Just ten years ago, the phrase “beach wedding dress” could cause outright bewilderment on the faces of our compatriots. And even now, especially in the outback, not every bride realizes that such dresses even exist. But they exist, they can be bought and worn - if, of course, you know how to choose the right dress.
Dresses for a wedding by the sea / on the beach
“Beach” weddings are always celebrated in the warm season or in those areas where the cold simply does not happen.
Therefore, you will immediately have to put aside options with heavy and dense fabrics, tight corsets and crinolines, forget about furs and closed styles. Lightness, airiness, grace – these are the main features of dresses for a wedding by the sea.
The following are considered optimal:
- models in the Greek or Roman style - thin, slightly transparent fabrics, lots of folds and drapery, simple silhouettes with a high waist and floor length or higher;
- outfits in the “boho” style - spectacularly simple, straight or fitted, richly decorated with lace, embroidery, appliques, made from natural fabrics;
- “linen” style - such models are reminiscent of exquisite shirts and combinations, but at the same time they are distinguished by an even greater richness of decoration. Their main advantage is that they do not restrict movement;
- ethnic models, for example, a luxurious sari or pareo.
Important: if the wedding takes place at sea, but not on the beach (on a specially prepared site, paved embankment, on a yacht or boat), the bride’s outfit may be more traditional. After all, in this case, she will not stain the long hem or train in the sand, will not get wet in water, and will be able to wear high heels.
Menu planning tips
The main dishes at a sea-themed wedding should be seafood of any kind. It would also be appropriate to have sushi, mussels and other dishes of Japanese cuisine, because this country is located directly on the sea and has a rich arsenal of themed snacks. This approach will also appeal to connoisseurs of oriental cuisine among the guests, who are growing in number every year.
Rum, champagne, and cocktails are ideal for seafood cuisine. But do not forget that among the guests there may be non-drinkers. Therefore, it is also worth taking care of a non-alcoholic bar. In order to maintain a maritime atmosphere throughout the celebration, it is recommended to serve dishes in marine-themed plates. Dessert can be presented in the form of exotic fruits or a fruit plate. Sweets can be named in an original way and placed on a plate with them in the form of either a message in a bottle or aged paper. When decorating the table and menu, it is important not to forget about the predominance of white and blue colors.
Selection of styles
As mentioned above, it is worth abandoning models with complex cuts and excessive pretentiousness. Flowy, loose styles and sophisticated but very delicate decor are welcome.
One of the most profitable options is a dress in the Greek style. In this outfit, the bride can feel like Aphrodite, born of sea foam. Light fabrics and draperies will gracefully fit the figure, hiding possible body imperfections.
Another common option is a lingerie-style dress. The style of this model resembles a combination. Essentially, it's just a sundress with thin straps. However, even such a simple dress can look charming, especially if you choose a beautiful fabric. Of course, it should not be pompous brocade or heavy velvet; these fabrics are absolutely not suitable for a beach outfit. But lace dresses in linen style look charming.
A simple A-line dress is also a good choice for a beach party wedding. The dress can be made with closed shoulders or complemented with light cap sleeves.
Decorating and serving the cake
The wedding cake should also be decorated in a marine theme and blue and white colors. The addition of red flowers will help dilute the color palette. Cakes to order can be purchased in several options:
- individual portioned cakes for each invited guest. Decorations are made from mastic, marzipan and other edible dough options. Some offer 1 cake for the couple and treat guests to themed cupcakes;
- a traditional multi-tiered version of the cake with marine-themed decor. Edible pearls will help complement the ocean theme. The shape of the cake can be very different, ranging from a giant anchor to a huge pirate treasure island.
It is important to remember that the color palette of the wedding cake should fit organically into the overall concept of the wedding.
Shoes for the Little Mermaid
Do you remember the wedding sign that it is absolutely forbidden to wear open-toed shoes on this holiday - otherwise the bride will be a “barefoot” all her life, that is, the future family will suffer in poverty?
So, if we are talking about a ceremony on the beach, you will have to forget about this belief. The same goes for heels: firstly, sand in closed shoes will definitely give the bride and groom bloody blisters, and secondly, on unstable ground you can twist your foot very badly, and then the wedding will have to be celebrated at the nearest emergency room.
So the best solution would be beautiful open sandals with flat soles, which require a perfect pedicure to match the color of the dress, or you can cover your toenails with regular colorless varnish, this will be quite enough.
If you chose a short dress, then you can wear a thin and elegant bracelet on your leg. And by the way, especially extravagant brides come to the beach ceremony without shoes at all, and this looks quite appropriate.
How to choose?
The traditional white color of a wedding dress on the seashore will look even more impressive and elegant, shaded by the deep tones of the water and illuminated by the bright sun.
However, other tones are also quite appropriate - milky, cream, ivory, pink. For ethnic outfits and dresses in the boho style, rich, bright colors are suitable - from scarlet to black.
You should choose shades of blue and green with caution; there is a risk of “merging” with the sea surface.
Taking into account the fact that the warm sea and sand are almost always accompanied by heat and often a fresh wind, it is important to choose the right dress and accessories for it.
Basic requirements for the dress:
- absence of clothing that restricts movement. Poor blood circulation in the heat is a sure way to poor health and a ruined wedding. So corsets, waist cinchers, too-tight shoes or elaborate headwear are not appropriate;
- refusal of heavy, too long and tight skirts. Hoops, multi-layer designs, embroidery and lace at the hem will either interfere with movement, or - and this is almost inevitable - they will get dirty and wet. The best option is a flowing, light hem that reaches the ankles or higher. To add solemnity to the outfit, you can also use a train, but it must be detachable or be able to be adjusted;
- a ban on dense, air-tight fabrics. Satin, heavy silk, thick linen or leather are not suitable; it is better to choose flowing chiffons, organza, thin silk, cambric, muslin, lace;
- lightness and comfort of the headdress. Complex cut veils, exquisite hats with flowers and feathers, high hairstyles with numerous decorations are best replaced with light scarves, wreaths, hoops, and fresh flowers. Curls and waves varnished to the point of complete immobility are also not appropriate on the beach - loose styling and fresh flowers in the hair are more suitable.
Important: massive jewelry, gold and diamonds on the seashore look pretentious and pretentious. It is worth choosing pearls, high-quality jewelry, wreaths and garlands, boutonnieres made from fresh exotic flowers.
Shoes
When choosing a dress for a beach ceremony, you will have to give up heels - walking on the sand in them is extremely uncomfortable, so the length and style of the dress should be selected taking into account the fact that the bride will be barefoot.
Spectacular “pumps” or elegant sandals can be successfully replaced by unusual jewelry on the feet or ankles - bracelets, rings, nets, etc. Such things are especially well combined with ethnic dresses.
It is not necessary to completely give up shoes - there are many models of sandals and sandals without heels that emphasize the grace of the foot and protect delicate skin from shells and stones.
The limits of decency
Despite the fact that a “beach” wedding implies lightness, freedom and openness, an overly revealing dress may be inappropriate. If you plan to have a large number of guests, relatives, and numerous photos and videos, it is better to take care of minimal compliance with social norms.
We remind you that in some countries the requirements of decency standards are especially strict, and holding a ceremony with an overly “undressed” bride may simply be prohibited. This is worth considering if you are organizing a ceremony abroad.
Additionally
To look impressive in an open white dress, the future newlywed should worry in advance about the required degree of tanning and careful body care.
Wedding makeup should be given maximum attention - it should be natural, unobtrusive, at least during the day.
For evening shots or shooting in artificial light, you can choose powder or hair gloss with a golden or pearly glow effect. Such photos look especially impressive in grottoes and caves, during production sessions in the “mermaid” style.
If your wedding day by the sea is sunny, then a hat may come in handy. How to choose a headdress for a bride? More details at the link.
What styles are suitable
For a ceremony on the beach, you need to think through the bride's image in detail, all the details should be comfortable and appropriate: a light dress, open shoes without heels, almost invisible makeup, a simple bouquet, a natural hairstyle with curls.
To make it easier to find the right outfit, take a look at the following dress styles.
Greek
This style implies the image of antique light outfits; floor-length models are most often found, but there are also short options.
boho
Not many people know that this style has not only the popular “boho chic” trend, but also simpler, lighter options, suitable for a ceremony in nature and on the coast.
Rustic
This style itself implies unity with nature, lightness, simplicity, natural fabrics and materials, wooden accessories, a bouquet of wildflowers and flowers in the hair.
Empire style
These models are a little more formal and closer to the classic version, but nevertheless, they are well suited for this style of wedding.
Wind in my head
There will definitely be wind on the beach. This means that the veil and hat can prevent the bride from properly enjoying the holiday.
For a wedding at sea, it is best to choose a simple hairstyle with curls or even put your hair in a messy bun, decorating it with a flower or ribbon to match your outfit. Don’t overdo it with styling products - the humid sea air already makes the hair heavy, and in combination with a lot of hairspray it can turn the bride’s hair into sad hanging icicles.
There are special products for fixing beach hairstyles - they are made on the basis of sea salt, do not weigh down the hair, do not give excess artificial shine and allow you to make your hairstyle very natural.
By the way, if you really want to try on a veil at your own wedding, then put it on for the official part of the ceremony (registration), and then take it off and have fun from the heart. Naturally, the hairstyle itself should imply this possibility - if the veil is tightly secured with many pins, then it will not be easy to remove it, and the curls may become completely disheveled.
As you can see, there is nothing particularly difficult about choosing a dress for a beach wedding. In addition, many salons have been offering similar models for a long time, so you don’t have to sew a dress to order or bring it from another country.
From long to short
Honestly, a shorter dress would be most comfortable for the beach. It doesn’t get underfoot, doesn’t get dirty in the sand, and doesn’t interfere with walking, but in any case it looks very impressive.
There is an intermediate option - short in front and long in back. A very playful style that can also be very comfortable for an outdoor ceremony.
What else needs to be considered
A beach wedding dress doesn't have to be white. Of course, the traditional white color looks great against the backdrop of the blue sea, blue sky and sand on the beach, but you can also try outfits in other colors.
The main recommendation is that the shades should be delicate or rich, but not bright, striking the eyes. The artificial color of the dress, in which the bride looked like she ran away from a fashionable disco, will look completely uninteresting on the beach, so choose more “natural” shades.
What to avoid:
- corsets - on a sunny beach you will feel hard and uncomfortable
- closed dresses - for the same reason, you will be hot and uncomfortable
- lush crinolines - at least it looks out of place on the sand
Lighter than light
Any guide to choosing beach wedding attire starts with what fabrics are suitable for the occasion and what fabrics you should definitely avoid.
This is not accidental, because usually wedding dresses are made quite tight, tight, with a petticoat with rings, waves of lace - in general, such a dress can be quite heavy, uncomfortable and restrict movement.
And this is absolutely not suitable for a ceremony on the beach, which in itself implies movement, energy, dancing and other games in the fresh air.
Therefore, the bride will have to forget about severity and monumentality, while paying close attention to lightness, moderate transparency, openness and convenience.
The most comfortable models are created by designers from the following fabrics:
- silk;
- thin satin;
- chiffon;
- crepe de Chine;
- organza;
- linen and cotton.
As a rule, such dresses are either lavishly decorated with lace, flounces, fringe - or the style remains strict, simple and straight. The choice of model in this case depends on the overall wedding decor and the personal preferences of the bride herself.
Examples (photos)
Below we have prepared photos of the dress models described above. Basically, these are options for floor-length, Greek, boho outfits (click on the image to open the photo in a pop-up window) :
And these are the options for short dresses for a beach ceremony:
Additionally : in one of the previous articles we already wrote in detail about choosing a short wedding dress ( go to ).
Fabrics for beach wedding dresses
A wedding ceremony on the beach requires sunny and hot weather. Of course, dense, heavy fabrics will not only look inappropriate, but will also cause discomfort. To create beach wedding dresses, designers choose chiffon, tulle, silk, and lace. These materials allow air to pass through, flow effectively and envelop the bride’s figure thanks to their fine texture. Particularly beautiful are long skirts with trains, made of chiffon or multi-layered tulle in combination with a lace or richly decorated bodice.
More Tips for Decorating a Nautical Themed Wedding
Additional advice from experts will help you organize a wedding at sea in a thoughtful and original way:
- At a wedding, guests usually leave their wishes for the newlyweds. Instead of a wedding book, you can use a real logbook. With the help of original graphs, guests will be able to leave original wishes and feel like a member of the sea crew;
- You can also decorate bottles of drinks in an unusual form. Using words like “Water from a glacier” it is fashionable not only to surprise guests, but also to elegantly emphasize the maritime style of the celebration;
- For each table in a restaurant, you can come up with an unusual name in the appropriate style. You can choose different options, but most often couples use the names of continents, seas, straits, oceans and other marine-themed objects.
You can do your wedding decorations yourself, saving on materials and designer services. Marine attributes almost always remain with every person after a trip. Creating an interior will not be difficult, however, the couple will put their soul and time into it, which will give the ceremony special value and originality.
A wedding in a nautical style is an original and fun way to celebrate something important in life for brave and modern couples.
