More couples are choosing to get married on the beach than ever before. For those planning beach weddings – up to 95 percent of weddings are held on the beach at sunset, with a few weddings planned for early morning. Remember that even beaches need to be booked, especially if you have a specific date and time of day that you want to have your ceremony. With economics the way they are today and so many people conscious of the environmental effects of their actions the beach wedding trend is moving towards smaller, more intimate ceremonies.

When planning a unique theme for your beach wedding wherever you decide to hold it, choose a theme that says something about who you are as a couple, your values, your hopes and your dreams.

Remember the invitation should reflect the type of affair your guest will be attending. An informal wedding will have simple invitations, perhaps written by hand. A more formal affair will go with more traditional invitations on parchment, engraved with RSVP cards. After you have decided on your theme and you are using certain colors, be sure to include these colors in the invitations. It is a small personal touch that tells your guests how much this day means to you.

Unless you have a private beach for your wedding you need to consider some of these questions:

1. Permits – will your venue choice require a special permit?
2. Alcohol – if it is a public venue, is Alcohol allowed, do you require a license, does the restaurant/caterer provide one?
3. Think about the costs of getting everyone to the wedding – are you providing travel arrangements for your guests?
4. What about bad weather are alternatives available ie. Marquis rental?
5. Are bugs going to be a problem and can the location manager provide control?
6. Are there any clothing rules, restrictions or suggestions for guests?
7. Restrooms – are these available?
8. Access – will ALL of your guests be able to access the beach easily?
9. Sound – will guests be able to hear your ceremony above the sound of waves and wind? Do you need microphones & speakers.
10. Children policy – does the venue allow children?

Even at a beach wedding, you can still can have the wedding dress you have always dreamed of wearing. There are no rules that state that you have to compromise your wedding dreams. A classically styled, full dress is just as appropriate as something more casual and practical. You may however want to think about the accessories for your gown and how practical they are given the sand.  Alternatively, you could put down a carpet to walk on, wear casual flat shoes or even go barefoot. A full flowing veil may be a handful, if the area is breezy. Again choosing your wedding theme early will help you make choices for your gown, your bridesmaids, the groom and the groomsmen.

More and more contemporary brides and grooms are opting for a more casual fun ceremony coordinating the colors and themes into a beautiful display.