Glenna Tooman
Glenna Tooman is the owner of Memory Makers Event Planning, LLC, located in Boise, Idaho. She is a graduate of Boise State University with a degree in entrepreneurial management. She has also completed additional training in technical communication, and in event and wedding planning. Glenna is an internationally recognized authority on wedding and event planning and wedding etiquette. She has been interviewed on television and radio and in newspapers and magazines, including the Northwest edition of the Wall Street Journal. Glenna has written numerous articles on wedding and event planning and on operating a small business for newspapers, magazines, and trade publications throughout the U.S., Canada, Australia, and South Africa.
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He proposed; you accepted. Now, as you begin planning your wedding, the thought of a beach wedding at sunset seems most appealing. However, having a wedding on a beach presents some unique challenges.
Some beaches are publicly owned. Others are privately owned by hotels, restaurants, resorts, or individuals and access to the beach may be restricted to those who will also use the services of the owner. To find out if a beach is publicly owned, contact the parks and recreation department of the city or county in which the beach is located.
The following tips will help you as you begin your planning.
Ask about restrictions that may apply to your event. Most public beaches are closed overnight, so find out the closing time. Ask about restrictions on the number of guests that you can invite, the availability of electricity, and the use of music. Find out if other groups may be having parties nearby. Be sure to read the fine print in your contract, and ask plenty of questions.
Find out about typical weather patterns at various times of the year. You dont want to schedule your wedding for hurricane season or the height of sand flea season.
If the beach is public, check with the city or county in which the beach is located and apply for any needed permits several weeks or months in advance.
If possible, visit the location a day or two before the wedding at the same time of day that you will hold your ceremony so that you can see where the sun sets, the direction from which the wind blows, and other considerations. Your photographer may also want to visit.
Be sure that you or another person visits your site early on your wedding day to do any necessary clean up. Also ask someone remain behind after the ceremony to do a quick clean-up.
Chairs and sand don't mix. Therefore, your guests may need to stand during the ceremony or you will need to rent beach chairs or chairs with wide legs.
The weather can be a challenge. If it is a hot day, sunburn could be a problem. It could also be windy, which is the norm on most beaches, or it could be rainy, also a frequent occurrence. Consider renting a canopy (if it isnt too windy) or providing beach umbrellas, at least for elderly guests. Be sure to provide bottled water. Provide sunscreen if guests will be on the beach for awhile. It can get chilly quickly when the sun goes down, so you may want to provide several throws or light wraps for guests if you plan to be on the beach after sundown.
Parking and mobility may be problems. Walking on sand may be difficult for the elderly or those with health or mobility problems. If guests must walk far, consider renting a golf cart to transport them.
Encourage the wedding party and guests to dress for the location. Shoes with low heels will be more comfortable; avoid high heels. Clothing should be water-resistant and dresses should not have full skirts. When the sun goes down, it may be cool, so jackets or shawls will be appreciated.
Plan on using live music, not recorded. You may need to rent a battery-powered sound system for the ceremony so that guests can hear over the wind and waves.
Choose an alternative to the unity candle ceremony, such as a sand ceremony.
If you are having your reception at the beach, be sure that the food and cake are kept at appropriate temperatures. You may need to take special measures to serve wedding cake, since cakes don't withstand heat, wind, or blowing sand.
Bugs are unwelcome guests at most beaches. Consider making insect spray available to guests or using citronella candles around your ceremony or reception areas.
Consider the tides when choosing your ceremony and reception areas. What appears to be the perfect location during low tide could be under 3 feet of water at high tide.
If no restroom facilities are located near your wedding site, you may need to rent portable restrooms. These can be obtained from construction rental companies. Most companies recommend 1 unit for every 50 guests.
Having a wedding on the beach can be beautiful and will create lasting memories, but it can be challenging as well. By planning ahead and preparing for possible problems, you can have a lovely wedding without major surprises.
Copyright © 2006, Glenna Tooman, Memory Makers Event Planning, LLC; all rights reserved.
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