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EVERYTHING Beach Weddings
At the Jersey shore, beach weddings and
ceremonies are popular, to say the least. With some of the best beaches
and boardwalks in the world, getting married on or near the beach
provides a romantic backdrop for your photos and there are wonderful
ways you can personalize your wedding with beach and seashore-themed
touches. If Atlantic City is your location of choice, Monopoly and old
Atlantic City themes are fun elements to incorporate. Whatever your
style, budget or beach location, here are a boatload of ideas for beach
weddings – from the ceremony to the favors.
Hot tip: In addition to some of the ideas
we’ve presented here, one of the easiest ways to get ideas without
having to sift through a million websites selling you stuff is to go to Google
Images and then search on something such as beach wedding
cakes, Monopoly themed wedding, beach wedding bouquets with seashells,
beach wedding dresses, etc.
Beach Ceremony Ideas, & Tips
- Consider a unity-sand wedding ceremony.
- Hire a sand sculptor to create a dolphin or sea-creature lined
wedding aisle or any other sea-related sculpture that appeals to you.
(Photo: Dolphin Aisle and archway)
- Provide wedding fans, Hawaiian Leis or just-married flip-flop favors
for guests attending your ceremony.
- Ask your florist about creating a wedding archway that can be
decorated with tropical summer flowers, ribbons, etc.
- Scope out parking and restroom availability.
- If any of your guests are handicapped or required wheelchair
assistance, is their beach accessibility? Some lifeguard stations have
sand wheelchairs. Check ahead of time.
- In case of rain, be sure to have a backup plan / backup ceremony
site.
- Check to see what permits are necessary to hold a wedding on the
beach.
(See also our articles on
beach permits for ceremonies: - Atlantic County - Cape May County)
- In addition to checking permit requirements, check to see if beach
tags are required for your ceremony guests.
Wedding Attire
- For a more informal affair, instead of the traditional wedding gown
and tuxedos, consider more informal attire such as an
Island-Destination-Wedding-type gown and linen jackets for the men.
- Consider a mermaid-style gown, but only if you love the way it looks
on you. Not everyone can pull off that style, especially if you’re
vertically-challenged.
- If you plan to wear a veil, many planners will recommend having
small weights sewn into the veil edges so it won’t fly into your
face on a windy day.
Flowers
- Choose flowers that can withstand heat and wind. Hydrangeas are not
as hardy as Calla Lilies, for example. Some white flowers are also not
a good choice because they can brown around the petal edges very
quickly in the heat. Ask your florist for recommendations on hardy,
in-season flowers.
- Bouquets can incorporate the beach theme with a few seashells or
dried starfish attached to the bouquet with floral wire.
- Consider a floral archway with tropical flowers for a beach ceremony
(as mentioned above).
- Consider starfish boutinierres for the groomsmen,
Centerpieces
- A hurricane lantern vase filled with seashells or sea stones and cut
flowers.
- Incorporate sea grass, seashells or bamboo into your floral
arrangements for a beachy/tropical feel.
- Ask your florist for their ideas. Often a florist will have an idea
that is even better than what you imagined.
- Fill a lantern with sea glass or sand and insert a small votive
candle.
Invitations / Save the Date Cards
- Draw your names and upcoming wedding dates in a heart in the sand on
the beach. Take a photo and make it into a save the date postcard. Use
Vistaprint for inexpensive postcards. It allows you to upload your
photo and customize it with Save the Date, etc.
- Beach-themed invitations – there is such a huge selection
available, finding the right invitation to fit your style and budget
shouldn’t be a problem.
Ceremony Music
- Acoustic music is a great choice for a beach ceremony, especially
since few venues have access to electricity. The gazebo on New Haven
Ave. in Ventnor has hosted band concerts, but that’s the exception
to the rule. Acoustic guitar, flute or violin are great choices for
outdoor ceremonies. Or if you can hire Bruno Mars on ukulele – go
for it!
Photography / Videography
- Not all wedding photographers work beach weddings because the sand
can easily damage equipment so be sure to check with your photographer
first.
- Look at photographs on the Internet and on photographer’s websites
from other beach weddings to get ideas on the type of shots you would
like on your wedding day.
- Check the angle of the sun for the time of day you plan to be
married. You will want to set up your ceremony area so the sun is not
directly in your eyes; otherwise you’ll be squinting at each other
during the vows.
- Be prepared for onlookers – everyone loves a wedding and a peek at
the bride!
- Consider writing your names in a heart by the edge of the ocean and
posing near it for a shot.
- If you’re having a ceremony or reception near a boardwalk with
rides, consider shots on some of the rides with your bridal party. The
ferris wheel, merry-go-round, or go-karts make fun shots.
The Reception
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Tented beach wedding receptions are possible, but not all beaches
will allow you to set up a tent for a catered reception. Check with
the beach town regarding permits, insurance or any other requirements
before making your plans.
Consider a waterfront reception hall or a reception site close to
the beach.
Absecon Lighthouse is just one of many possible sites!
Decorations could incorporate a Hawaiian theme, palm fronds, tea
lights or perhaps indoor/outdoor party lights in the shape of
dragonflies.
Wedding Cakes/Sweet Table Ideas
- Consider a cake decorated with white chocolate seashells (or a combo
of white and dark chocolate seashells).
- Consider a candy bar filled with shore favorites such as salt-water
taffy, fudge, caramel corn, etc. Additionally, you could consider
Swedish fish, chocolate shaped like seashells, etc. A candy table can
also double as favors for your guests. Personalize candy favor bags
with your initials, colors or theme.
- Consider a cake in the shape of a sandcastle.
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Bridal Party Gift Ideas
- Personalized Beach totes with towels, sunscreen etc.
- Personalized groomsmen beach coolers
- Picnic basket filled with beachy/outdoorsy stuff such as wine
coolers,
flip flops, personalized coasters or beverage mugs, etc.
Special Guest Gift Baskets
- A nice touch for those extra special guests – an Aunt who helped
you make all your wedding programs or a special relative – consider
an Atlantic City or beach-themed gift basket filled with fudge, salt
water taffy and other goodies.
Favors, Placecards and Accessory Ideas:
There are just so many great beach-themed favors and accessories, here
are just a few:
- Beach-themed wedding cake topper
- Beach-inspired ice carving such as two dolphins
- Sandcastle surrounded by placecards (photo)
- Seashell Placecard Holders
- Adirondack chair place card holders
- Flip-Flop Place card holders
- Personalized wedding fans
- Bubbles – great touch on the beach!!!
- Sand Dollar Ornament (photo)
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Table Seating Ideas
- Monopoly Board Placecards. Make the head table Boardwalk; assign
your guests to the other address cards on the board.
- Assign tables by beach – Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate,
Brigantine, etc. One couple took their pictures in front of the life
guard boats on different beaches in South Jersey and then framed the
pictures. Each table had the couples' photo, which showed the name of
the beach town (since it’s on the lifeguard boats), and guests were
assigned to "beaches" vs. table numbers.
- Incorporate old Atlantic City landmarks into your table seating
arrangement. Table names could be famous venues such as The Steel
Pier, Diving Horse, Miss America, The Traymore, etc. Frame old black
and white photos of the famous places and place on each table.
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