So you’re about to get married on the beach: a dream come true with your friends and family. They’ve likely traveled a bit to get to your destination wedding so why not put them at ease with a Beach Wedding Welcome Party before the special day? It’s a great way for everyone to relax, mix and mingle before you tie the knot. We know you haven’t had much stress while planning your beach ceremony (planning is so easy), but still excitement and anticipation are high. Here are some tips to help everyone unwind before the big event.
Tips for an Amazing Beach Wedding Welcome Party
Most likely you will be using a restaurant near your chosen beach location or a hotel party room. No matter where you host your welcome wedding party, you can make it memorable. Bеасh wеddіngѕ аrе usually mоrе саѕuаl аnd lеѕѕ fоrmаl thаn оthеr tуреѕ оf traditional wеddіngs, although still stunning like this Floral Distinctive Design wedding on St. Augustine beach below. Ѕо you can take the pressure off by having everyone dress for relaxation.
Grazing Tables
Everyone loves a charcuterie board, like the one below from Tastes Better From Scratch. A grazing table is ususally a large table with beautifully displayed meats, cheeses, nuts, jams, crackers, etc. for your guests to ‘graze’ while enjoying the cocktail hour. No, you don’t have to do it yourself: it can be ordered!
Serve Lighter Food
Choose foods that are flavorful, and prepared in a variety of creative ways. Ocean foods such as fish tacos are always delightful, or a dip. Think of wraps or sliders. A good idea might be mini burgers as appetizers and fresh salads. Why not something like the Blackened Shrimp Avocado Cucumber Bites shown below. Be sure to offer your guests fresh non-alcoholic as well as alcoholic cocktails. As the bride, you may wish to sip sparkling water to keep you skin fresh and ready for your special day!
Fruit and Beach Themed Dishes
Smaller beach weddings also offer the opportunity for some fun food ideas with a tropical theme. Even pizza is go, no formal tables necessary for an intimate wedding. You can have a watermelon fruit bowl shaped like a shark with melon balls inside, or other food or dips in seaside themed dishes if that’s something you love. Why not some pineapples that look like palm trees like this one from Pinterest? Unforgettable at a destination wedding!
Personalize your Party
Your wеddіng welcome party can be matched to your wedding package thеmе which will delight fаmіlіеѕ аnd frіеndѕ. Are you having a blue wedding like the Shades of the Ocean Destiny Package pictured below, a neutral wedding or perhaps tropical wedding? Small, lovely favors that guests can take away as memorable gifts are appropriate at a beach theme party like this…shell and pebble candles are a good example. You can also have guests sign a large card or keepsake book with their best wedding wishes for you and your beloved.
Beachy Cocktails
Another fun thing you can do if you are having your welcome party at a hotel is оffеr ѕіgnаturе drіnkѕ based on your seaside wedding theme or chosen beach location. For instance, Siesta Key has a signature spiced rum that has won awards, distilled in Sarasota. How about a tropical cocktail that has the color of the sea: a Blue Margarita, with blue curaçao. It reminds us of the Gulf water in St. Pete! For non-alcoholic options, how about the Fuzzless Navel? This is a thirst-quenching tropical drink that all ages can enjoy with a combination of peach nectar and orange juice poured over ice and garnished with slices of citrus fruit. Add this to your Daytona Beach wedding welcome party and have some fun!
So after the welcome party is over, it’s time for the real party to start. The wedding day that is! Click here to book your affordable Beach Wedding! We offer vow renewals, beach elopements, commitment ceremonies. We are a Couples Choice® Winner. Compare beaches and plan your Florida beach ceremony today.
Summer beach weddings just have something relaxing, intimate, and beautiful about them. And your beach wedding dress should be no exception to the relaxation, intimacy, and beauty of the day! So let’s talk dresses! Now consider a wedding dress store. And imagine, for a minute, all the dresses are applicants, vying for your purchase. You announce, “Now accepting wedding dresses to wear on the beach resumes!” And just like a job search, you can quickly eliminate those which aren’t even in the same field. Royally heavy-weighted thick gowns- goodbye! Hello light, breathable fabrics. But just how do you narrow down the choices and find a stunning, yet practical beach wedding dress? Read on summer bride, read on!
Choosing the Perfect Summer Beach Wedding Dress
1.Your Style
Whether the thermometer reads 56 or 86, you don’t have to sacrifice your own personal style when choosing a dress. So even though breezy, flowing, bohemian wedding vibes may be the beach’s love language, you can still rock your girly girl sparkle, rhinestone, or otherwise lavish style. Think about if you gravitate towards a boho driftwood beach wedding, or mermaid, or classic and elegant…or maybe you just don’t really have a “style,” you just want to look good! At least have an idea of what you like. Browse photos to eliminate some definite no-go’s. Then when you walk into a bridal gown store, you have a great starting point. You can also check out our Facebook page to view photos from previous seaside weddings to get some style inspiration!
2. Fabrics
Choosing the right fabric is absolutely key to finding the perfect beach wedding dress. Remember when you are in the store, it’s nice and air conditioned. The beach, even if there is a breeze it may not so cool! The best fabric options for a breathable summer wedding are chiffon (shown below from Amazon for $105), cotton blends, tulle, or organza. Silk and satin are very heavy and hot. Charmeuse looks lovely in the magazine, but be aware that every flaw will be revealed. Remember the sea breeze we mentioned? Remember this to avoid a wardrobe malfunction with your dress blowing up and revealing too much, so choose your fabric carefully.
3. Budget
Check out local wedding stores and don’t be afraid to buy off the rack. You can save hundreds buying a sale dress and even if the size isn’t a perfect match, a professional seamstress can fix that seamlessly! Other money saving tips include checking out local swip swap Facebook groups, Craigslist, and there’s a great selection of non-traditional type wedding dresses at Rent the Runway. If you’ve saved some money on a cheap beach wedding package then you can decide to spend more on your wedding dress, or for bridal jewelry to complete your look like Kenya, below, who had her wedding on the beach in St. Augustine.
4. Trial
Sometime between purchasing your dress and walking the aisle, try your dress on and go outside. The natural sunlight may EXPOSE some otherwise unseen features when inside. Don’t skimp on skivvies! Invest in some nice no show, nude, seamless undergarments and make sure you can move about freely without anything shifting, sliding, or falling! You may have decided to go for a long dress, and end up with a shorter one…or vice versa. Does the dress enhance your skin tone or do you want something with color in it? Your dress does NOT have to be white: see our bride Liliana below. You have chosen an outdoor wedding in the sand and sea, so it is critical to see your look outside the artificial store lighting.
5. I Do!
You’ve said yes to the proposal, yes to the dress, now it’s time to say “I do!” Make sure you have packed your wedding dress for travel with a steam iron for your special day. Click here to check out our affordable package and location options. Maybe you’ve got your dress and you’re ready to pack your bags and elope! Read our post to see if a beach elopement is right for you! It was perfect for Deborah and Richard in St. Augustine below.
Find out more about our beach wedding packages. We travel to your chosen location.
