Real Weddings
Beautiful beach weddings
Planning to marry barefoot in the sand? Then you’ll love these stunning beach weddings

There are so many things to love about beach weddings. Just imagine saying ‘I do’ under the warm sun with a backdrop of pristine white sand and beautiful blue sky. Then paddling romantically in the surf before heading to an open air restaurant to dance the night away with a small group of loved ones.
If that sounds like your idea of heaven, then beach weddings are for you. Below we’ve put together everything you need to know to plan a wedding by the sea, whether that’s overseas or in the UK. We’ve also asked our brilliant real brides for the best things they learnt from planning their own beautiful beach ceremonies. So, read on for sun, sea, sand and stunning scenery…
Why choose a beach wedding…

Beach weddings are great if you want a relaxed, informal do, especially one that stretches over a few days. They can also be quite budget friendly, as the stunning backdrop often needs little decoration and they're easy to keep small and intimate. For example, couples often keep the guest list for a beach wedding overseas to just close friends and family, due to the travel costs and time needed off work. Just make sure you send your Save The Dates out, early so people have time to plan. What’s more, stay for a bit longer and you can have your wedding and honeymoon all rolled into one!
They’re also perfect if you don’t want any guests at all. Many of our real brides, like Abbey and Ben, eloped for a romantic ceremony à deux. “We got married at Turtle Beach in Barbados, just us two,” says Abbey. “It was always our dream to go away and get married. Our backdrop was amazing white sand, blue sky and the most gorgeous ocean. It was relaxed, intimate and truly just perfect.”

A beach is also an intimate setting for vow renewals, too. Gill and Jamie had been together nearly 30 years when they decided to renew their vows in Barbados on their 25th anniversary. “We had our vow renewal at Sandals Royal in Barbados,” says Gill. "It was a lovely beach ceremony for just the two of us."
Home or away?

There are lots of beautiful beaches in the UK, although they obviously don’t come with quite as much guaranteed sunshine! However, the benefit of staying closer to home is that you can invite more people. Tegan and Adam had their first date on a Cornish beach, so it seems right that they got married on one, too. “We booked Driftwood Spars in St Agnes, which has a relaxed vibe and the whole day could take place outside (weather dependant), which is exactly what we wanted,” says Tegan.

“They’re also right on the beach and dog friendly, which was important for us. The wedding was in September and afterwards there was a big game of cricket on the sand, which was one of the highlights of the day. This was followed by a hog roast, games in the cliffside garden and a party in the evening.”
Ibiza style

You also don’t actually need to be near the sea to have that beach wedding look and feel. Kelly and Stijn wanted to recreate an Ibiza beach club vibe and chose a waterfront venue near their home in the Netherlands. “We married at Degreez Beach Club in Panheel,” says Kelly. "It's a spacious beach club with a beach and waterfront, as well as a covered pier with a gazebo for ceremonies. It also had various indoor and outdoor spaces in case of bad weather.”

However, if you're heading overseas, consider getting a wedding planner or book a hotel that has a wedding package with items like flowers and cake included. Lucie and Aaron married in Greece and her one top tip is to get some help. “Having a wedding abroad was so much easier than I thought and it helped that I had an amazing wedding planner who I contacted most days,” she says.
Dream dresses for beach weddings
Beach weddings are often easy going, informal affairs, which lend themselves to an effortless boho look. Heidi Hudson’s free-spirited styles are our top pick for the beach. They reflect the romance of the setting while being relaxed and super easy to wear, especially if you're splashing in the sea or playing games on the sand. Abbey chose Heidi’s Baxter dress, a stretch lace sheath with delicate eyelash detailing. “It hugged me in all the right places,” she says. “I wanted something light, lace and figure hugging for our beach wedding. And that was everything Baxter was.”

Of course, there are no right or wrong choices when it comes to your wedding dress! Gill chose Jolene by Anna Sorrano, a classic tea-length design with floral embroidery and beautiful bouncy skirt. “I wanted a shorter dress so I could paddle in the sea,” she says. “I also bought a short underskirt, a floral Petal hair accessory and an Estella belt to highlight my waistline.”

For your accessories, an effortless ‘just pulled together’ look is amazing for a beach backdrop. Think pretty halos, hairpins dotted through a relaxed do or a twisting hair vine. If your ceremony is actually on the beach, a short and simple veil that won't trail in the sand is a good idea. Or skip the veil altogether in favour of a dramatic hairband or comb. And, don’t forget, if you’re travelling abroad ask in store about our special dress boxes to keep everything in pristine condition. We also have travel bags, vanity cases and so much more for all your essentials.
Coastal colours

Another bonus of beach weddings is that your surroundings are so beautiful, you won’t need much decor. A colour theme incorporating the whites and blues of the scenery is lovely, or match your bouquet to the local Cornish plants like Acacia and Adam above. "“Adam’s berry-coloured suit started it all for the colour scheme, which had a bit of a coastal twist too,” says Acacia. “Everything was picked to complement the berry and blue tones, from the dried flowers to the cake.” Add in seashell details and rustic elements too, for a stylish seaside vibe or beautiful fronds of pampas grass to flutter in the breeze.
Gorgeous golds and whites

Shanice and Matthew had an elegant gold and white theme. “Our Cypriot wedding venue overlooked the beach and had perfect views for both the ceremony and reception. Our wedding planner was amazing and provided details of all the decorations available. I simply selected what I wanted and she made it happen. We went with a gold and white beach theme, plus personalised paper fans for our guests. These were a big hit, as it was so hot everyone was fanning themselves!”

Food, favours and fun details
Your food should be as relaxed as your surroundings. Think picnic hampers and rugs on the beach, a hog roast or a selection of food vans for guests to choose from. Local seafood will also go down brilliantly. And what about hiring retro striped deckchairs, for people to recline in while they eat and take in the view? Finish off with treats from a traditional ice cream van and everyone will go home very happy!

For your favours, go for seaside themed biscuits or a special message in bottle for each guest. For the dancing later, why not have a selection of flip flops on hand for sandy feet? There are so many fun options for your cake too, from a stunning blue ombre effect that mirrors the ocean to icing that includes starfish, seaweed, coral and more. Seashells with names written on them also make inexpensive place names.

Beside the seaside
Well, we hope we've given you a few ideas for your beach wedding day. For more inspiration check out our other fabulous beach weddings or click here for stunning beach wedding dresses. And, if you're still not sure if a beach wedding is for you, we'll leave the final word to Shanice...

"I would recommend a beach wedding to everyone," she says. "It can be so much cheaper and, if you chose the right hotel/package, really stress free. What's more, running into the ocean at the end of the night, after a fun evening celebrating, eating, drinking and dancing with all our friends, was just magical. To all be so carefree and happy, splashing around in the ocean, is something I will never forget."
Click here for lots more beautiful beach weddings from our brilliant real life brides. Also, for more inspiration, check out our Instagram, Facebook or TikTok accounts.
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