 A
great number of the weddings I officiate take place along the ocean
shore. Beach weddings range from a simple three person elopement to elaborate
affairs complete with arches, tiki torches and garden chairs. All of these
ceremonies are quite lovely, but there are a few things you can do to optimize
everyone's enjoyment. There are a number of things about Brevard County
beaches that are important to know, especially if you are coming in
from out of state. For example, noon in August is not really the
best time for a wedding. Unless you like pictures with harsh
lighting and burning eyes from the sweat pouring into them. See
those lovely shoes off to the left? Forget about taking them off.
The sand will be scorching those beautifully manicured tootsies of
yours.
Weather
- Optimum: October, November, March, April
- Good: May, September
- Unpredictable: December, January, February
- Predictably Hot and Wet: June, July, August
The best weather for a beach wedding in Central Florida will be in October,
November, March and April .
As amazing as it sounds, December through February are actually the most
unpredictable months despite their appeal to those escaping from their parkas
and snow shovels back home. These months are notorious for being brutally cold
or appallingly hot and sometimes in the same week! Not to mention wind, wind and
more wind.
If you are going to have a beach wedding during our hottest summer months be
prepared for heat that can reach in excess of 90 degrees and feel hotter with
the heat index. Sunrise and sunset weddings work well this time of year because
they also avoid the afternoon thunderstorms that appear like clockwork when we
aren't in drought conditions. I have been tempted to charge a $500 hazard pay
fee for midday summer beach weddings that start more than 15 minutes late.
Remember that sunset in the middle of summer is between 8:00 - 8:30 p.m. here
in Central Florida and the sun doesn't set over the ocean. Yes, I really did
have a couple expect to see the sun dramatically disappear into the horizon.
Pssst....we're looking east!
Wedding Favors
 Beach
weddings can enable you to have a great deal of fun with wedding favors. I
married a couple who provided everyone at the wedding with a water spray bottle
with fan. Brilliant! Thank you Randi and Gregory.
I have seen parasols in the wedding colors to shield guests from
the sun, custom-printed labels on bottled water, shells with the
bride and groom's name and wedding date on them, flip flops,
sunscreen, etc. Anything you would take to the beach to enjoy the
surf and the sand can be turned into a wedding favor with the right
amount of creativity. If you can't guess, I'm highly in favor of
favors that help hydrate.
 Attire
Wear flip flops, encourage your guests to wear them and expect your officiant
to do the same. Nothing is ickier than walking in pantyhose with sand embedded
in the fibers. Except perhaps sweaty pantyhose with sand embedded in the fibers.
Better yet, have everyone kick off their shoes and curl their toes in the sand.
Ahhhhh, that's better!
As for degrees of formality, you will see everything at a beach wedding. A
bride in a simple white cotton sundress beside her handsome groom sporting a
panama shirt and khaki shorts to a bride in a full-length bridal gown with a
cathedral train beside her dapper groom in white tie and tails. There are no
fashion rules when it comes to a wedding by the ocean shore.
Noise
When you're on the beach you are competing with the wind and the surf to be
heard. Portable sound systems right on the sand are not the best idea, but can
be used on boardwalks or at pavilions. If your guests will be standing, remind
them to gather around in order to hear the service. I can project my voice
quite well, especially when the wind is helping me by coming off the sea, but
there are limits to the decibel level of waves crashing I can master.
If you are putting the wedding together yourself and utilizing
friends and family for key tasks, it is entirely possible to have
someone designated the "CD Person" and have them carry a portable CD
player queued to the right songs. This allows the music to be among
the guests, but keep in mind the sound may not carry all that far.
The bride may not hear the Wedding March until she is quite close to
the groom. I advise the "CD Person" and the "Video Person" stand
next to one another so at least your video camera will pick up the
music.
Seating
The average beach wedding lasts perhaps fifteen minutes, but that may still
be too much for great-grandma Jane. Brevard county has several party supply
rental companies that can help with seating for longer or more formal weddings.
I can supply up to 12 white chairs if necessary but usually find it takes longer
to bring the chairs down to the beach than the time people actually sit in them.
Refreshments
Alcoholic beverages are prohibited on Brevard county beaches. Do bring a
cooler filled with ice and water bottles, even if it stays in someone's car in
the parking lot during the ceremony. This gesture is appreciated during balmier
months and a downright requirement during the summer.
If you are having your reception at one of the beach parks, be sure you check
to find out what the facilities include. Some
 are more convenient for catering
than others. Definitely make a reservation in a park that has bathrooms.
Hair
Brides, this one is mostly for you, but it may apply to some grooms as well.
Tie your hair back! Did I mention the wind? Unless you want to seal your
marriage with a kiss through a lock of hair, get an up-do. If not all of it goes
up, at least get it fastened away from your eyes. You really don't want to spend
your wedding struggling to brush your hair out of your eyes with your bouquet.
Then again, that might make for a hilarious wedding video and be good for some
amusing viewing on future anniversaries.
Wind Photography Tip: If your veil is blowing all over the place,
have someone smooth it down behind you and tuck a portion of it under your
armpits. Works like a charm!
Decorations
So let's talk about the wind some more, shall we? The best laid plans can be
laid waste by that lovely ocean breeze .
Professional beach wedding supply companies can erect stable structures and are
worth the price if they are within your budget. For the do-it-yourselfers among
us, be sure you aren't tempted to obtain the cheapest products at the expense of
a wee bit of durability. Some arches are better than others. Make sure they have
anchors and be ready to chop off the gauze if the wind decides it is having none
of the fluffy stuff that day. Bring extra pipe cleaners to secure or reattach
errant flowers, foliage and ribbons. I have a small table and white table cloth
for the sand ceremony vases so you needn't worry about that little part of it.
Unification Ceremonies
Do not get your heart set on a unity candle. Even on days when the sailors
are cursing the dead calm, a puff of wind will find your candles and blow them
out. Better to choose a sand, wine, knot or flower ceremony. Pretty much
anything that doesn't require flame.
Sand Ceremony
The sand ceremony is probably the most popular unification ceremony used in
beach weddings. Bridal stores and websites have absolutely gorgeous sets for
sale. You can also put one together at a craft store for a fraction of the
price. Actually, you could probably find everything you need lying around the
house, but sometimes it is nice to get something new for the occasion.
You need:
- Two small vases
- One larger vase
- Sand
 The
sand can either be from the beach where you were married or colored silica sand
from a craft store. Silica sand comes in all shades and can be coordinated with
the wedding colors. It can also be a lot of fun to play with on the beach after
the wedding because the bags typically hold more than the vases can.. I've seen
some really amazing artistic inspiration emerge from flower girls and ring
bearers. Truly cool pictures for the wedding album too.
The one caution I have with the sand ceremony has to do with......wind! Make
sure your vases are substantial. I have seen beautiful, but extremely
lightweight glass vases repeatedly tip over, or go flying down the beach.
Because they are empty through most of the wedding as the sand ceremony
typically comes after the ring exchange, think heavy.
Indigenous Creatures
While shark attacks are exceptionally rare on the beaches around here, we
have been known to suffer swarms of gnats, mosquitoes, no-seeums and generally
all-around little buggy pests. If you plan on a sunrise or sunset wedding on the
beach do spray on some bug repellant. Sometimes you don't even feel it, but the
next morning you'll be clawing at your limbs and seeing red welts spring up all
over your legs and arms. Yes, I am speaking from experience. An investment you
will appreciate on your honeymoon.
Occasionally we will see a blob of something gelatinous on the
beach closer down to the water. Do not permit the flower girl and
ring bearer to poke around at it. That is indeed a jellyfish and
even dead they can hurt.
Never had a problem with seagulls, terns, crabs, or surfers.
Life is Learning in Progress....
If you stumbled upon this page and have your own tips for beach weddings, I
would love to hear them and will most assuredly credit you for the suggestion.
Please email me at
brevardminister@cfl.rr.com
and I'll add your contribution.
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Beach Weddings
