Beach wedding attire

The beach make an amazing backdrop for a wedding, whether it’s on an exotic isle or a local beach near home. When planning a beach wedding, the bride and her bridesmaids need to find gowns that are beautiful yet a bit less formal than those for a church wedding.

The right dress

Ball gowns and beaded floor-length dresses are a bit too much for the beach. Instead pick a cool, comfortable gown created from a lightweight fabric such as cotton, chiffon, crepe, georgette or organza. Strapless, halter and sleeveless styles are all appropriate. Column or A-line shaped gowns are fantastic choices. Consider a dress that is tea-length or short, so that it doesn’t drag on the sand. Skip the elaborate train, veil and headpiece.

The right colors

For your bridesmaids (or even the bride), dresses in blue or green look fantastic for a seaside wedding. Also cream is a terrific choice for the bride paired with blue for the bridesmaids as these colors coordinate perfectly for the sand and water. In lieu of a veil, wear tropical flowers woven through your hair.

The right shoes

High heels definitely don’t work for a beach wedding, so leave those satin pumps at home. If your dress is ultra casual, you can wear flip flops. If you want something a little dressier, beaded flat sandals will definitely work with a beach theme. You can also find “barefoot sandals.” These bottomless sandals are created with seed beads, faux pearls and other stones. They string around your toes and ankle, looking like a gorgeous beaded sandals, but they don’t have a sole.

For the groom

Linen suits are appropriate for the groom and his attendants. Pick a light colored suit without a tie. If you want to go even more casual, the groom can wear breezy white cotton pants (or khaki pants) and a white button-down shirt. Like the bride, the groom can opt for no shoes at all, flip flops or a pair of brown leather sandals. Just make sure he gets a pedicure before the big day.

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