With the blend of land, sea and sun in mind, many couples dream of having a beach wedding.  

Cape Town is known for its dramatic coastline, Blue-Flag status beaches and majestic settings, which lend themselves to beautiful beach weddings and ceremonies.

Most couples who opt for beach weddings want to stay true to a simple, unsophisticated celebration where their guests can kick off their shoes and enjoy a relaxed affair.

From experience, we’ve seen the ups and downs of planning seaside weddings. So before you set your sights on the ocean for your seaside nuptials, there are plenty of things to think through beforehand.  So, if you’re thinking about get married with your toes in the sand, here is essential advice for planning a seaside celebration.

Permits and regulations
In order to get married on a public beach in South Africa you need a permit from the Cape Town City Council. It takes at least one week for the permit to be issued. Costs for the permit range from R300 to R6 000 depending on the beach, group size and complexity of the function. However, this permit doesn’t guarantee exclusive use of a public beach and thus means that your wedding service is open to any passers-by, so make sure you pick your spot carefully!

Accessibility
Like any other outdoor ceremony space, the beach can add a layer of difficulty when it comes to accessibility. Keep in mind your wheelchair-bound or aging guests (gran and grandpa). Consider your guest list and figure out if any additional accommodations will need to be made so that no one misses out or is disadvantaged in any way by your choice of setting.

Amplification
Have a sound system.  Keep in mind that there will be a lot of background noise outdoors   ̶ particularly an outdoor beach wedding. With the sound of the waves and wind it will be hard for your guests to hear the ceremony. Make sure your audio doesn’t get lost against the sound of crashing waves by organising that your officiant has a microphone so that everyone can share the ceremony.

Tides and weather
The best months for a beach wedding in Cape Town are from December to May. However, since Cape Town experiences strong winds during this time of year, I’d advise couples to have a Plan B for their venue in place. The tides may also play a role in the timing of your event – make sure that you are aware of high tide on the day! So make sure your ceremony start time won’t mean you and your guests become engulfed by ocean. Some high tides also leave heaps of kelp and seaweed on the beach, which, after a day in the sun, may not smell too good either!

Dress accordingly
Skip the big, ballroom-styled wedding dress. Opt for a beautiful dress made of lightweight fabric such as chiffon so that your gown flows in the ocean breeze, allows for more movement and is sand-friendly. Also, choose a simple, light veil. If it’s windy, it will be a nightmare for you and the photographer. Many of our brides have decided to trade their veil for a beautiful floral hair wreath, which is always stunning and is perfectly suited to a beach wedding.

Set up a shoe station. This isn’t only a trend on Pinterest, but it is a practical and thoughtful idea. Don’t let your guests spend the day with sand in their shoes. Provide a designated area where guests can swap their shoes for flip-flops and wipe sand off their feet.

 

Décor and flowers
 Keep it simple. With the ocean as your backdrop, stick to the vista around you. You can’t do better than nature! To add colour, choose those shades that provide a contrast against the sand: corals, greens and other vibrant colours. An important part of the décor planning revolves around shade. Pack a basket full of parasols and provide some hats up for your guests. You could even drape a section of the beach to shelter your guests from sun and wind.

Photograph opportunities
Some of the most beautiful photographs have been of couples strolling on the beach with a backdrop of the ocean at sunset. If your location is situated in the right spot, you will even have Table Mountain as an extra backdrop. No special lighting, staging or editing is needed for sunset portraits.

A wedding planner is essential
As mentioned previously, getting married on the beach is just like a regular wedding, but with a handful of unexpected things you probably never considered.  So if it’s within your budget, I recommend working with a wedding co-ordinator. They’ll know their way around the local ordinances, they’ll remind you to bring sunscreen, and they can act as your wedding bouncer if friendly passers-by try to walk through your ceremony photos, etc.

With many beach and seaside wedding venues in the Cape, there are plenty options to pick from. One ideal venue is Strandkombuis, featured in today’s blog. With its private beach, tented reception area, it lends itself to a true beach wedding.

All featured photographs captured by the lovely Yolande Marx Photography: www.yolandemarx.com

Shelley at Where’s My Wedding