Having a Beach Wedding - Environmentally Aware

Having a beach wedding can turn out to be an amazing and beautiful thing. However if you don't plan accordingly it may make you regret your decision.

The Sunlight: Being in Florida, typically 9/10 weddings that I've done are beach weddings and most of them are similar in nature. The bride and groom are facing each other on the sand. The chairs are set up behind them overlooking the ocean or water. This is where some annoyances come in. If you can imagine it properly your guests are facing the bride and groom and the sunset. As the sun goes down it blinds the guests forcing most of them to squint. This can turn out to be a terrible thing for capturing spontanous moments. You could do a diagnol or 45 degree setup which could be a bit easier on the guests and afterward get some sunset photos.

You guests: Another consideration to think of is your guest number. The more guests you have the more rows you will need. If you have too many rows, it may be tough to hear the ceremony because of the roaring beach waves in front of you. Guests will struggle hearing along with seeing. If you have more than 50 guests, it might be better to do a semi-circle.

Time Selection: If your looking for a sunset beach wedding, nothing can be more crtical then time selection. Prior to selecting your time, think about the calendar year, day light savings time, and so on. Basically find out when the sunset was last year on your wedding day at that location.

The Wind: Normally people who live near the beach, know how breezy it can get at the beach. Sometimes the beach is calm as a zen-master, and other times it feels like a tropical storm. The ocean breeze can make a huge impact on your wedding day, so understand what you will do if its gets somewhat windy, or extremely windy. It may be a good idea to anchor a lot of a your things down.

The Sand: Often times the sand is more of an annoyance if you have a breeze. Otherwise I usually dont mind it. If there is a slight breeze the sand can get in peoples eyes. Walking on the sand can be tough for elderly. Its best to have appropriate shoes for the condition. Obviously high-heels are not recommended.

The final point being keep in mind of your environment.  If possible keep the breeze on your guests back, not the face. Remember the birds, and also the rain. So always be sure to have a backup plan.

A beach ceremony can be extremely romatic or it could be disasterous. Often times beach weddings are not as expensive as many other luxurious sets. Not to mention you are also environmentally friendly if you are hosting a beach wedding. :)