Whenever the water is warm enough and the sun is shining why not consider an underwater wedding?  It’s an intimate marriage, that is for sure! A video-impression from a wedding on the beautiful island of Curacao:

Underwater Wedding, Curaçao

Marriage is not an easy journey and all married couples can attest to this. Hardships are always experienced, but amidst all this there are always good times and memories to be treasured. It is for this reason that many couples choose to renew their vows, after hardships or simply to re-affirm their union after 10, 25 or 50 years of marriage. Couples who elope also choose to renew their vows before their friends and family, in order to formalize their union. Whichever the case, you should consider having your renewal ceremony on the beach.

Planning a renewal ceremony on the beach

Whether you want a grand ceremony that you couldn’t have when you initially got married or you are celebrating an anniversary; your renewal ceremony should be as special as your wedding day. The first step is to find out about renewal ceremonies, before embarking on the planning process.

Renewals are celebrated to re-affirm the union and commitment between couples. Renewals are commonly celebrated to mark a couple’s anniversary or after periods of difficulty in their marriage. However, renewal ceremonies can be celebrated at anytime; there is no specified period stating when a couple should renew their vows, but it is wise to wait for a considerable period of time before planning your renewal ceremony.

1. Choose as venue for the ceremony

The venue chosen for the ceremony is important because it will consequently determine several other aspects of the planning process. The beach is one of the most popular locations not only for weddings, but also for renewal ceremonies.

2. Choose a theme for the ceremony

Just like with the initial ceremony, it is important to choose theme for the ceremony. Most couples choose to go for the retro theme, as a way of recreating their initial wedding ceremonies or to simply look back on their married life. On the other hand, couples who are celebrating their anniversaries often go with a theme signifying their anniversary. For instance, a couple celebrating their 25^th anniversary could choose to go for a silver themed ceremony. One of the other theme that is popular with couples renewing their vows is the ‘two’ theme. The theme implies the second time around or twice as nice, generally the theme symbolizes the couple’s second start at their married life.

3. Decide on who will officiate the ceremony

Unlike weddings, the couples re-affirming their union often conduct the ceremony. However, a couple may choose anyone to conduct the ceremony on their behalf; some couples choose to have their children officiate their renewal ceremonies. You may choose to have your children escort you down the aisle or you may walk down the aisle together with your spouse.

4. Invite guests to the ceremony

Renewal ceremonies are intimate and close family members and friends are often the only guests invited to these ceremonies. This is however entirely up to a couple, and they may choose to have a grand or intimate ceremony. Most couples celebrating their renewals choose not to have attendants. However, some couples choose to have their original groomsmen and bridesmaids to also attend their renewal ceremonies.

 Things that you should know about renewal ceremonies

Renewal ceremonies are much smaller events compared to wedding ceremonies. This means that they also tend to be much more affordable, depending on what the couple wants. Just like weddings, the renewal ceremony can be as affordable or as lavish as a couple wants it to be. Here are some of the things to consider when having your renewal wedding on the beach.

• It is important to make prior arrangements with regards to holding the ceremony on the beach. You might have to pay a fee to use the preferred beach, but in the case of a foreign beach renewal ceremony it goes without saying that a lot of planning will be required.
• The ceremony can be casual or formal, and the bride may decide to wear her original wedding dress if she desires.
• It is also important to decide the kind of set-up you want for your ceremony and factor it into your budget.
• Write vows for the renewal ceremony or simply recite the vows you used during your initial wedding.
• You may choose to exchange the same rings you used for your wedding or you might get new rings if your budget allows it. Couples who choose their original rings should consider having the rings engraved to symbolize the renewal of their vows.
• It is also important to budget for the reception; however, renewal parties can be casual barbecues, cocktail parties or simple family dinners.

Every couple would like to have a beautiful wedding that they can remember well into the future. However, setbacks are bound to be experienced during the planning process and in the worst case scenario during the actual wedding day. With a few adjustments during the planning process every couple can have their dream wedding. That is why couples should consider having a DIY beach wedding, allowing them to control every aspect of their big day.

Planning a DIY beach wedding

Planning a DIY beach wedding lets you exercise your creative freedom and decide on every single aspect of your big day. The first thing that you will realize when planning a DIY wedding is that you also have the power to cut back on cost. Let’s face it, most wedding planners are not concerned about saving on cost or paying attention to specific details that you want incorporated into your wedding; they are more concerned about the commission that they are getting at the end of the day. This is not to say that all wedding planners are money minded, but there is no one who knows more about what you want for your big day than you.

The best place to start when taking matters into your own hands is to create a clear procedure for the planning process. You have to decide what aspects of the wedding planning process require more attention and what planning aspects should be started immediately. Once you have a clear plan on how you would like to proceed, you will find that the planning process will go much smoother and that there will be nothing left to chance.

Carry out research to get ideas for your beach wedding and to locate different elements required to make your big day a success

Never under estimate the power of research; you might know precisely what you want for your big day, but you will still need to find out where to get the different elements which will jointly make your big day a success. To begin with, you should look through beach locations and settle on one that works for you. The wedding venue is one of the most important factors that should be given adequate attention during the planning process. After all, every other planning process is dependent on the venue chosen for the wedding. Once you settle on an ideal beach location for your wedding, other aspects of the planning process will naturally fall into place.

Get help with the planning process

Just because you have decided to have a DIY beach wedding does not mean that it will be an easy task. Get help from friends and family members, who more than often are willing to lend their services at no cost. This will help to take the entire burden of the planning process off your shoulders. It is however still important to oversee the entire planning process, to make sure that nothing is left to chance. You should also realize that having a DIY wedding does not mean that you will not need the services of photographers, caterers, ministers and venue management crews. However, if you want to keep costs low you could enlist the services of friends and family members who are able to provide the different services required. You will also need all the help you can get during the big day to make sure that every thing goes as planned. This is all dependent on whether you are having a big or small wedding or a wedding at a local beach or foreign beach location.

Boys will always be boys, and bachelor parties are a big part of the equation. The celebration of bachelor parties goes as far back as the 5^th Century B.C, when the Spartans are believed to be the first people who came up with a celebration during the groom’s last night as a bachelor. The Spartan soldiers celebrated the night by hosting a dinner to honor their friend, and the dinner involved toasts made on behalf of the groom-to-be. Needless to say, that paved the way for the endless list of bachelor parties that have been celebrated over the years. Traveling to exotic locations for bachelor parties has also become a popular trend in recent times. As friends to the groom planning a never-to-be-forgotten bachelor party, consider having a beach bachelor party.

Planning a bachelor beach party

Planning a bachelor beach party is a similar process to planning a beach wedding, only that bachelor parties are concentrate more on the fun aspect of the trip. However, just like the process of planning beach weddings; a lot of attention should be paid to the details. The first main decision that you will have to make when planning a beach bachelor party is to choose the ideal location. There are several factors that you will need to consider when selecting a venue for the beach bachelor party.

• The date of the wedding and the proximity of the wedding venue to the beach chosen for the bachelor party are very important factors to consider. Most bachelor parties are celebrated the night before the wedding, and this might pose a problem if the beach location is far away from the wedding venue.
• A beach bachelor party might be costly to plan or cost next to nothing, depending on a few decisions. The location chosen is one of the decisions that will determine the overall cost of the bachelor party and the number of people who are invited to the celebration. Usually the groomsmen, a few close friends and the groom are the people who celebrate a bachelor party. There are some bachelor parties which are preceded by a dinner with the groom’s and bride’s fathers present; having a pre-bachelor party dinner also determines the overall cost of the party.
• The activities expected to take place during the bachelor party will also determine the beach location chosen. Most bachelor parties involve a lot of merry making, hazing rituals and because of the beach location; fireworks. It is important to find out about the rules and regulations of hosting a party on the chosen beach; to avoid encounters with law enforcement. It is especially important to find out if alcohol and grills are allowed on the beach.

Once you have settled for a beach location for the bachelor party, there are a few things that you can do to make the party much more memorable.

• Most bachelor parties are held in the evening; you could hire a boat and start out the celebrations with a boat ride around the beach location.
• When having the party out on the beach don’t forget to carry beach chairs, beach umbrellas, coolers and grills. There are some beach locations which provide beach chair and grill rentals, but it is important to find out when hiring the beach location for the party.
• Consider bringing tents and sleeping bags or hiring them in order to camp out on the beach after the merry making session. It is also wise to find out whether camping is allowed on the chosen beach location.
• Plan a themed bachelor party and have everyone attending dress-up as Vikings or pirates.
• Plan a snorkeling or diving session.
• Carry along beach balls and play a session of beach football.
• Carry along your fishing rods and go fishing early in the morning.
• Don’t forget to rent or carry a boom box along with you for entertainment.

Last bur not least, have an assigned ‘party martial’ to make sure that everyone gets to the wedding on time. If the beach location chosen for the bachelor party is a bit far from the wedding venue it is wise to leave hours in advance to make sure that the groom makes it on time for his big day.

A couple of years ago, having a beach wedding was unique in itself but as more couples are having beach weddings everyone is looking for ways to make their beach weddings stand out.

Location

The location that a couple chooses for their beach wedding determines just how unique their wedding will be; for a truly unique wedding you have to be ready to step out of the box and go for ‘unexplored’ beach wedding locations. There are virtually countless of beach locations all around the world to select from; it all depends on the budget you have at hand for your beach wedding.

The ceremony

The actual beach wedding ceremony provides a limitless amount of possibilities when it comes to making your wedding unique. Here are some of the ways to make your wedding ceremony unique:

• Set up a ‘wedding in the round’ of you are having a large wedding and want to have all your guests close to the altar.
• Have a decorated arch incorporating floral arrangements and greenery. Use palm fronds to create the arch and use the palms as well for the aisle.
• Line up the aisle with seashells to make it distinct and to enhance the beach theme.
• The bride can walk alone down the aisle, as opposed to being accompanied by her parents. The bride and groom could also meet halfway down the aisle and walk together to the altar.
• Incorporate your color scheme to every fabric element used in your beach wedding including the seats and arch if applicable.
• Set up the guests’ seats to face the beautiful ocean, and with the altar directly against the backdrop of the ocean you can expect the best beach wedding photographs achievable.
• Integrate a special flower into the bride’s bouquet and have the bride hand the flower to her mother or the groom’s mother as she walks down the aisle.
• Hold a sand ceremony as opposed to the traditional unity candles ceremony. Fill a bottle with different colored sand granules and take it home with you as memorabilia.
• Incorporate your beloved pet into your wedding ceremony. Dress-up your pet for the ceremony and add them to your wedding line-up. You could have your pet take on the role of a ring-bearer.
• Arrange for white doves to be released into the skies after the ceremony. Make sure that your photographer is ready to capture the beautiful moment on camera.

The reception

There are several ways to play up your beach wedding reception. Whether the reception is to be held out on the beach or indoors; you can make your beach wedding reception unique.

• Have an ethnic beach reception – add elements of the bride and groom’s ethnicity and culture into the beach wedding. These elements can be used to enhance the beach wedding theme which can include anything from sandcastles, sailboats, pirates or sea creatures.
• Create a friendly atmosphere by having food stations set up at your reception as opposed to traditional buffets or served meals.
• The wedding menus can be printed in personalized beach themed trends for a unique touch. This allows guests to get a glimpse of what they will be eating and drums up their appetite for the delicacies in store.
• Couples are also going for intimate tables for two as opposed to the traditional long head tables. The ‘sweetheart’ tables, as they are referred to, allow couples attending the ceremony to seat with their significant others which further plays up the romantic atmosphere of a beach wedding.
• Couples can move from table to table giving their thanks to the guests attending the wedding as an intimate gesture.

Wedding outfits and accessories

Fashion is the easiest and surest way adding a unique touch to your beach wedding. Beach weddings are generally more receptive to bright and colorful outfit choices. It all depends on whether you are having a casual or formal beach wedding.

• Allow the attendants to choose colors and lengths which flatter their figures as opposed to going for the same colored outfits and designs. Choose assorted flower bouquets for your attendants to carry with them on the walk down the aisle.
• Have your attendants wear beautiful foot jewelry as opposed to sandals or flip flops. You could also go for seashore inspired jewelry to enhance the beauty of the beach wedding ensemble.
• Go for sarong wedding ensembles for a casual beach wedding.

Sunset beach weddings are increasingly chosen by couples who decide to hold their wedding ceremonies on the beach. Tampa Bay is one of the popular locations chosen by couples having their beach weddings in Florida.

Tampa in history

Tampa rose as a US Army base back in the 1820s and soon it was transformed into a small settlement. Tampa became a booming port in the 1880s when the railroad arrived and the Hillsborough River was dredged to allow sea vessels to dock. The port is still one of the busiest found within the country.

Tampa beach wedding trends

Beach weddings in Tampa tend to be much more laid back compared to traditional weddings. However, Tampa beach weddings can be as trendy and stylish as a couple desires. Some of the popular beach wedding trends which are catching on in Tampa include:

• Couples are foregoing shoes and having their guests go bare feet. Brides and their bridal parties are adorning ankle bracelets and sand sandals to Tampa beach weddings.
• Brides and their bridal parties are increasingly choosing off-the-shoulder dresses. Brides are also going for more modern dresses and different color choices for Tampa beach weddings as opposed to the traditional white wedding gowns.
• Grooms are also dressing down for beach weddings, but most grooms have maintained suits for beach weddings. Grooms have also taken to wearing slacks paired with ties, vests and sport coats. Grooms have also taken up the barefoot trend for beach weddings.
• Brides are adorning small tiaras for beach weddings as well as jewelry combs.
• Sand ceremonies have become popular trends for beach weddings in Tampa, and every guest is allowed to fill a large container with sand using small shells.
• Simple white wedding cakes with floral decorations are also popularly chosen for Tampa beach weddings.
• Couples are also choosing to create digital photo books as opposed to the traditional wedding albums.

Tampa beach wedding venues

Tampa bay provides a number of beautiful beach locations to choose from.

• Passe-a-Grille is located towards the southern end of St.Pete Beach. The white sandy beach offers plenty of parking spaces and a couple of nice restaurants which are ideal for receptions.
• Sand Key Park is located south of Clearwater Pass. The gorgeous country park is situates right on the white sands of Clearwater Beach. There are ample metered parking spaces available as well as a sheltered picnic area which can be reserved at a small fee.

Sunset Beach is located at the south end of Treasure Island. The long and wide beach is located on a relatively quite and secluded neighborhood, making it ideal for private beach weddings.

There is nothing as romantic as watching the blue waves of the ocean flowing in and out of an exotic beach location. Couples who decide to have beach weddings always have nothing but the best things to say about their experience. It all falls down on the location that a couple chooses for their beach wedding; Hawaii provides some of the most beautiful beach wedding locations to choose from.

Beach weddings in Hawaii

Getting married on a beach with the ocean steps away from your wedding venue is the most beautiful and exhilarating experiences. In Hawaii, golden sunsets which shimmer on the ocean enhances the romance and beauty of beach weddings. There are a few things that all couples who choose Hawaii for their beach weddings should consideration:

• Couples should get permits from the (DLNR) Department of Land and Natural Resources for their beach weddings. The permits usually cost $20.00 going up, depending on the square footage use and the number of people attending the beach wedding.
• Couples are advised to apply for their marriage licenses in advance, before travelling to Hawaii for their beach weddings. The applications can be filled online from http://www.hawaii.gov/health/vital-records/vital-records/marriage/index.html. The application takes approximately 45 minutes to complete.
• It is important to look for marriage officiates in advance. However, couples who decide to take up a wedding package offered by one of the Hawaiian hotels benefit from the services of the hotels’ in-house wedding department.
• Hawaii beaches do not allow chairs on the sand, only people who are physically handicapped and the elderly are allowed to have chairs on the sand.
• All of the Hawaiian Islands have intimate quaint chapels which are ideal for beach wedding ceremonies. Most hotels in the region have private chapels which are at the disposal of couples who select their wedding packages.

Hawaii beach wedding venues

Couples who decide to go for Hawaii beach weddings will be spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting beach wedding venues. It is important to note that all beach locations in Hawaii are freely accessible to the public, and therefore couples who want to have private beach weddings are better off going for a hotel’s beach front. Some of the popular venues for beach weddings in Hawaii include:

• Leahi Beach park
• Waialae Beach Park
• Kona
• Lo Olina
• Kauai
• Waikiki Beach
• Oahu
• Maui

The cost of Hawaii beach weddings

Everyone knows that weddings are not cheap, especially in the case of a destination beach wedding. However, this is not entirely the case; as long as you can afford annual or regular vacations abroad, you can definitely afford a Hawaiian beach wedding. Here is a sample cost showing how much Hawaii beach weddings and vacations cost for the bride and groom:

• Return Air Fare (from USA) $4,000
• 7 days accommodation at one of the Hawaiian hotels $2,800
• 7 days food and entertainment costs $2,100
• Wedding costs $2,000

Total cost: $10,900

It is important to realize that there are several factors which could raise or lower this estimate:

• If you are covering your guests’ accommodation and air fare, the cost will definitely go up. If this is the case, it is wise to go for the wedding packages offered by Hawaiian hotels.
• Costs such as hiring a minister to officiate the wedding in a remote island should also be placed into consideration if applicable.
• Hiring the services of a wedding photographer should also be placed into consideration.
• Couples who decide to take up the services of a wedding planner will also have to factor in the planner’s service charges.

Civil weddings in Hawaii

There are couples who would rather spend money on their honeymoon than on their beach weddings. Such couples would be better off going for Hawaii civil marriages. The process is simple, legal and affordable. Here are some of the things that you need to know about Hawaii civil marriages:

• Couples are required to get their marriage licenses prior to the wedding. An application fee of $60 is paid for the license and both the groom and bride are required to be present during the application filing process.
• A civil wedding can cost as low as $200 covering the wedding license, two flower leis, the wedding official’s fee and transportation (around the Waikiki region).

• There are no prior appointments needed, if the ceremony is done at the 547 Halekauwila Street, Suite 206 office. However, ceremonies held in other regions are done with appointments.

Destination beach weddings are not about to fade into obscurity any time soon, because a number of couples are increasingly planning beach weddings. One of the most important phases of planning a beach wedding is selecting a particular beach venue for the ceremony. Hollywood beach is one of the ideal beach locations found on the globe.

Location

Located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami is Hollywood beach. The Marriott hotel is a popular wedding venue for couples getting married on Hollywood beach. The venue provides a tranquil view of the Atlantic, both outdoors and in indoor venues in close proximity to the characteristically blue ocean.

Hollywood beach wedding tips and ideas

The first thing that couples should know about Hollywood beach is that it provides endless possibilities when it comes to setting up the wedding venue. The Marriott Hotel located in close proximity to the beach is definitely one of the ideal venues that couples should consider choosing for their ceremony. The hotel offers facilities and packages which are suitable for intimate wedding with 25 to 250 guests. The venue is also ideal for couples who would love to have their ceremony out on the beach and have their reception in the sophisticated ballroom provided by the hotel.

The beach is located in close proximity to scuba diving, snorkeling and sport fishing locations, which coupled should consider incorporating into their ceremonies. For couples who are looking for extraordinary beach wedding experiences, consider getting married on one of the sunset cruises offered from Port Everglades.

Hollywood beach is lined up with cafes, jazz clubs and restaurants stretching through a 2 and a half mile distance on the ocean front. Couples will definitely be spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting an indoor location for their wedding reception.

Couples should note that Hollywood Beach is prone to get crowded because of the wide range of recreational activities available on the beach. It is wise to go with the services of a wedding planner who can make prior arrangements to lock-out the wedding area from passersby. However, couples who want privacy can choose to have their ceremonies indoors or at the beach front of one of the hotels and resorts in close proximity to the beach.

The Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport is located only six miles away from the beach, as well as from some of the best accommodation choices found in South Florida.

Weddings are meant to be sentimental and romantic which is best enhanced by a beach wedding. A number of couples are increasingly choosing beach wedding ceremonies, but few fully comprehend that beach weddings require the same level, if not more, planning just like traditional church weddings. One of the most important decisions that couples have to make is whether they would prefer to simply have their wedding out in the open with no cover, or erect canopies or tents to provide cover for their guests during the wedding ceremony.

What to consider when selecting beach wedding decorations

Depending on how big or small your ceremony will be, it is important to choose the appropriate décor and set-up for your beach wedding. This is ultimately determined by the budget you have at hand; if your budget allows it create a beautiful set-up for your beach wedding just like you would if getting married indoors. However, you can erect a simple arch or gazebo at the front for the altar. This is especially ideal for couples who are having their ceremonies on the beach and going indoors for the reception.

The aisle is usually forgotten when setting up the beach wedding décor. There are different approaches to creating a distinct aisle on the beach;

• Line-up the aisle space with conch shells or starfish.
• Set-up Tiki torches on the space set aside for the aisle.
• For garden or indoor weddings by the beach, you can lay down a carpet on the aisle stretch.

The seating arrangement on a beach is equally as important as with traditional indoor weddings. Pews are the popularly selected choice, because they are easy to decorate and set-up. Tassels can be decorated using shells or starfish and hung at the end of each pew.

Place into consideration lighting requirements, especially if you are having an early morning or evening beach wedding. It is important to find out if bonfires are allowed on the beach location and if they are use them to provide illumination. Tiki torches are popular choices for beach illumination.

Decorating the beach wedding reception area

Whether you are having your reception on the same venue as the beach ceremony or at a different location; it is important to decorate the reception area appropriately. Some of the items which you can incorporate into your beach wedding reception decoration scheme include;

• Shells
• Glass bowls filled with sands
• Pearls hung around the venue for an elegant look
• Use small stones as accents
• The head table can be draped using a blue tulle to draw attention to the couple

Wedding centerpieces add beauty and a romantic atmosphere to the set-up; in the case of beach weddings, centerpieces enhance the natural beauty of the environment. Centerpieces are placed on the guests tables, to liven up the table placements.

What to consider when choosing centerpieces for beach weddings

• It is wise to choose centerpieces that will keep well underneath the scorching sun, if you will set up your tables out on the beach without a cover.  For instance, go for artificial flowers as opposed to natural flowers which are likely to dry out and whither quickly under high heat conditions.
• Choose centerpieces that fit-into your wedding theme and reflect your personality. Incorporate some of the items you like into the centerpieces.
• Select centerpieces which liven up the beach environment, particularly if the table arrangements are all you have to work with; when it comes to the wedding décor.
• Go for wedding centerpieces that can be re-used in the future; whether for other future weddings or during other events which include table settings.

The different types of centerpieces

Centerpieces are available in different packages, with the floral arrangements commonly used as centerpieces. Candles and wedding themed figurines are other commonly used centerpieces. Candlelabras and fruit baskets make ideal centerpieces for beach weddings.

Using candlelabras as centerpieces

Candlelabras create a magical and romantic atmosphere for early morning or late evening beach weddings. Candlelabras are available in a wide range of sizes and designs. They come with different numbers of prongs; which are used to hold the candles up. It is wise to choose candlelabras which can be re-used, in order to add them to the list of family heirlooms. Candlelabras are greatly used for a number of evening events to provide illumination and to create beautiful atmospheres.

Fruit basket centerpieces

Fruit baskets fit well into the beach wedding theme, especially for tropical beach weddings. In the case of an exotic beach wedding, it would be ideal to incorporate the locally produced fruits into the fruit baskets. However, you can incorporate floral pieces to the fruit baskets in order to fill them up. You could also set-up small fruit baskets around the tables, which could also double as guest favors.

Other beach wedding centerpiece ideas

It is important to realize that beach wedding centerpieces can essentially be any items that a couple desires to place on the guests tables. Here are some ideas that you could use as beach wedding centerpieces.

1. Get a large chest and fill it with jewelry replicas, to mirror treasure chests. Alternatively you could get smaller chests and also fill them up with little treasures as party favors for the guests.
2. Set up silk roses with ‘thank-you’ notes for the guests.
3. Go for a single layer wedding cake, and get smaller cakes set up on each of the guests’ tables.
4. Use vases or pots as centerpieces and fill them up with rainbow colored wands.
5. Place shells around the guests’ tables.
6. Set up a large hour glass as the centerpiece or several small hourglasses as the guests’ favors.