Beach Bags

If you think planning a wedding is hard, wait until you plan for a destination wedding – especially a beach destination wedding. Probably the most popular among destination weddings, beach weddings  dominate DestinationWeddings.com‘s list of the Top 10 Most Popular Destination Wedding sites wherein eight out of ten favorite wedding destinations are beaches.

But more than the grand location, a wedding is all about the details. From the bride and groom’s beach accessories, reception decorations and giveaways, here are some ideas to make your beach wedding one for the books.

During the Ceremony

• The Wedding Dress. Consider knee-length dresses or those that show off your feet. This will make it easier for you to walk on the sand without having to worry about dragging all that sand with you to the altar. As for styles go for light and flirty such as gowns with sheer overlays and sophisticated beading.

Having a simple gown means you can go wild with your beach accessories. You can have your florist create a dainty crown of flowers to attach your veil on or wear as is. Or go put on vintage jewelry that match your wedding motif.

• Dressing Up the Groom. First things first, let go of that suit. If you’re going to have a beach wedding wear clothes made from light fabrics such as linen or cotton. Most grooms tend to wear white or light colored long sleeved polo shirts, rolled sleeves of course, paired with linen drawstring pants or khaki.

Same as with the bride, go crazy with beach accessories too. Why not put on a beaded necklace or some soft leather bracelets to spruce up your outfit? Or accessorize your shirt with a boutonniere that matches the bride’s bouquet.

• Walking down the aisle. Most couples go barefoot when they take their walk down the beach and to the altar, but you can be unique by putting on barefoot sandals. These beach accessories are a hot item these days among beach weddings because they can add style to any wedding.

The bride and groom can wear a his and her pair decked in Swarovski crystals for some major feet bling. While their entourage can wear a simpler version sporting the wedding’s colors.

At the Reception

• Work of Art. Give your guests something to talk about even years after the wedding by having a sand sculpture at your reception site. It could be a monogram of your initials or something that has a special meaning to you as a couple.

Guests can take their souvenir photos with your sand sculpture centerpiece or use it as the background where they can tape their video messages. Just be careful about playful kids thinking it’s a sandbox and diving in.

• Henna Tattoo Bar. When Madonna made it popular way back when, it was just for decorative purposes for the fashionable set, but henna is originally used in olden times as a form of celebration for life’s milestones such as bearing a child and of course weddings.

First make sure that you’re guests do a skin test first before getting a henna tattoo. You don’t want your guests getting rashes or allergies now do you? This could be one of the most unique beach accessories in any wedding.