Beach Wedding Tips
In a recent blog featured on BRIDES Jaimie Schoen brilliantly highlights five things you mustn’t forget about getting married in the city.
At 30a Wedding Co. we believe the same could be said for a wedding along beautiful highway 30a. There are some important things to keep in mind when what you have in mind is a beach wedding. So, we relied on our 30a Wedding Co. experts to tell us what future brides should know about saying “I do” along the Emerald Coast.
SUNSET
“Having a ceremony at sunset is not a good idea,” said Candice Kauhagen of Candice K Photography. “It get dark very quickly and leaves no time for pictures on the beach.”
It’s a good idea to set your ceremony start time before sunset so you can get the photos you dreamed of on your big day. Or plan to do pictures before the ceremony. Maybe tie in a first look or ask your photographer about scheduling those great shots.
A beautiful photo session of the bridge and groom at sunset. Photo Credit: Dede Edwards Photography.
HOT HOT HOT
Temperatures in Florida are no joke during the summer months and play a major role in your beach wedding. So, prep early.
“When it’s blazing out, offer guests water, but do it AFTER the ceremony,” said Avis Glenister, owner and wedding planner at Carillon Weddings. “That way bottles aren’t all over the ground in your pictures.”
A beautiful collage of an esquisite water station during a wedding along beautiful 30a at Alys Beach. Photo: Rae Leytham Photography
HAVE A SEAT
“Guests also need chairs,” said Kauhagen. “It seems like a no-brainer, but I’ve had way too many chair-less weddings. You need them because it’s hot and impossible for the photographer to get a clear view with everyone standing.”
Sun lit chairs on a beautiful sandy beach offered by Ceremony Design Company. Photo by: Mad Love Weddings
You may be tempted to save money by having your guests stand, but realistically it’s not the best idea. Chairs can be dual purpose, being used first on the beach for the ceremony and then moved to the reception to provide seating around tables. It’s an important detail your guests will appreciate!
HURRICANE SEASON
In Florida, hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th. The most likely months during that time to see a Hurricane are August, September and October. It’s not exactly during peak wedding season, but if you’re looking for a cooler month to get married it could be a factor.
“I don’t want to scare people off,” said Wesley Leytham of Rae Leytham Photography. “But it’s worth mentioning.”
Before each hurricane season forecasts of hurricane activity are issued by organizations like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through their National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov. If something is brewing in the Gulf they will know about it.
Scenery surrounding a beach ceremony along 30a. Photo Credit: Dede Edwards Photography
PARKING
It’s something you may not have thought of, aside from a city wedding, but it pertains to a wedding along 30a as well. The narrow corridor that makes the tiny beach towns so inviting is the same that might have your guests walking a ways to get to your beach wedding.
Make sure guests know where they can park and if they need a pass to park their vehicles, or consider hiring transportation to pick up and drop off guests at designated locations.
A beautiful bride and her groom walk to the beach for photos. Photo Credit: Rae Leytham Photography
SAY WHAT?
“Guests travel a long way to see a couple marry and we would also love for the guests to hear them get married,” said Heather Archdeacon-Williams, Owner and Wedding Planner at Defining Moments Weddings & Events. “Get sound amplification systems for beach weddings.“
But also make sure that you have those speakers placed in a strategic spot.
“I’ve just seen too many weddings where the speakers are literally on top of the bride and groom,” said Leytham.
A perfectly laid out wedding backdrop by Ceremony Design Company. Photo Credit: Mad Love Weddings
If the speakers are too close to the front of the ceremony photographers and videographers may have a hard time working around them. But again, you want your guests to be able to hear you take the big leap especially if it’s a windy day. Just try to do it without hurting the view.
FEATURED 30A-LISTER’S:
Wedding Photography: Rae Leytham Photography | Dede Edwards Photography| Event & Floral Design: Defining Moments Weddings & Events |Wedding Planners: Carillon Weddings | Rentals: Ceremony Design Company |
