quite hot, sticky and humid. In addition, things can get quite breezy by the water! You don’t want to spend the entire wedding itching to take off the dress of your dreams. Make sure to choose a gown that is made from light, breathable fabric. In addition, you’ll want to choose something that allows you to move about freely.
4. Look at the dress in natural light – not just in the shop or tailor’s lighting
The way that fabric looks in the artificial light of a bridal studio or tailors shop can vary greatly from the way it looks in bright sunlight. Make sure your know exactly how the dress will look in natural light before you decide. One expert you can look to on this one is your photographer. They most likely have shot other beach weddings, if you choose someone local to your destination. If not, they have most certainly shot wedding photos outside in settings other than beachside. They can show you examples of what different fabrics will look like in natural light, both bright or cloudy.
5. Make sure to consider that a beach wedding can be quite breezy
Even if you’re getting married at the peak of summer, it can get quite windy by the beach, so choose a dress that won’t have you starring in your own Marilyn Monroe moment as you walk up the aisle. In addition, you may want to consider bringing a shawl or wrap. If you’re getting married on the beach later in the day, or if you’re planning to keep the party going on the beach late into the night, pick out a shawl or a wrap that you can wear to fend off the cold.
6. Be specific when choosing the volume of your gown
A full-length dress can be beautiful for a beach wedding, but make sure it’s a cut that looks right for the occasion – a grand princess-style ball gown may look a little bit out of place in this situation. Again, consider the surroundings before you choose the dress.
7. Choose beach-friendly shoes – or go barefoot!
Needless to say, stilettos and heels should be avoided during a beach wedding – if it’s a sandy beach, they’ll sink, and if it’s a rocky beach, you’re risking a nasty ankle twist. Go with beautiful jeweled sandals, pretty flats or even bare feet if you’re really after the bohemian look.
8. A beach wedding is the perfect place for a touch of color
A beach wedding is the perfect place to have a little fun with colourful wedding dresses. It needn’t be a rainbow of hues – a tinted skirt, a pastel sash or some bright floral embroidery could be just the right touch.
9. Consider adorning your look with a beautiful headpiece
Nothing says beach wedding like a gorgeous headpiece, and we’re not talking a run-of-the-mill tiara either. You can’t go wrong with a pretty floral crown, or get inspired by the beach and bring out your inner mermaid with a shell crown. Plus, a crown can help keep your hair in place if the ocean breezes are at their peak.
Considering planning a destination beach wedding of your own? Call the destination wedding experts at 402-390-9291 or get started here.