Loading...

The Logistics You Need to Know About Planning a Beach Wedding

August 13, 2024 | kailey

Panoramic ocean views, turquoise blue waters, tropical foliage, and long stretches of white sand—it’s no wonder so many couples choose a beach wedding. While it makes for a stunning wedding setting, the planning process isn’t as straightforward as a traditional celebration. Opting for a sandy soiree adds an extra level of complexity to your planning. 

On top of the standard wedding planning checklist, you’ll also have to worry about permits, regulations, accessibility, and so much more. But these additional behind-the-scenes tasks and details shouldn’t deter you from choosing a beach venue. To help ease the overwhelming nature of planning a beach wedding, we’ve compiled must-know tips to ensure a smooth planning process.

1. Research Permits and Regulations 

One benefit of booking an official venue is that you don’t need to worry about permits, as the venue typically takes care of them. However, if you plan to say ‘I do’ in a public space, whether rural or urban, you’ll need to research the specific permits and regulations for that area. This is especially important for those planning a beach wedding.

Unless you’re booking a venue with a private beach, you’ll likely need to secure a permit. Before finalizing your location, look into the necessary requirements. While it’s not always required, doing your research can prevent unnecessary issues later on down the line. You’ll also want to research any noise, vendor, or guest regulations in place. 

2. Pick a Location and Date to Avoid Crowds 

Tying the knot in a public space means you can’t control who’s in the surrounding areas. If you choose a popular spot during peak season, you’ll likely have to deal with crowds. While some couples won’t mind, others may prioritize privacy. So, before picking a wedding date and time, find out when the beach is less crowded. Typically, beaches are quieter during weekdays and early mornings. 

planning a beach wedding

Image by Ammata.

3. Consider Accessibility when Planning a Beach Wedding 

When opting for a modern, traditional venue, couples have the luxury of not worrying about crucial details like parking and accessibility. However, those planning a beach wedding will have to keep this into consideration. As you narrow your options, ensure each beach is accessible for all your guests, including those with mobility issues.

While this is crucial for your guest’s convenience, how easy or difficult it will be to reach the ceremony location will also impact your vendors and rentals. Discuss your location with key vendors like caterers, DJs (and their equipment), rental companies, etc. Make sure your site isn’t too difficult to reach, and if it is, make the necessary preparations. Fortunately, most vendors are familiar with difficult locations, but letting them know ahead of time will prevent any surprises on the wedding day.

4. Check the Tide Schedule

As much as you’d love to “roll with the tides” on your wedding day, some things must be planned ahead of time. While weather is uncontrollable, the ocean tides are predictable. So, check the tide schedule before settling on times for all your wedding festivities. This will help you pick the best time for your event, ensuring that high tide doesn’t interrupt your ceremony or reception. 

5. Beach-Friendly Dress Code and Attire 

While choosing wedding attire that catches your eye is important, you’ll also want to be mindful of the weather. A wool suit might look stunning, but it’s not ideal for a beach ceremony on a hot summer day. Instead, wear something that complements the weather and keeps you comfortable.

The same goes for your guests. Use your invitations or wedding website to offer advice on what to wear to your beachfront wedding. Here are a few guides you can share to help your guests choose outfits perfect for a summer beach wedding:

6. Choose Weather-Proof Hairstyles and Makeup Looks 

Near the water, the weather tends to be windier. Keep this in mind when choosing your wedding hairstyle. While long, luscious curls might be your first choice, consider how they will hold up during photos and throughout the event. Work with your hairstylist to create a sturdy look that can withstand the potential humidity and wind. For your makeup, waterproof products are a must to ensure your look stays flawless.

7. Rent a Quality Sound System when Planning a Beach Wedding

Exchanging vows with the waves crashing behind you creates a stunning backdrop, but it can also make it challenging for guests to hear the ceremony. To prevent this from happening, invest in a high-quality sound system and hire musicians or DJs who specialize in outdoor beach events in remote locations. 

Planning this out in advance will ensure everyone can hear the ceremony and music clearly. Plus, working with professionals, you won’t have to worry about logistics like equipment rentals, setup and tear down, or power sources. 

8. Anchored and Sturdy Decor for Windy Weather

Beach weather is notoriously breezy, affecting not just your wedding attire and hairstyles but also your decor. That’s why, during the planning process, couples will want to work with vendors to choose durable decor that can withstand harsh weather conditions. This includes everything from your choice of flowers to your rentals—only opting for sturdy chairs and tables that won’t be easily blown away by the wind or sink into the sand.

Once you’ve chosen your decor, take extra safety measures to secure everything on your wedding day. For instance, if you’re using name cards on reception tables, secure them with adhesive or place something heavy on top to keep them in place. For a floral ceremony backdrop, ensure it’s firmly anchored to the ground before the ceremony begins. 

planning a beach wedding

Image by MC Wedding. 

9. Prepare a Shoe Station 

Beaches can be challenging to navigate in formal footwear. And, let’s be honest, no one wants to walk around with sand in their shoes. That’s why we recommend designating a place for guests to leave their fancy shoes during the ceremony and reception. This small gesture is a practical and thoughtful touch that enhances guest comfort and convenience. 

10. Provide Shade when Planning a Beach Wedding

When planning a beach wedding, especially in the warm summer months, it’s essential to provide shade for your guests. During the ceremony, consider setting up umbrellas or passing out fans to shield guests from the sun and keep them cool—these can double as functional wedding favors that guests will genuinely appreciate. 

If you’re not using a tent for the reception, create a shaded lounge area where guests can escape the heat and stay comfortable. This shaded space can be a great addition near the bar, offering a relaxing spot for guests to enjoy a refreshing drink away from the sun.

11. Avoid Littering and Leave No Trace 

When planning a beach wedding, preparing a plan for waste management is crucial to ensure you leave no trace. Set up clearly labeled trash and recycling bins throughout your wedding area to make it simple for guests. To further protect the beach, consider hiring local cleanup services to handle disposal and clean the area after your event, making sure no waste is left behind.

Opting for biodegradable plates and cups can also help minimize impact, especially if any items are accidentally blown away. Taking these steps will help you enjoy your beach wedding while prioritizing sustainability. 

Planning a wedding is never easy, and choosing a unique location adds to the difficulty. However, those oceanfront views will make the extra effort well worth it. For even more tips for planning a seaside celebration, check out our ultimate beach wedding guide. This step-by-step guide will ensure everything goes off without a hitch.

Sponsors
Email [email protected] to advertise on Junebug Weddings

Unbelievably Elegant and Intimate Baltimore Museum of Art Wedding

August 12, 2024 | justine

Paris and David love visiting museums together, making it a special part of every trip they take. So, it only made sense for them to get married in one. Initially, their vision changed quite a bit, but over time, it transformed into an elegant and timeless affair inspired by Old Hollywood. The bride’s dress and David’s choice to wear a tux played key roles in this vision. With a refined color palette, tasteful decor, and chic fashion, their Baltimore Museum of Art wedding was everything they dreamed of.

The beautiful museum influenced their design choices, so they kept things simple to let its charm shine through. For their ceremony at the Fox Court–an exquisite neoclassical room with a soaring coffered ceiling and elegant Ionic columns–they only needed dark Tiffany chairs and aisle florals. The same room was transformed for the reception, with tables filled with lush low centerpieces and candles, creating a cozy atmosphere for intimate conversations and a great time with their loved ones.

The couple carefully chose every element of their celebration, creating an unforgettable event. Keep scrolling to see how beautifully Rachel Stenger captured each curated detail and emotional moment, leaving us inspired by this stunning celebration.

The Couple:

Paris and David

The Wedding:

Baltimore Museum of Art, Maryland, United States

A 1960s-Inspired Wedding Dress and a Modern Twist

I’m an outlier when I say I had no idea what wedding dress style I wanted when we got engaged. I didn’t have a Pinterest board or any photos of dresses I liked saved on my phone. This was because, genuinely, I’m not too fond of most wedding dresses on the market. But when I stumbled across Danielle Frankel, I knew immediately that I had found my designer. Her dresses were undeniably cool, elegant, and unique without being too avant-garde. The dress I chose, the Noa, felt like something out of a 1960s black and white film, which, unbeknownst to me then, was exactly what I was looking for. My second look was a no-brainer; I had my mother’s wedding dress from 1977 tailored into a modern mini. I also knew that I wanted to wear my shoes all night long, so I opted for the always-elegant Prada leather slingback pumps with a shorter heel height.

Twiggy-Inspired Eye Design for a Unique Bridal Look

I wanted my hair and makeup to reflect the style of the dresses, something a bit unusual without being distracting. I sent my artist, Eva Varfolomeeva, a few inspirational photos, and she came up with the perfect eye design, something reminiscent of Twiggy from the 1960s.

The Design Evolution of Their Baltimore Museum of Art Wedding

Our vision for our wedding changed quite a bit throughout the wedding planning process. When we first started planning, I envisioned a much darker, autumn-focused color palette. But as the months went on, my vision shifted to something a bit more elegant and timeless, in the style of Old Hollywood. My dress was one of the inspirations for that vision, as was David’s decision to wear a tux. The venue itself also influenced our design choices—the museum is so beautiful on its own that we didn’t feel the need to add much to it. We also wanted the design elements we chose to complement the venue’s color palette and style, so we opted for subtler and more refined colors and textures. For example, the large floral urns on either side of the altar were painted with beige stone to match the large Ionic columns that flank Fox Court.

A Memorable First Look and Private Walk Through the Galleries

There were a few “most memorable” moments for us. One was the first look on the front steps of the museum. As I was walking down the steps towards David, I could see that he was wiping away tears already, well before he turned around. David often talks about the sound of my heels on the steps behind him as something he’ll never forget. We also lucked out with beautiful weather for mid-April and sunny skies in the mid-60s, for which we were so grateful. Another memorable moment was when David and I snuck away towards the end of the night to walk through some of the museum galleries on our own. It was just us and the security guard, who was busy dancing by himself to the music from our live band playing in the other room. It was so nice to have a few minutes together and reflect on this huge moment in our lives.

Making Their Baltimore Museum of Art Wedding Planning Easier with a Professional

Our biggest piece of advice would be to hire a planner. Working with our planner, Julie Partridge, was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. She made the process so much more manageable for both of us, especially since we were planning our wedding from another state. We also suggest making date nights out of your more arduous decision-making sessions. If we had a long list of decisions, we’d grab a drink at our favorite local bar and check things off the list.

The Benefits of an Intimate Wedding Celebration

We were proud of so many aspects of our wedding, but one in particular was that we got to spend time with every single one of our guests. It was so important to us that our wedding be small enough for us to celebrate with our closest family and friends, and with only 75 guests, we could do that. Having a small wedding allowed us to focus on what matters most to us: excellent food, high-quality drinks, and beautiful flowers. For example, we found champagne at our local wine store in Brooklyn that we loved, Delamotte Blanc de Blancs, so we shipped in a case from France.

A Love for Museums Led to the Perfect Wedding Venue

One of our favorite things to do as a couple is visit museums. In every city and new country we visit, we always make time for a museum trip, so it felt fitting for us to get married in one. We also wanted our wedding to feel effortlessly elegant, and the Baltimore Museum of Art was just that. It didn’t require excessive decoration or adornment. It was beautiful, just as it was.

 

 

Personalized Wedding Gifts With a Touch of History at Their Baltimore Museum of Art Wedding

My gift to David was a pair of cufflinks to wear on the wedding day. I wanted something that reflected both our appreciation for antique jewelry and our venue. I was also looking for a set from the same era as my engagement ring (late 19th century). I chose a pair of late 19th-century gold cufflinks with gray hematite intaglios of Trojan knights, which came from an estate sale linked to the royal family; they felt like pieces we might see wandering around a museum exhibit. David spent much time looking for his perfect wedding watch in the months leading up to the wedding. He ultimately landed on a vintage Cartier Tank from the 1970s. On the day of our rehearsal dinner, David surprised me with my own Cartier Tank from 1991, David’s birth year.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Rachel Stenger
Event Planning – Julie Partridge
Venue – Baltimore Museum of Art
Floral Design – Steelcut Flower Co.
Catering – Linwoods
Cake – Cakes by Jason
Live Music – The Adrian Duke Project + Two Rivers Chamber Music
Videography – Nate Bittinger
Invitation Design – Stephanie Gould
Makeup + Hair Styling – Eva Varfolomeeva + Caitlyn Meyer
Wedding Dress – Danielle Frankel
Bridal Accessories – Prada
Groom’s Apparel – Enzo Custom
Groom’s Accessories – To Boot New York
Rings – Marisa Perry Atelier
Rentals – Select Event Group
Transportation – Thoroughbred
Favors – Stephanie Gould

 

Congratulations to Paris and David on their unbelievably elegant and intimate Baltimore Museum of Art wedding. A heartfelt thank you to Rachel Stenger for beautifully capturing every moment of their special day, ensuring memories that will last a lifetime.

Choosing the right venue for your wedding sets the stage for an unforgettable day. It’s more than just a backdrop; it shapes the atmosphere and ambiance, reflecting your style and personality. Whether you envision a rustic barn, a serene beach, or a historic museum, the venue is pivotal in creating lasting memories. Take your time, explore your options, and let our guide help you find a place that resonates with your vision—a decision that will make your wedding day truly magical.

Sponsors
Email [email protected] to advertise on Junebug Weddings

This Intimate RubyJune Inn Wedding Was Inspired by a Monet Painting

August 10, 2024 | justine

Hannah and Andrew wanted their wedding to feel like a cozy dinner party at home. They aimed for it to be relaxed, comfortable, and full of purpose, focusing on good food, wine, and meaningful connections. They kept saying it would be a dinner party where two people just happened to get married, and that’s exactly what they created at their RubyJune Inn wedding.

With the inspiration for their wedding design built around the Monet painting “The Artist’s Garden in Argenteuil,” which they viewed at The National Art Gallery shortly after their engagement, the couple playfully described the atmosphere of their big day as “pastoral chic.” For their intimate ceremony on the venue’s veranda, they promised a lifetime of love surrounded by their loved ones. This was followed by a backyard reception that continued the theme, creating a warm and charming celebration.

To make it even more special, the couple ensured that everything was sustainable—from the florals to the countless candles. Their commitment and creativity truly shone on their big day. Luckily, Junebug vendor Elissa Deline captured all the memorable details for everyone to see.

The Couple:

Hannah and Andrew

The Wedding:

RubyJune Inn, Washington, United States

Bringing Monet’s Garden to Life at Their RubyJune Inn Wedding

The inspiration for the design was built around the Monet painting “The Artist’s Garden in Argenteuil,” which we viewed at The National Art Gallery shortly after our engagement. The impressionist garden in the foreground of a small white house reminded me of our venue, RubyJune Inn, which we had already decided on, and the ethereal, pastoral feel of Monet paintings is the vibe I wanted to create for our wedding day. I landed on the term “pastoral chic” (half-jokingly) to describe the mood we were going for. I was inspired by the combination of light blue with pops of dark red. The light blue felt angelic and ethereal, while including pops of dark red felt romantic and powerful. The color inspiration was best represented on the day through the florals selected and picked up from a local farm and the bow detail on my bouquet. A local company, Madre Linen, became the perfect choice for linens, given their signature red hem.

A Poetic Morning Before the Big Day

It was really important to have a relaxing and restful morning to soak it all in before getting caught up in the rush of the day. Andrew and I slept in and shared private vows over breakfast in RubyJune Inn’s icehouse, an old icehouse converted into a cozy lounge. There was something poetic about having a private moment within the ice house, where hours later, we would marry in front of our family and friends just outside the icehouse’s external frame. It was important for us to go about the entire day in a way that felt organic, so leading up to our first look, we talked about how the moment could be the most authentic for us. Our first look was cute because it took place right outside our room where I was getting ready, and it felt like I was getting picked up for Prom. Andrew knocked on the door, and we could see each other through the little window as I walked out to him. Our breakfast cake also made it feel special. After our vows, my friend Ellery taught a yoga class in the field, and it was grounding but kept me present. I had such a great day so far that I delayed getting ready to join a few friends in a spontaneous jump into the Husum River just across the street from the property.

The Sacred Ritual of Getting Ready with Friends

Getting ready for a big event with my friends is always a special and sacred time. I did my hair and makeup and drank champagne leisurely until I wore my dress. My friends Ellery and Jojo were there to help me get dressed and do the last touches. Andrew only had to wait around 15 minutes past the curtain call for our first look.

Adding Personal Touches to Their Ceremony

The ceremony was very special. I was anti-walking down an aisle because of stage fright. We both came out from the suite I got ready in; then, we casually and joyfully walked over to where our guests were waiting. Our guests stood staggered in two rows on either side, with our officiant beside us. It was short and sweet; each of us shared a poem we had written to the other in the first weeks of dating, exchanged a few vows, and sealed it with a special champagne toast in coupe glasses (my favorite glassware by far).

Reducing Footprint Through Sustainable Wedding Decor

I work in sustainability and strive to be a responsible consumer, so our wedding was no different. I made all possible efforts to source second-hand and local goods for all the details. Florals were picked up from a local farm called Vibrant Valley Farm and turned into arrangements by our officiant/florist, one of our closest friends. They sat in thrifted vessels along our tablescapes. The too-many-to-count candles were bought from Facebook Marketplace and Goodwill over time. Our ceremony featured an old bell positioned like mistletoe, which Andrew grabbed from an antique store just down the street from the venue the day before our wedding. The tablecloth and napkin linens were rented from Madre Linen, a Portland company and one of my favorite brands.

Why They Chose to Have a RubyJune Inn Wedding

We briefly looked at renting a house or an estate somewhere near the ocean but soon were struck with memories from a birthday trip to a little inn on the Columbia River Gorge. We contacted Chris and Gretchen of RubyJune Inn about hosting our wedding before we were officially engaged. Serendipitously, they had just reopened their books to host weddings the following year after a pandemic break. RubyJune Inn is a cozy inn and wine lounge with six bedrooms on the property, lovely gardens, and a fantastic chef’s kitchen. Most importantly, it is run and hosted by the loveliest couple. It is the perfect location to gather with a small group and celebrate something special.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Elissa Deline
Ceremony + Reception Venue + Catering – RubyJune Inn
Flowers – Vibrant Valley Farm
Wedding Dress – Kamperett
Groom’s Accessories – Second hand from The Real Real
Rings – OKO
Rentals – Madre Linens

 

Congratulations to Hannah and Andrew on their intimate RubyJune Inn wedding. And a big thank you goes out to Junebug vendor Elissa Deline for skillfully capturing every special moment of their joyous day. To see more beautiful celebrations, check out her profile in our directory of talented photographers from around the world.

More couples now say they want “smaller, more meaningful” celebrations like this one. Planning a sustainable wedding doesn’t have to be more complicated than a traditional one. Check out our guide to help you navigate green wedding planning and create the sustainable wedding of your dreams.

Sponsors
Email [email protected] to advertise on Junebug Weddings
← Older Entries
Newer Entries →