We are all going through uncertain times right now, and many of us are experiencing anxiety. Things are slowing down and we may be looking for a way to relax and ease our minds. One of the best ways to do this is to think about beautiful things: read a romantic novel, watch an old movie or even browse some fashion. If you are bride to be why not indulge your fantasies and look at some gorgeous beach wedding dresses. This might be just what you need!
Cocoa Beach bride with formal wedding dress
Key ideas for your best beach wedding dress include: beachy, romantic, affordable. Now keep those ideas fresh in your mind. Bring them to the table when choosing your perfect beach wedding gown. Let’s use those three magical words for our wedding dress guide.
How to Choose the Best Beach Wedding Dress:
Beachy Fabrics
Your choice for a beach wedding alludes to the fact that you have an appreciation for the outdoors and adventure. So let’s consider the beach elements like sun and sand when narrowing down your beach wedding dress selection. It’s best to stick with dress fabrics that are lightweight and wispy. Cotton, chiffon, tulle, lace overlays are all great options. Avoid heavy ballgown type dresses that will get weighed down in the sand and leave you uncomfortable or hot. This doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice a traditional white wedding gown look, just choose the right fabric. And, no, it doesn’t have to be white either!
Romance is in the eye of the beholder? Or something like that. ;) Let your natural style guide you here. Are you into vintage? Modern? Classic? Boho Chic? Fun and flirty? Get an idea of which style speaks to you and that will narrow your focus. Any style can be tweaked or adapted to fit the beach scene whether it’s a Gulf beach wedding or the Atlantic coast. So once you’ve found your “style” keep in mind the beach-y fabric choices mentioned above.
Bride on the beach with flowers
Lace wedding dress on Wilbur Beach, Daytona
Toolcloth Boho lace wedding dress
Romantic mermaid style dress in Palm Coast
Simple and short is perfect for a Siesta Key Beach wedding at sunset
Daytona Beach bride and groom
Formal Clearwater Beach bride on the white sand
Affordable Price
Where there’s a high end wedding dress, there is an equally creative company designing very similar concepts. And at a much more budget-friendly price. There’s nothing wrong with skimming the hottest bridal magazine for inspiration but don’t get glued to an exact dress. Find a dress you love and get in touch with your local bridal gown store. These stores specialize in the latest trends and brands and can likely find the perfect beach wedding dress for you! There’s another take here too. You can keep the romance and tradition, but opt for a more casual dress. When you can, peruse local boutiques for white dresses that may not be labeled as “wedding dresses.” Deals are coming!
Tadashi Shoji V-Neck Lace Wedding Dress at Nordstrom
In conclusion, if you have the right fabric, feel romantic and beautiful, and haven’t broken the bank- success! Now imagine the perfect Florida beach wedding. The brides below were just like you: they had dreams and made them come true at beautiful Florida beaches in Cocoa Beach, Treasure Island and Destin. The wedding package decor was customized for each couple and they all had beautiful beach wedding dresses.
Florida Beach Wedding in Cocoa Beach.
Treasure Island Beach Wedding at Sunset with colorful dress
Choosing the perfect beach wedding dress should be exciting and fun, so don’t allow the pressure of finding the perfect dress take away from enjoying this cherished wedding planning time. With over a decade working with wedding dress experts, we’ve compiled a checklist of DO’s and DON’Ts for finding your dream dress.
DO’s and DON’Ts for finding the perfect Beach Wedding Dress
DO- Decide your style choice ahead of time. Avoid sticking with only the hottest trends and consider styles that flatter your figure and personal fashion sense. Also consider your beach wedding package decor and the style it brings to your wedding day.
DON’T- Get stuck in Pinterest mode. Keep in mind these (likely) photo-shopped models may or may not have your same body type, skin tone, bust, hair…. Find your inspiration, but be open to variations that suit you and your style. Check out our photo page for more inspiration!
DO- Consider the weather. Florida beach weddings are likely warm weathered events with a variety of weather on the east coast beaches and the west coast or Gulf beaches. So with the exception of December-February, choose a dress with a breathable fabric. Traditional long gowns are popular but it’s probably best to avoid long sleeves, which may leave you melting in the heat!
DON’T- Forget about your skivvies! It’s a good idea to have both a strapless bra and regular bra on hand. This will give you the best idea of what you’ll actually look like on your big day! No-show underwear are a good idea too so you’ll know exactly what’s going on underneath! *The same is true for any fittings.
DO- Bring your camera when dress shopping. Make sure to have a friend or sales associate take your picture outside in the gown before purchasing. Sometimes the natural sunlight can bring “new light” to your undergarments that would otherwise go unnoticed inside.
The last “DO tip” before you say “I DO” is to enjoy your dress shopping experience. Whether it’s with your mom, sister, best friend, or peacefully by yourself, cherish this traditional bridal right of passage. Find the dress that makes you feel confident, beautiful, and aisle ready!
Meghan Markle is everywhere in the news right now with her and husband Prince Harry’s decision to step back from their senior royal duties and lose their HRH titles. Titles or not, Meghan’s style is still timeless, royal, stunning. Just days after the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, headlines were blaring with every romantic detail of the day including her dress. Classic glamour, elegance, and romance came together for an absolutely stunning look as Meghan continues to make fashion news. So while an elaborate train, sophisticated veil, and earrings that may be more than your annual salary likely won’t be on your wedding shopping list, we’ve found some affordable and royally inspired beach wedding dress ideas!
Wedding Dress Ideas Inspired by Meghan Markle
Romance, simplicity, class. We’ve chosen some style inspirations to achieve a similar royal look for your beach wedding: some are BoHo, others are structured. While Givenchy is a far cry from an “affordable” wedding dress, we’ve found some royally inspired alternatives. Meghan Markle continues to lead the way in romantic fashion wearing beautiful A-line and wrap dresses. Click below for links to shop the style for your romantic beach wedding.
Lost, wrinkled, stained. All words you DON’T want to hear in the same sentence as the words “wedding dress.” So we’ve got just the ticket for keeping your dress safe and sound throughout your beach wedding travels. Pamela Fuit, owner of FloridaBeachWeddings.com has been in the wedding business for more than 12 years. In addition to planning destination weddings across the state of Florida, she also operated a retail store with her daughter, selling wedding dresses, bridal and wedding accessories. From flight to hotel read Pamela’s tips to learn how to travel with a wedding dress:
Pam’s #1 Rule: Avoid packing your wedding dress in checked luggage.
Don’t let the fate of your wedding dress lie in the hands of baggage handlers. Bags may unintentionally be damaged or lost so play it safe and use a carry on when you travel with a wedding dress (or ship separately).
Carry On/Garment Bag:
You may choose a carry on garment bag or hard shelled overhead luggage. VERY IMPORTANT: check with your airline requirements for sizes and carry on regulations. Don’t assume anything. If you have an over-sized bag or too many bags, you may be forced to gate check. And that goes against Pam’s Rule #1: avoid packing your wedding dress in checked luggage. Try to find out how your airline handles passengers with large-but-delicate items like a wedding dress. You can call them ahead of time to see if they would potentially offer closet space (often at the discretion of the flight attendants on duty). Check out this short YouTube video to get wedding dress carry on packing tips.
*Check with a professional (dress sales people or alteration specialist) to see if your dress will require steaming. You can pick up a travel steamer for around $30.
Don’t forget to include in your suitcase all the accessories you plan on wearing with your dress, such as your veil or headpiece, jewelry, lingerie, and shoes (not required for a beach wedding!)
Professional Fold & Pack:
If you have some extra cash and want to play it really safe, you can always purchase another seat on the plane for your gown. It sounds over the top, but lots of brides do it for peace of mind and wrinkle protection.
However, many couples choosing a destination wedding are on a budget so packing the dress is going to be a necessity. It’s best to pack your dress for shipping as if for preservation: Stuff the bodice, skirt, and sleeves (if you have sleeves) with acid-free tissue paper and place the gown in a tissue-lined archival box. To prevent sharp creases, fold the dress in a Z-shape over crumpled tissue paper.
If you are uncomfortable packing your wedding dress on your own, the same laundry services that offer bridal gown preservation/storage often also offers professional bridal gown packing. The bridal salon where you purchased your dress may also be able to pack it.
You can also purchase a “Destination Wedding Kit” which is a specially designed container to fit into the overhead space above your airline seat. Your Destination Wedding Kit goes through security with you when you board the plane. No need to check your gown with your luggage and worry about it getting lost. It can also be shipped (and insured) separately.
Flight:
Check with flight attendants to see if there is available closet space to hang your dress. If not, you can place your hard shelled luggage in the overhead bin. If you have a garment bag, kindly ask your seat mates if you could lie your dress on top of the luggage bags in the overheard bins. Flight attendants can likely assist you with this. Southwest, Delta, American and United may have closets but again space may not be available. Unfortunately, JetBlue doesn’t have closets or other hanging space, but your wedding dress can definitely be stored in an overhead compartment.
Arriving early to your gate will allow for a little more flexibility with storage options. As well, purchasing priority boarding may get you a better chance at getting your wedding dress into that coveted closet (if your aircraft has it). Again, do yourself a favor and call your airline in advance.
Arriving/Hotel :
Car Travel: Upon arriving to your Florida destination wedding city you’ll want to practice the same travel tips in the car as you did on the plane.
Hotel: Hang your dress up immediately. Remove it from the garment bag and hang your dress in a safe, dry place. Often hotels offer on steaming/pressing services so check with front desk. But if they don’t, remember the steamer you packed? The night before you beach wedding give your dress one last steam if required. And now you’re good to go – Pinterest ready!
We hope Pam’s tips were valuable and you are now ready to pack your bags and head to the beach in Florida. Click HERE to book your Destination Beach Wedding today!
