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Romance and beach weddings go together. Warm sand, cool water and beautiful surroundings. Something about the vast and unending ocean and sand making you feel small, intimate and precious just goes perfect for any beach wedding. Whether you choose a warm tropical beach or your local lake, a beach wedding has some unique planning aspects to it.

• First of all, clothing choice. Although beach weddings tend to be on the casual side, there's no real particular reason you can not wear a more formal dress. Trains generally would not work without you do not mind dragging it behind you when it's all wet and muddy. When you're looking for a dress, you should try and look for something that can be hemmed high enough that it will not drag around in the wet sand. Also, stick to light fabrics, especially if it's going to be warm. There is nothing pretty about armpit stains on a bride.
• Speaking of clothing choices, let's talk footwear. Even in hard packed sand, dogs really are not going to work so hot. Dressy sandals are a wonderful alternative, but you really can not beat the feeling of the warm sand in between your toes. For your husband-to-be, formal tux shoes really are not comfortable to begin with. Then you add all the sand getting in there with his socks on and you have a recipe for foot pain. Again, some sandals or barefoot are going to be more comfortable. Go together to get pedicures or do it at home together as a way to bond and relieve stress before your big day.
• Sand Ceremonies. Sand ceremonies are a replacement for the unity candle and are becoming a hot new trend, especially in beach weddings. The basic concept is that sand from both the bride and groom is added to a large container in a symbolic gesture representing the couple as a joined family. Look around at local stores for glass containers that you can store your sand in. You can use seashells, either bought or found, for the individual sand containers and add them to the combined sand as a display.
• Location, location, location. Research the area you're planning to get married at. Make sure that you get any necessary permits and permissions to marry in your location. Check to make sure that there is adequate parking, restroom facilities and ceremony space. Scout the area if at all possible, or send a trusted friend out to do it for you. Check out the sunrise / sunset tables and visit the site at the time of day you want to get married, especially for a sunset or sunrise ceremony where light may be blocked by sand dunes, so you can adjust the time. Do not go by clock time because 7pm in July is different than 7pm in December, so use the time table to determine when the sun rises and sets. Also, remember that in the summer, the heat may be a lot for you and your guests so avoiding the hottest parts of the day is a good idea.
• On that note, check the tide tables! I can not stress that one enough. Make sure that if you get married at high tide there is enough room for your guests. If you're getting married at low tide, you might want to send someone to the site early with a rake. Seaweed is not just gross, it smells. Terribly. It also traps garbage, shells and wildlife that are dangerous to walk on. It also tends to build up on the more secluded beaches or after some rough waves.
• Have an alternative. Coastal weather can be very unpredictable. Ask your wedding planner or minister if they have an available location in case the weather is bad.

Planning a beach wedding can be a lot of work, but with a little planning and patience they turn out just beautiful.

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Source by Erica Adkins