You can go an extremely long way for DREAM WEDDING IDEAS, THEME WEDDINGS… OR NOT VERY FAR AT ALL! JUST A little bit of creativity and resourcefulness in your decorations ideas can make all the difference!

Take the sandy beaches and the ever-popular BEACH theme wedding, island, ocean, near water or lake, stream, waterfall or other bodies of water type weddings! They reek of the exotic, romantic, break and get-away we so all crave, imagine, fantasize about and WANT! Who would not want a beach wedding, even if you are in your backyard, in a reception hall and not on a tropical island, in the middle of the winter (and the ice-princess theme does not work for or appeal to your sunshine-craving nature!) .. the great news is, that themed weddings are versatile! There is something for everybody – so off we go to the other extreme and another illustrative example.

Being married on the beach at sunset… romantic, yes. Costly, out of reach, impossible … not necessarily!

If held on the beach there are some real challenges like wind, sand, apparel, footwear etc. permits, risk, contingencies, weather to consider… If held and simulated indoors at local locations that have nothing to do with the beach and are far removed from it, having to become and be transformed into tropical paradise through money, feature, creativity and hard work is what we hint at.

Here are other considerations as well to consider if a BEACH DREAM WEDDING THEME is in the cards or planning for you:

• Some beaches are public
• Both a ceremony and a reception can not necessarily be held there
• Some beaches are private and or do not have these restrictions – you need to verify this detail BEFOREHAND and well in advance.
• Privately owned by hotels, restaurants, resorts, and private individuals will bring restrictions, services and costs with it (or not)
• Ceremony and reception do not both have to be on the beach so to speak, most retire to a nearby resort, hotel etc. for the reception
• Patio’s and decks, vacation properties or all-inclusive resorts can also customize package and set-ups for you that can make your dream beach wedding a reality.
• Which beach to use
• General weather patterns in that area
• Various times / best time of the year for a wedding
• Avoid hurricane season, bad storms like typhoons etc.
• Permits might apply to hold any kind of ceremony on a beach or in public
• If the beach forms part of a city or state park you need to confirm this well in advance of starting to make your arrangements
• Inspect the site a day or two before the wedding at the same time of day that you will hold your ceremony
• Know when and where the sun sets
• The direction from which the wind may blow, tides
• If the area is level allowing for seating, standing crowds
• Any shading, tents, structures etc. that would pose a problem
• Chairs sink into sand – so specialty seating will be required
• Rental flooring might have to be put down to accommodation standing/sitting on the sand comfortably

Favors and Accents

Affordable favorites abound for beach themed weddings, even if you are NOT holding it outside on the real thing, but a simulated indoors-environment, climate controlled and comfortable, without wind, sea, surf, sand etc. to worry about!
For budget conscious weddings it can be a life-saver. A wide variety of choice party gifts, decorations and even centerpieces are available that will bring the ocean and beach right into your room, guest-experience and wedding of your dreams (even if the real thing is miles away)

• Sea shells, sand
• Candle stand filler (sand)
• Towels, beach balls, flip flops and umbrellas
• Grass hats, cocktail glasses
• Sea blue and green candles and accent colors for decorations
• Dolphins and other sea-creatures, fish, lobster, sea-horse, octopus etc.
• Floating candles shaped like water lilies
• Party favors, like mini beach bags, all shapes, colors and sizes, heart-shaped, shell-like, beach-shirt-type photo-frames, shell or flip-flop key-chain, sail-boat place-card holders, Beach-chair seating cards
• Nautical theme items, boats etc
• Weather, RAIN-PLANS, outdoor events contingencies, emergencies, cancellations etc. tent, or you can book an indoor backup site. THESE ARE ALL THAT MORE IMPORTANT WHEN YOU HAVE A THEMED WEDDING – BE PREPARED FOR ALL AND EVERYTHING THAT CAN HAPPEN AND COULD GO WRONG! PLAN, PLAN, PLAN…! Dream Themed Weddings give you the peace of mind and flexibility to have a PERFECT and GREAT day, despite and regardless of all of the above!
• Renting a tent can be a life-saver and bring your theme to life more, for both ceremonial and reception-type events
• Maintain an airy outdoor feeling, allowing breezes in, but keeping rain out and of your guests.
• It needs to be budgeted for under separate cover as an additional expense
• Canopies and square foot size will make a difference in costs, so check the details carefully to not get in way over your head!
• Opt for locations where both beachfront and indoor capabilities, or reserving a church fellowship hall are available and at your disposal, included or possible back-up!

From formal and elaborate, to intimate and beautiful, we find myriads of ways to exchange our vows and create great wedding events, settings, atmosphere and memories, unique, affordable and treasured! We mark the occasion with food, drink, music, merriment and favors, sharing treasured moments together, one of the most important milestones in our lives. Whether icy, warm, wintry, beach, outdoor, indoor, themed, traditional weddings, planning, budgeting, eye on detail, professional resources and input, verifying and checking all details prior to , during and after the event will take its toll on our resources, energy, funds and time – but in the end, it is all worth it.

Summer sun can get hot, guest get thirsty, windy beaches can be uncomfortable, standing around in sand, sinking away is not everyone’s idea of a perfect wedding. Advising of appropriate attire is considered common courtesy and appreciated by guests more than you know. Give as much information prior to the event to ensure guest comfort and smooth sailing on the day of your wedding, avoiding nasty or unwelcome surprises that you were not anticipating. Evening weddings, backyard weddings, might require more lighting. Serving alcohol at your event comes with responsibility and costs to consider carefully – plan well, communicate and execute well and you will soon look back on a splendid event that is YOUR DREAM THEME WEDDING.

Keep your guests happy and hydrated (with water that is!) Ensure some:

• Iced non-alcoholic drinks
• Bottled water in ice-filled buckets at the end of each row of chairs
• Personalized paper fans
• Umbrellas
• Sunscreen
• Anything in the bathrooms to show consideration and care for your guests will be noticed and remembered regardless of the theme or setting, indoors or out-of-doors!

For beach type weddings or out-doors locations, also pay close attention to other needs you normally do not associate with wedding planning, like

• Toilets and bathrooms – access and enough around to accommodate your guests comfortably
• Tides, closeness/proximity to the water’s edge, waves
• Sound, music, words, microphones, speeches, toasts, wind/breezes
• Regulations and restrictions
• Bugs and mosquitoes

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