Even if you were never a scout, a little preparation can make your beach wedding a memorable event instead of a soggy disaster.
1.As with any outdoor wedding, you will be at the mercy of the weather as well as the topography.You will want to take steps to protect yourself, and you will also want to have a "Plan B."Beach umbrellas can be colorful and make nice features; how about an artfully arranged slew of them, including, of course, one for the bride, groom and officiant?Canopies work well, too, and if you are having a Jewish wedding you'll be using a chuppah at any rate.Make sure whatever you use is sturdy enough to withstand any surprising weather on your wedding day.As for Plan B... make arrangements with a nearby establishment, even if it's only a coffee shop, for your wedding party to take refuge and continue the ceremony in case of extreme weather.(If your best friend is a beach bum with a large home, that's even better!)If you have chosen the remotest possible beach with no shelter within reach, you will want to bring a tent as backup.(And do make sure the tide is out!)
Bare feet may work better than sandals, mat or no mat.Think "festive" instead of "formal."Flowers, bells and seashells can be worn as garlands, necklaces, bracelets or belts.Bright colors contrast well against sea and sand.A short gown or a midi won't drag -- or why not have the entire wedding party wear swimsuits?(Matching ones should cost less than bridesmaids' gowns!)
3.If you have musical friends (or a flexible budget) you will want a soloist or small group in lieu of, say, a sound system, which could be logistically difficult outdoors.You don't have to plug in a flutist!(It is also easier to ask musicians to move a few yards, should the wind change, than to unplug, unhook and reset a system.)
4.A beach wedding probably wouldn't work well for an extremely large group.It is hard to hear outdoors, and the more people there are, the farther some of them must be from the ceremony.You don't want to scream "I DO!"Worse, you may experience some noisy surprises, such as motorboats, helicopters or auto traffic from the nearest road; other people may chance by, they may happen to be drunk, rude or just plain noisy, and unless you're on a private beach, there's nothing you can do about it.If you're intent upon a beach wedding, try to keep the guest list (and the duration) short for the ceremony itself, have your reception indoors and invite as many folks as you can afford to feed and entertain, and, well, be as welcoming as possible to the odd stranger.
5.Relax and go with the flow (no, that's not a tidal joke).Expect the unexpected.Let's say you do everything you can and for some reason you're caught in the pouring rain anyway:it's not the end of the world!Laugh and make the best of it.Don't wear or decorate with anything that you can't afford to see drenched or blown away.Bring balloons to release into a sudden storm or high wind.(Hey, balloons are a good idea anyway!)Whatever you do, don't wear suede!Remember that the reason you are there is that you love each other and you're planning to spend the rest of your lives together.A wedding scotched by serendipity may be frustrating at the time, but think of the great story it'll make for your grandchildren!
