One of the great things about getting married in South Florida is the ability to get married right on the beach.  It’s a beautiful setting, lends itself to amazing photos, and, when done well, is extremely memorable for the couple and their guests.

A few things to consider before planning a beach wedding:

1. How many people are invited? If you’re planning a small wedding, you could easily just plan to get together at the beach and have your officiant marry you right at the water’s edge (or in the water if you’re up for it!) without any special set-up.  As long as your guests can gather comfortably, they won’t be expecting a chair or a sound system for the ceremony.  However, once you get past about 20 guests, you may want to think about providing chairs and making sure the officiant is mic’d for sound so that everyone can hear him.
2. How close is your reception going to be? I’ve performed weddings at the beach where the guests then had to drive 40 minutes to the reception location.  Don’t get me wrong — this can happen with weddings that occur just about anywhere, but it seems very prevalent for beach affairs.  Keep your guests in mind as you plan the transition from ceremony to cocktails and beyond.  Look for hotels or resorts that will allow you to use their beach as part of a reception package — they might even set up chairs for you (see #1 above)!
3. Thinking about a candle ceremony at the beach?  Maybe it’s time to think of some other options…
4. Do you need a permit? If you’re using a public beach, small affairs can (usually) get away without one, but you don’t want your ceremony interrupted by the beach patrol.  Check with the local municipality and see what they require.  If it’s a private beach, you just need the blessings of whoever owns the land.
5. And finally, Have a back-up plan. Weather at the beach is notoriously fickle, especially in the summer.  A covered option may prove to be what saves your ceremony and your sanity!

I’ve performed hundreds of ceremonies, most of which have taken place on one of Florida’s beautiful sandy beaches.  If you need an officiant who knows how to connect you to your ceremony (and the ceremony to the sand and surf), feel free to contact me at Dominic@SouthFloridaGetsMarried.com or (954)667-SFGM.  I’d love to be a part of your special day!

One of the alternatives that have become very popular is the Sand Ceremony.  In it, the couple (and sometimes children if you want to involve them) pour colored sand into a large glass vase that then gets capped off.  There’s a lot of symbolism involved (two becoming one, the ever-changing pattern of the colors of sand, the inseparability of the sand grains once poured) and it works perfectly outdoors.  Plus you can get colored sand to match your wedding colors.  How cool is that?

Another option that is just starting to show up in western culture is the Thai Water Ceremony.  Even if you’re not Thai, this could be a lovely and interesting addition to your unique wedding ceremony.

The Thai Water Ceremony (or in Thai, Rod Nam Sang) is a traditional Thai wedding ceremony. In this ceremony, the engaged couple sit together and kneel over a bench and cup their hands over an ornate silver bowl filled with flowers, typically lotus flowers (symbolizing fertility). A string is traditionally draped from the bride to the groom’s head, symbolizing their union.

Guests of the wedding, usually led by the most respected elders in attendance, will take turns approaching the couple and offering their blessings. When it is a guest’s turn to bless the couple, they pour water from a conch shell over the hands of the engaged couple, and offer words of good luck. The water is collected in the silver bowl below the couple’s hands. The Water Ceremony is typically performed by all guests older than the couple, beginning with the eldest and ending with those closest in age to the couple, though you could of course invite all of your guests to bless your union.

So don’t forget to consider those environmental issues when you’re thinking about your ceremony.  Feel free to contact me at Dominic@SouthFloridaGetsMarried.com or to give me a call at (954) 667-SFGM.  I’m looking forward to helping you make your ceremony as special as your reception!

They can come from anywhere — I’ve done weddings where poetry was used, song lyrics, excerpts from books…you name it!  If you’ve come to me, it’s because you’re interested in a wedding ceremony that will mean something to you.  In that case, please please please choose a couple of readings that reflect your personalities, your love story, your beliefs, or whatever else you want to share with the attendees at your wedding — it’s one of the few times in people’s hectic lives where they will just sit and listen, so use the opportunity to express yourself.

If you’re looking for some suggestions, check out this page, but don’t be afraid to choose something unique to you!