Beach weddings are just that – weddings on the beach. With the rise of the destination wedding, many brides and grooms-to-be operate under the assumption that any wedding held in a tropical locale is a beach wedding, even if their guests never set foot on the sand or dunk their toes in the sea. But true beach weddings take place out of doors, under a long canopy of sky with the gulls and crabs as witnesses.

After all, you don’t need a lot of fussy ceremony and reception décor when your venue is a long stretch of sand. And yet there are some wedding supplies and accessories that few brides and grooms can do without, like wedding stationery, table decorations, and the bride’s dress. Luckily, there are lots of great beach wedding ideas out there!

The Invites? It’s Treasure Hunt Time

DIY wedding invitations are a fun way to let your guests know you’re planning a beach wedding. Instead of buying plain ecru paper invitations, design and print your own to look like treasure maps. If you can find cylinder containers appropriate for mailing, send your treasure map invitations along with a scattering of sand or a few shells. Alternately, create beach wedding invitations that look like vintage postcards sent from a seaside resort.

The Atmosphere? Let Mother Nature Inspire

When it comes to the ceremony and reception décor for your beach wedding, nature should be your guide. Just look around! String garlands of seashells and coral on chairs and around tables make wonderful decorations. Driftwood and sand dollars can easily be crafted into table numbers and place card holders. Tropical flowers are always a hit at beach weddings, and consider having someone sound a conch shell horn to mark the end of the ceremony. And when it comes to refreshments, what better way to satisfy guests than with an authentic clam bake!

The Dress? Short and Sweet

One dilemma the bride who opts for a beach wedding faces is what to wear on the big day. Though she may have always dreamed of wearing an opulent and regal traditional wedding gown, the sun and the sand can turn heavy ball gowns and tight mermaid-style wedding dresses into torture devices. The beach-bound bride should focus on wedding dresses that are lightweight and breathable, like simple silk sheaths or empire waist gowns made from chiffon. The grooms, bridesmaids, and groomsmen are often dressed in white at beach weddings, though soft sky blues, teals that recall the tropical sea, and shades of sand are also good choices.

Other Considerations

Beach weddings are wonderful in theory, but it’s careful execution that makes them beautiful. It can get hot at the shore, so plan your beach wedding in the morning, late afternoon, or evening. In other words, avoid saying your “I dos” at the hottest time of the day. You can keep your guests cool and comfortable by stashing plenty of chilled bottled water in metal buckets at the ceremony site and having a wide variety of sizes of flip-flops on hand for those whose shoes aren’t compatible with sand. Remember that most beaches are public property, so you may need to acquire a permit before your beach wedding can be considered legit.

The beauty of beach weddings is their relative simplicity. That doesn’t mean, of course, that all beach weddings are sun-and-surf themed. These are only a few potential wedding ideas that can make your nuptials unique. It’s the little touches that you yourself will add that will make your beach wedding something truly special.