We live in San Diego and have some of the best beaches in Southern California.  Its only natural that people would want to get married at the beach!  There are some things to consider though:

Courtesy of HereComestheGuide.com

• Permits: You have to get permits to reserve any of the public spaces in San Diego.  That grassy knoll at the Embarcadero south of Seaport Village…permit required.  La Jolla Cove Park…permit required.  Beaches surrounding Mission Bay…permit required.  Do your homework.  Permits are not that costly, but if you don’t have one, then someone can rain on your parade the day of your wedding.
• Parking: Living in San Diego, we all know how difficult parking at the beach can be.  Make sure you’ve picked an are where you can reserve a parking lot.  Your guests will appreciate it!
• Setup: Are you going to have chairs on the sand?  If so, make sure you discuss this with your rental company.  Walking in sand can be difficult and then having to haul chairs on top of that can be even more so.  Some rental companies will charge extra for the setup simply because of the extra manpower needed.
• Music: Live Acoustic is the easiest way to go.  Why?  Because a DJ or amplified group of musicians will need speakers and power.  And you’re not likely to find an electrical outlet in the sand.  So if you decide to go with a DJ or amplified group, then make sure they know the setup and how much extension cord they will need.  There is a possibility you will need a generator if there is no power source nearby.
• Sand: It will get everywhere!  So make sure your guests know about the ceremony in the sand.  You can even supply sandals for anyone that may have forgotten!  Put them in a beach bucket and you’re set!
• Wind: It may be windy.  Very windy!  If you intend to have programs for your guests, don’t put them on the chairs or a table.  Have someone handing them out to guests as they arrive.  And if you DO place them on individual chairs, then use shells or river rocks to weigh them down.
• Bathrooms: Our fine city does the best they can with maintaining the public restrooms along the beach.  And while your beach-side wedding ceremony may only last 20 minutes, your guests will probably be there around an hour.  Do you really intend to have your Great Aunt Susie use the public potty?  If you have children, older adults, or a large party then you may want to see what your options are for a portable restroom.  I don’t mean the plastic Andy Gumps that don’t flush!  Portable restrooms can be as nice as your own home bathroom.  Its worth looking into if only to make your friends and family feel more comfortable.
• The Bride’s entrance: It is meant to be a climactic moment.  In theory, the doors swing open and there’s the bride!  Stunning, radiant and beautiful!  The crowd oohs, aahs and sighs and the groom tears up.  It becomes anti-climactic when the bride has to walk in plain sight for 3 minutes before she reaches the aisle.  Consider creating space.  Talk to your rental company about what options you have for pipe and drape or sections of trellis.  You may not literally have doors to enter from, but you can still create an environment that will allow you to make an entrance!

There are venues around San Diego that have beach areas for your wedding, the Hotel del Coronado comes to mind.  But for those of you thinking outside the box, these are definitely things you want to keep in mind as you plan your day!

San Diego Style Weddings Oct/Nov 2008

The newest edition of San Diego Style Weddings just hit newstands and I am so excited!  My friend was super busy this summer and asked for my assistance with her photoshoot for the Tablescape spread (check out page 308!)…talk about fabulous!  When we saw how our table looked in the magazine we were so thrilled.  Our vision came together so wonderfully with the drama of the black linen against the raspberry pink with the accents of lime green!  I cannot wait to see this at a wedding…I think it is perfect for the bride that wants to make a bold modern statement.  There was one glaring oversight though.  Sweet Cheeks Baking Co. was kind enough to let us use their delicious dark chocolate cupcakes as part of our photoshoot, but they were left off the acknowledgements.  They do wonderful work there and are a joy to work with!