New Jersey beach wedding? Yes, please and bring the beach tags!
Once summer rolls in, weekends in New Jersey basically come with a Shore pass—sandy toes, the boardwalk snacks, and wooder ice. It’s also the season of oceanside I Do’s and barefoot bride energy. But before you run off into the waves, here’s the lowdown on making it dreamy and drama-free.
Create your golden hour glow and that effortless coastal vibe.
Sunscreen & Bug Spray:
The beach is a beautiful place, but like all outdoor destinations, planning your New Jersey beach wedding comes with a special set of challenges. Mosquitos, greenheads, and seagulls can all want to join the party. And there’s always that one guest as red as a lobster because they decided to forgo sunscreen. While you can’t force sunscreen on anyone, you can help care for your guests by providing bug spray, sunscreen, aloe vera or lidocaine for those who end up with a little extra flushed at the end of the day.
Guest List:
First, let’s talk guest list. If you’re planning a beach wedding, you might unintentionally end up with some uninvited human guests: the general public. Beaches can be private or public. So if kids digging or building a sand castle just to the left of your ceremony is not on your vision board, perhaps you may need a private beach. Either way, be prepared for gawking onlookers, and perhaps a surfer in a wetsuit in the background of your wedding photos.
The Breeze:
We’ve all been to a beach, spread out a towel, and promptly rushed about putting things down to hold the towel in place: everything from sandals to books, coolers and beach bags. When setting out lightweight things for the ceremony, like programs, be sure to use something to weigh them down; anything light enough to go airborne probably will at some point, and the last thing you want is to watch all those programs you spent so much money on blow away down the beach or into the water.
Photo: Avenue
When planning your wardrobe, make sure to keep the climate in mind. While black suits tend to be the go-to for the groom, groomsmen, and ringbearer, standing on a beach in the hot sun means the men in your bridal party will probably be roasting. Instead, opt for something cooler, such as a light-colored linen suit, or ditch the suits all together for a more casual feel. The same goes for dresses. Long dresses are not only hot, they will drag in the sand, and dresses with lace will end up with sand particles stuck in them. Consider instead dresses with shorter skirts made of a fabric that won’t attract sand like a magnet.
Lastly, think shoes. Are you prepared to get a little sand in your stilettos? Or getting caught in between wood planks on the boardwalk? However, if you can’t bear parting with your pumps, one idea is to carry a flat set with you. Then change your shoes out during for photo ops.
Hair:
As they say, beach hair don’t care, right. But your wedding is different. Sand, humidity and wind all play a part so think ahead. Perhaps it’s the right time for a stylish updo or a discussion with your stylist. Let’s avoid a curl fail at the hands of heavy humidity.
Photo: Avenue
Plan B:
Finally, just like any other outdoor event, it’s best to have a Plan B if the weather doesn’t cooperate. While everyone associates the beach with cloudless skies and endless sun to bask in, it’s an unfortunate fact that it does rain and even snow at the beach sometimes. If you’re concerned about bad weather, consider renting a tent – but beware of rules for public and private beaches – or holding your wedding at an indoor oceanfront venue, where you can have a backup plan and beautiful waterfront POVs. Lastly, beaches are a fabulous place to celebrate your special day. Still looking for the perfect waterfront wedding venues in New Jersey? Click here!
