How to plan a perfect beach wedding

Image Credit: SAii Lagoon Maldives

Looking to add that extra bit of "magic" to your wedding? How about a ceremony at the beach! Weddings along the shore and beside the ocean can be truly enchanting, though as with indoor functions, they need some proper planning. Here is a guide to help you get started including the things you need to keep in mind when it comes to having your special day at the beach.

Find the Right Beach

The "right" beach for you can be in your home country or abroad in countries that are popular for destination weddings. You do need to decide whether to have the ceremony on a public or private beach. Public beaches will not come with a venue cost as such, but you do need to keep in mind that you will get onlookers; you will also have to follow certain ordinances and get any needed permits when it comes to holding such events in public. Private beaches can be found at certain residences, venues (including restaurants) or resorts and can be made use of for an added cost; they also offer more seclusion ideal for intimate ceremonies.

Choose the Season

The season you choose to hold your beach wedding should not only take into account the weather but other factors like crowds and costs. The high season, be it at your home country or abroad, is typically when you can experience the best weather and a less likely chance of rain; on the flip side, during this time, you will have to deal with more crowds and higher costs.

The low season, on the other hand, comes with a greater chance of rain or cold weather though with fewer crowds and cheaper rates. The shoulder season (in between the high and low seasons) is worth considering too since it offers relatively pleasant weather with fewer crowds and costs. You can also check weather patterns to see when the best time for such an outdoor event is though do keep in mind that the weather can be fickle! Since the ceremony is going to be beside the ocean, don't forget to also look into the local tides and the times they go out and come in; check how that affects the spot you have selected.

Consider Beach Resorts

Wedding planning is no easy task and when you throw in the element of the beach, it increases the things you have to keep in mind. An ideal choice worth considering is to have your ceremony at a beach resort which will do more than help you organise it; apart from providing the ideal stretch of shore, it also provides added facilities including catering and accommodation which is a big plus.

If you are in search of such options abroad then check out the Maldives; wedding ceremonies on the beach are amongst the key offerings at private island resorts in the country the likes of SAii Lagoon Maldives. Because such properties are each on an island, you can look forward to sublime seclusion along with the added benefit of having the resort take care of everything before and on the special day. An added advantage is the fact, that such island resorts are perfect for a honeymoon straight after!

Think of the Format

You should consider if your beach wedding is going to be just the ceremony or will it have a reception after. You will also have to take into account if it's going to be an intimate ceremony with just a few close family and friends or a much bigger occasion. If you are going to have a reception, you will have to decide if it's going to be held at the beach itself or a nearby indoor venue; both are worth considering, though as mentioned earlier, for outdoor events on public spaces you will need to keep in mind local ordinances and the needed permits.