Top Tips To Planning The Perfect Beach Wedding

A lot of couples in Australia fancy having a beach wedding because the continent is home to some of the most famous and beautiful beaches in the world. Beach weddings project a vision of serenity and calmness, with the ocean, the refreshing gust of wind, the sand on your toes, the grand beauty of the ocean horizon, and the bright sunset colors hitting the waves creating the perfect background. There’s no denying that the idea of exchanging vows with the love of your life while the rhythmic sounds of ocean waves fill your ears sounds dreamy. 

Planning a wedding venue is not easy, and planning a beach wedding venue is extra difficult. There are a lot of things to consider and a whole lot of plans to make to achieve the beach wedding of your dreams. To make your beach wedding planning an easy affair, we’ve set up some top tips that we think will help you along the way.

Choose the perfect beach

The first thing you need to do while planning a beach wedding is find the beach. There are a lot of breathtaking beaches to choose from in Australia, so it’s important to write down any preferred specifications to narrow down your search. If you want a secluded and secure beach wedding, then you might want to go to a private beach or a small rocky bay. If your guest list is long, then a broad open beach would be the right choice for you. It all depends on what you have in plan for your wedding. It is also important to understand if there are any permits needed before you can hold an event on the beach you want. A lot of beaches have rules and restrictions and you should research the various beaches to understand which one will work best for you. 

Perfect beach wedding

Consider the weather

Beach weddings are not suitable for every season because the weather might be too cold in winter or too hot in summer. It is important to understand the effect that the weather might have on your beach wedding before carrying on with your plans. Summer is usually the season for beach weddings and even though the heat comes with the territory, there should be a means of ease like a shade and endless cold refreshments. You should also note that a beach wedding in winter should not be considered due to the harsh conditions that come along with it. East Coast residents should also be wary of heavy rain and hurricanes while planning a beach wedding. It is always a good idea to have a plan B in case the weather is especially bad.

Consider the noise and wind

Beach weddings might look calm and quiet, but the ocean isn’t any of those. The sound of the crashing waves might be appealing but you would not want all that noise blocking out your vows. A professional sound system could be a good idea if you want to shut out all that noise. The wind can be pretty aggressive as well so it is important to plan around that as well. Strong and sturdy decors and furniture would be suitable. A light wardrobe and accessories should be considered for both you and your guests as well.

Determine your guest list

It is important to know the number of guests you plan on inviting early on. This will help make a lot of decisions like beach size, seating arrangements, accessibility, and catering a lot easier. You should also note that a lot of beaches are not suitable for grand turn-ups, so it is advisable to keep your guest list short to avoid disorganisation and overcrowding. Beach weddings are supposed to be calm and serene, and an overcrowded event defeats that purpose 

Set up complementary decorations

A lot of common wedding decorations like elegant candles, dangling lights, and flower vines might not be a good idea at a beach wedding mainly because of the infamous beach winds that could knock everything out of order. Invest in decors that will stand against the elements and still create the beautiful backdrop that you are looking for. The beach landscape itself is a vision to die for with a breathtaking ocean expanse and beautiful skies and you might not have to worry about too many decorations. 

Make wise catering choices

Catering at beach weddings needs a lot of consideration because you would want food packaging that will keep the sand and wind away from your guests’ food, and you also would not want foods that can be badly affected by the sun. It is advisable to contact a catering company that has experience in handling off-site events like beach weddings. You should also ensure that you have a perfect way to store foods. For example, you can set up a buffet tent that will keep external forces away because no one wants a slice of cheese or buttercream that has been in the sun for too long.

Wedding – Reception transition

Exchanging vows outdoors on the beach is a wonderful sight, but it might be a good idea to have an indoor setup for the wedding reception. The reception usually takes place later in the evenings and the beach might be extremely cold and too windy for the event, so a setup like a sturdy canopy or tent would make your reception much more comfortable. You can decorate the tents to compliment the beach setup to maintain that beach atmosphere.

Beach weddings are undoubtedly breathtaking and serene, and we completely understand the appeal. It might not be easy to plan but it is certainly worth the hassle and we hope that our tips will help you achieve your goal of planning the perfect beach wedding.