While it really was a great adventure to scout out beach wedding locations, taste wedding cake, try to fit into countless wedding gowns, maybe that’s my problem right there, I should have tried the gowns first before eating the cake. But it was all a learning experience, since as much as the planning my beach wedding has added a new dimension of anxiety; it also has brought me great joy knowing that I was involved in every detail in planning my own beach wedding since the start.

Breaking the mold of a large church wedding, a beach wedding is more intimate, and suited for a couple that enjoy the outdoors, wants something unique, and are adventurous. Destination weddings are very popular – where the guests are flown in (either a their own expense or that of the couple) to such exotic settings as Cancun, Hawaii, or Barbados. Most couples, however, do not have the money for a destination wedding, so opt for a local beach, or poolside decorated to look like a beach.

I was glad when I found a lovely inn that was located directly on the beach. However, I had to reserve all of the guest rooms for the weekend in order to have my wedding there. It was quite expensive but I reserved the rooms because I was in love with the little inn. My older sister, who was assigned as the wedding coordinator, was more than happy to take control of my beach wedding plans.

My sister has a lot of experience with weddings and is capable of going over lots of details that I would never think about. She suggested that I should get married in the morning because of the position of the sun, so that we will not have our photos taken with everyone squinting because the sun is in our eyes the entire time.

Sandals provide the best footwear. They protect the feet from the hot sand, but are cool enough to be comfortable. The truly adventurous go barefoot, and there are a lot of lovely styles of foot jewelry that appear to look like sandals, but allow the feet to go bare to present a formal appearance. Pearls, the jewel of the sea, can be purchased for the feet as well as the neck and ears, to offer the stunning effect you want.

A few ways of finding good planners can come from recommendations of family and friends or you can find them in the phone book or internet. I set up just 2 consultations, in which I got vital information from them regarding the all important beach wedding checklist and budgeting advice which set me on the right path.