The Essential Checklist for Planning Your Beach Wedding (2024)

What’s more romantic than the calming sound of crashing waves as you exchange vows with your partner? Beach weddings are whimsical, earthy and downright beautiful.

But whether you’re dreaming of a destination wedding or planning to say “I do” on the best beach in your hometown, there are a few extra things you’ll need to add to your wedding planning checklist. From venue considerations for your beach wedding ceremony to permits and even wedding favors, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to planning your perfect day by the sea.

Overview:

  • 12 Months Before Your Wedding
  • 8 to 10 Months Before Your Wedding
  • 6 Months Before Your Wedding
  • 3 to 4 Months Before Your Wedding
  • 1 to 2 Months Before Your Wedding
  • 2 Weeks Before Your Wedding
  • 1 Day Before Your Wedding
  • Your Wedding Day
  • Day(s) After Your Wedding
The Essential Checklist for Planning Your Beach Wedding (1)

12 Months Before Your Wedding Day

Book Your Beach Wedding Venue

Since your perfect beach wedding hinges on securing your dream locale, start researching venues as soon as (or even before) you’ve set a wedding date. But first, decide if you want to wed at a private resort or a public beach.

Resorts often have a private beachfront that’s maintained by the property, which means you likely won’t need a permit to have a wedding ceremony on the sand. Make a list of any contenders and make appointments to visit those potential sites. A few things to note during your site visit are how close the ceremony site is to the water, what the weather is like, and what the backup plan would be if Mother Nature decides to crash your big day.

Mimic where you and your partner will stand, and take note of what you see, smell and feel in that space. Is there too much wind? Is the tide creeping too close? Can you hear other beachgoers’ conversations? Is there a lot of trash on the ground? Outdoor venues are unpredictable from day to day simply because there are so many external factors that can affect the vibe, but going in with a solid plan will help to keep your celebration running smoothly.

If you have your heart set on a public beach, be sure to factor in the time you’ll need to obtain permits. Also know that privacy may be a concern on the day of your wedding. Try visiting your potential wedding location at different times of the day to see how many people are typically in the area. Having your wedding ceremony at an off-peak time may help you avoid beachgoers making noise during your beautiful moment. Don’t forget to check tide charts before booking your venue to ensure there’s a space to set up the ceremony where your chairs and decor won’t get washed out to sea!

Secure Permits and Insurance

Once you’ve found your perfect location, it’s time to get into the nitty gritty. While you don’t need to book a permit a year in advance, you definitely don’t want to find out that your dream date isn’t available six months before you’re ready to tie the knot.

Here’s some good news for those getting married at a resort or hotel: You likely don’t have to worry about this step. But if you’re looking at a public beach in cities like Santa Monica, the Florida Keys or Hawaii, be prepared to spend up to $150 on a permit and possibly more on the required insurance.

Another thing to keep in mind is the number of people allowed to gather at your nuptials. Some public beaches have limits on the amount of invitees permitted to attend your wedding. Decor, large structures, noise and even chairs can be affected by permits, so getting the legality in line right away will help usher in the next steps!

Make a Budget

While you may think a beach wedding will be easy on your wallet, costs can still add up. A budget is a not-so-fun necessity, but believe us when we say that it will help in the long run. Sit down with your partner and make a list of all the typical expenses, such as your wedding ceremony and reception venues, decor, catering, a photographer and the rehearsal dinner. Then, move on to things that would be “nice to haves,” especially for an outdoor wedding on the beach — for example, flip-flops for your guests who don’t want to get sand in their shoes during your vows. Also keep in mind that while beachfront resorts may accommodate your wedding reception in a private space just steps from the sand, you’ll likely need to budget for a separate venue if you’re saying “I do” on a public beach. Put a dollar amount that you are comfortable spending next to each item to arrive at a ballpark budget that suits your needs.

Draft a Guest List

If you’re planning a beach resort wedding, you’ll definitely have a larger allotted headcount than on a public beach. That being said, seaside weddings can be even more magical with an intimate guest list. Start by listing out your closest friends and family, then build from there.

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8 to 10 Months Before Your Wedding Day

Start Shopping for the Perfect Wedding Wear

Ten months before the big day is the ideal time to start searching for a wedding dress. Take the weather and scenery into account when shopping for wedding attire, but at the end of the day, it’s your big moment. If you have your heart set on that ball gown instead of an airy frock, go for it!

While there are no hard and fast rules you need to follow for beach weddings, being mindful of footwear will make your event all the more comfortable. If you’re getting married on the sand, you may want to consider leaving your shoes off until after the ceremony.

Secure Your Wedding Vendors

Once you’ve booked your beach venue, you’ll have an idea of what sort of structures and decorations you can have at your wedding. Now it’s time to start putting deposits down on those wedding vendors, including a photographer, florist, caterer, bartenders and entertainment.

When you’ve selected your florist, make sure you discuss which flowers will hold up well in the salty breeze. The last thing you want are wilted stems as you walk down that aisle. A beach wedding is also great for DIY blooms, as the scene is already picture perfect — you will need far fewer flowers than you might in a traditional indoor venue.

For entertainment, electricity won’t be a problem if you’re getting married at a resort, but a public beach likely won’t have what you need to plug in. Use a bluetooth speaker for music or, better yet, have a string quartet play at your ceremony.

If your ceremony is on a public beach but your reception will be elsewhere, make sure you discuss this with all your vendors in advance so they can wear the appropriate footwear for both environments.

Create a Wedding Website

Your wedding website will be a one-stop shop for your big day, including background on you and your partner, introductions to the wedding party, venue details, directions, a place to RSVP and more. You will absolutely want to take the time to build this informational hub so that guests aren’t pinging your phone in the hours before you say “I do.” Make sure to include suggested footwear that’s appropriate for the beach, parking and transportation directions, and any instructions for guests who might have trouble making their way down the sand. Need help crafting the perfect site? Joy has you covered with an easy guide to making a beautiful and informative wedding website your guests will love.

Send Your Save the Dates and Order Invitations

Once your ducks are in a row, send out those stunning save the dates! Since you’re getting married on a beach, maybe use that engagement photo you took seaside to set the scene. This is also a good time to order your wedding invitations so you have time to assemble, address and mail them before the big day.

The Essential Checklist for Planning Your Beach Wedding (3)

6 Months Before Your Wedding Day

Lock Down Your Rentals

This list will vary depending on if you’re exchanging vows on a public beach or at a resort, but here’s a working guide to rentals you’ll want to have on hand for your ceremony:

  • Chairs
  • Aisle runner
  • Wedding arch
  • Ropes to section off the area if you’re on a public beach
  • Walkway for guests who may need help to get to their seats
  • Transportation (if parking is not nearby)
  • A tent or canopy
  • Tables for your wedding program, guest book and other ceremony essentials
  • Linen anchors

Don’t forget reception rentals not included in your venue package or handled by your caterer, including table linens, drinkware, flatware, a dance floor and lighting.

Order Your Wedding Cake

Whether you are doing a donut wall or sticking with a traditional cake, make sure you place your order at least six months in advance. Vendors book up really quickly, so it’s never too soon to lock this one in! Make sure to discuss the details of your wedding so they can pull in the calm ocean vibe into your design.

Plan Your Wedding Decor

Decorating for a beach ceremony is really different from any other venue because of the weather. Salty air, splashing water and strong winds all come with the territory, so your decor needs to stand up to the elements. If you are planning to have a wedding arch, you’ll need to invest in some sandbags or spikes to anchor the structure in place. Loose fabrics, delicate flowers and paper items should also be used sparingly so they won’t blow away into the sea before the ceremony starts. Also think through things like lights and candles. If electricity isn’t available, battery-powered LED lights are a great alternative, plus they’re less volatile than open flames.

Get Your Wedding Rings

You’ll want to allow yourselves plenty of time to find your perfect symbol of love and have it fit perfectly.

The Essential Checklist for Planning Your Beach Wedding (4)

3 to 4 Months Before Your Wedding Day

First Fitting

By now, your wedding wear should be ready to try on and get altered to your body. Bring any accessories and footwear to your fitting. If you’re planning to wear two different pairs of shoes —one for the sandy ceremony and another for the reception — bring both, as you’ll want to make sure any alterations work with all your footwear.

Elect a Beach Clean-Up Crew

If your nuptials are taking place at a resort, you can cross this item off your checklist. Public beaches are unpredictable when it comes to who and what you’ll find on the sand. Enlist a few friends (or hire pros) to clean up before and after the wedding to make sure your photos don’t have a soda can or a tangled mass of seaweed in the shot.

Ask For Help

You can’t be everywhere all at once and still get married on your wedding day. Ask some friends to help with set-up and tear-down of your rentals and decor on the day-of so you don’t have to lift a finger. Better yet …

Hire a Day-Of Wedding Coordinator

Even if you have a wedding planner who is helping to shape the vision of your beach ceremony, you may want to consider hiring a coordinator to handle the logistics of your big day. Receiving deliveries, setting up chairs, securing decor, tipping vendors and communicating with guests are all within a coordinator’s wheelhouse, which means you can focus on having the most perfect day with your partner.

Secure Your Officiant

Like the other vendors, let your officiant know that the wedding will be on a beach so they can figure out proper footwear and how to pack their notes. If you don’t plan on having a sound system, be sure to mention to your officiant that they will need to speak loudly so guests can hear the ceremony.

The Essential Checklist for Planning Your Beach Wedding (5)

1 to 2 Months Before Your Wedding

Send Your Wedding Invitations

Your big day is right around the corner! Drop your wedding invitations in the mail around eight weeks before the big day (longer, if you’re planning a destination wedding).

Order Wedding Favors and Programs

Flip-flops and custom sunscreen are great on-theme gifts that your guests will really appreciate out on the beach. You can also give your wedding programs a practical twist by attaching them to a wooden handle to create a fan. They’ll not only provide information, but also help guests cool down on a warm summer day.

Obtain Your Marriage License

You and your partner will have around 30 days from the time you get your license to have your ceremony and make things official!

The Essential Checklist for Planning Your Beach Wedding (6)

2 Weeks Before Your Wedding

Final Fitting

It’s getting real! Go to your final fitting and put the finishing touches on your perfect outfit. By now, you should have all your accessories ready to go.

1 Day Before Your Wedding

Rehearse

Whether you’re at a resort or on a public beach, you should do a wedding rehearsal around the time of your actual ceremony to iron out any outstanding details. Not only will you get a sneak peek into what your big day will be like, but you can make any last-minute changes that might not have occurred to you earlier — such as the way the breezes are blowing and exactly where the sun will be during your ceremony. After the rehearsal dinner, get a good night’s rest. Tomorrow is the big day!

The Essential Checklist for Planning Your Beach Wedding (7)

Your Wedding Day

Relax and Have Fun

There is no doubt your mind will be reeling this morning. Did I pick up the votives? Are there batteries in the lights? The answer is yes and yes. Even if you forgot something, you’ve already enlisted help from your planner, coordinator, or friends and family. Now, focus on the most important items on your beach wedding checklist: seeing your dream wedding come to life and trying not to cry as you begin the rest of your lives together.

Day(s) After Your Wedding

Return Your Rentals

No, we’re definitely not suggesting that you get up on your first married day and return rentals. Ask a few friends or your wedding coordinator to be around during pick-up to ensure everything goes smoothly. As for you? Sleep in and keep replaying that perfect day in your mind.

Say Thanks

Weddings don’t happen alone. Once you’re back from your honeymoon, show your friends and family how much you appreciate them with a sweet note. For anyone who helped this day happen, maybe send a sweet gift as a memento of your friendship.

The Essential Checklist for Planning Your Beach Wedding (8)

Hannah Huber

Hannah is an adventure obsessed writer living in Brooklyn, New York. In her spare time, you will likely find her planning her next trip, scouring design websites for her next project, or working on her next novel. She has written for Vogue.com, ArchitecturalDigest.com, W Magazine, and Glamour.com, among other publications, specializing in fashion, design, travel, and event planning. You can follow her on Instagram @hannahchuber.

The Essential Checklist for Planning Your Beach Wedding (2024)

FAQs

The Essential Checklist for Planning Your Beach Wedding? ›

Consider the weather and time of day when planning your beach wedding ceremony. Find a beach wedding dress that is comfortable, lightweight, and suitable for the sand and sun. Explore a variety of beach wedding venues to find the perfect backdrop for your seaside ceremony.

What do I need to know about planning a beach wedding? ›

Consider the weather and time of day when planning your beach wedding ceremony. Find a beach wedding dress that is comfortable, lightweight, and suitable for the sand and sun. Explore a variety of beach wedding venues to find the perfect backdrop for your seaside ceremony.

What are the top 3 things to keep in mind when planning a wedding? ›

Below are the top 7 factors to consider when planning your perfect wedding.
  • Budget. Wedding budgets are all about balance. ...
  • Research, Research, Research. ...
  • Guests. ...
  • Location & Venue. ...
  • What's on the Menu. ...
  • Review the Playlist. ...
  • Have a Backup Plan.

What do you throw at a beach wedding? ›

Popular choices for couples include bubbles (a party favor bottle for each guest), biodegradable/sugar confetti (you can DIY), dried flowers (lavender/rose petals, etc.), bird seed (complete with a cute carrying sack), or mini beach balls.

How do you start a wedding checklist? ›

8 MONTHS - 9 MONTHS
  1. Create your wedding day timeline: Reach out to your planner and photographer. ...
  2. Create wedding registry.
  3. Lock down your hotel block of rooms for out of town guests + your own suite for the wedding night.
  4. Finalize guest list + send out Save the Dates or invitations.
  5. Select the fella's suits.
Nov 6, 2023

What is the best month to have a beach wedding? ›

So, to sum it up, generally speaking, April, May, June, September, October, and November are the best months for a beach wedding.

How long does it take to plan a beach wedding? ›

Here are some general guidelines: **12-18 Months in Advance:** If you have a specific destination in mind and it's a popular wedding location, it's advisable to start planning at least 12-18 months before your desired wedding date. This will give you ample time to secure the venue, accommodations, and vendors.

What is essential in wedding planning? ›

Phase one is to produce the foundation documents and structures to ensure the wedding planning goes smoothly. It may seem rather unromantic but the 3 foundation documents are your budget, the schedule planner and the design board. Before we book any suppliers creating a realistic budget is key.

What is the most stressful thing about wedding planning? ›

The guest list and the wedding budget are two of the most stressful parts of wedding planning. Wedding planning stress can be very overwhelming, especially when a lot of family members' and friends' opinions are at play.

What is a good budget for a wedding? ›

As a general rule, plan to budget at least $100 per guest. If you're planning a wedding on a budget, one of the easiest ways to reduce costs is to invite fewer people and have a more intimate celebration.

Do brides go barefoot for beach wedding? ›

Beach wedding dress codes can range from formal, semi-formal, to no dress code. While you may be barefoot for the initial ceremony, you're going to want to have a pair of shoes on hand.

What color dress for beach wedding? ›

Beach Wedding Attire Tips: Ideal Colors

Mimic those delicious, tropical tones with your attire. Colors like aquamarine blue, turquoise, sand, terra cotta, fuchsia, lime green, tangerine, and even sunflower are all unique but appropriate tones. You may also wish to wear a pattern or print in these bright hues.

Do you go barefoot at a beach wedding? ›

Dress shoes and high heels will make walking in the sand difficult, and might limit some of your possibilities for more dramatic and beautiful photos. Some of our brides like to opt for jewelry for their feet instead of shoes, but many of our couples go barefoot, and love it!

Who pays for the wedding? ›

Traditionally, the bride's family pays for the wedding, but that custom is rapidly changing. Couples are increasingly choosing to handle at least half of the wedding expenses on their own. Early planning and a written budget can help avoid miscommunication when deciding who pays for what.

What should I do 2 days before my wedding? ›

The Wedding Planning List: 2-3 Days Before the Big Day
  1. Bride: If you haven't already, have your gown pressed or steamed. ...
  2. Groom: Go to final fitting and pick up your formalwear. ...
  3. Groom: Ask the best man to make sure all groomsmen attend fittings and pick up their outfits. ...
  4. Determine wedding party positions.
Jun 17, 2016

How do you plan a wedding step by step? ›

What your wedding checklist should include?
  1. Decide on a budget.
  2. Shortlist guests.
  3. Look into accommodation and transportation for guests.
  4. Book venues such as wedding reception venue, cocktail/ mehendi venue, etc.
  5. Brainstorm about theme, colours, and decor.

Is it a good idea to have a beach wedding? ›

While the beach might be a perfect location for a summer wedding, it can also be unpredictable. Wind, rain, and even extreme heat can all impact the ceremony. You'll want to choose a date and time that is likely to be sunny and mild. Additionally, it's a good idea to have a backup indoor venue in case of bad weather.

Are beach weddings cheaper? ›

Affordable: Beach wedding venues tend to be less expensive than traditional wedding venues. Weather: You may need to have a backup plan in case of unexpected weather conditions. Beautiful Scenery: The beach provides a stunning backdrop for your ceremony and reception.

What is considered beach formal for a wedding? ›

Formal Beach Wedding Attire

For women, opt for a tea- or ankle-length dress with straps or short sleeves. You could also choose to wear a formal jumpsuit if you prefer. For more of a glam aesthetic, lean into elegant, lightweight fabrics such as lace, organza, charmeuse or silk.

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