Having a Beach Wedding in Charleston SC? Here’s the Bride’s Guide to Unexpected Beach Wedding Disasters
The photos above were from Amy and Alex’s micro-wedding at Folly Beach we photographed * gasp * (yes, we can take photos, but video is our main jam!) out at Folly Beach with our wedding planner friend Kate’s amazing intimate beach wedding planning company, A Charleston Beach Wedding.
Your cake is melting; your makeup is running, the weather doesn’t seem to be cooperating...is this the price you have to pay because you wanted to feel sand between your toes as you tie the knot? You’ve had your heart set on a beach wedding in Charleston SC, so it would be a shame to let these entirely avoidable mishaps from ruining your big day.
So here’s the thing—champagne sunsets as guests trickle in? Spectacular wedding photos set against a pristine, cobalt ocean? A perfectly framed montage of your big day featuring exotic natural wonders and soft, white sand? You can still have it all; you just need to be prepared. And a huge part that—especially where intricate baked goods and white gowns that have to stay white until the ceremony ends are involved—is knowing what you have to be prepared for.
We’ve worked a lot of beach weddings in Charleston SC, so here’s our guide to unexpected beach wedding disasters that you have to watch out for and what you can do to avoid it.
1. “Um, we can’t really hear anything over the sound of the ocean.”
The sound of the ocean lapping gently against the shore sets the perfect mood for a romantic wedding. But when the wind is blowing, and it’s causing the waves to crash, here’s an unexpected, yet often overlooked beach wedding twist—your guests won’t be able to hear you. Basically, you’ll end up with an officiant screaming into your ear, and a bride and groom straining to listen to you say, “I do.” Those vows you’ve been practicing forever? Forget about it.
If you’re trying to capture everything on film, good luck being able to get good audio when you’re competing against the symphony of nature - we can do it, annnnddd there will be wind noise factored into the audio, even with mic muffs.
Here’s what you can do--
Set up a sound system for the ceremony, especially if you have over 20 guests coming to your wedding. Be sure to check the weather forecasts. If your venue recently had a storm, be sure to move your set up further away from the surf (and be aware of the tides!) as it will cause bigger waves that will inevitably crash and drown out the sound of your vows.
2. “It’s too hot! Walking down the aisle feels like walking on hot coals.”
Everyone loves sand in between their toes, right? Sure—if they’re not wearing fancy footwear for a formal event. Even if you and your guests aren’t wearing high heels for your beach wedding, it still means grains of sand will sneak its way into your shoes or sandals. If that isn’t annoying enough, then here’s an even bigger issue to deal with—what if the sand is hot? Are you willing to briskly tip-toe across hot sand for your big moment? You don’t have to.
Here’s your fix--
Make sure you set up rugs or runners for your walk down the aisle. Not only is it practical, but it’s also a great focal point for photographs and video frames. You can also set up a basket filled with flip-flops for guests who want to use alternative footwear.
3. “The sky is dark—is my wedding going to get rained on?!”
You can check and double-check to make sure that your wedding day is going to be sunny and breezy, but mother nature can be pretty fickle. No matter how great forecasts are for your wedding day, you can never be 100 percent sure that you’re not going to get drenched.
Here’s your solution--
If it’s just a brief, light drizzle, a basketful of CLEAR umbrellas that you and your guests can use is a handy addition for your ceremony. But it would be best to have a backup location prepped in case the weather doesn’t cooperate, and it looks like you’ll have to deal with torrential downpour.
4. “I need a permit?!!?”
Beach rules vary by location—so don’t just assume that your top beach wedding pick in Charleston SC is free for use.
Always remember to--
Get in touch with your local government to double-check what permits you need to host your wedding day by the shore. Take note that permits vary depending on different factors such as the volume of attendees, venue design, and set up, whether or not alcohol will be served, if your photographer or videographer will be using drones, etc. Be sure to list all these down and sort it all out early.
5. “The wind is messing everything up!”
The breeze is always welcome when you’re dealing with the beating sun in the outdoors. But too much wind has a way of shaking things up—literally--at your wedding. Your coverings, if you have a tent set up, can come loose, your flowers end up strewn all over, dresses are billowing, and your hair won’t stay in place. What’s a bride to do?
Here’s a tip--
Weight everything down—from tents and awnings, place cards and centerpieces, lights, and other decorative elements. Tape it if you have to and tie a ribbon in your wedding motif, so it blends easily into your decor.
To prevent dresses from blowing up in the wind, use undergarments with plenty of static, so the fabric clings to your body and don’t fly up. Another option would be to drop a couple of weights into the hemline of your dress, so it hangs beautifully even when the wind is blowing particularly strong that day. And as for your hair, an updo ensures that you won’t have to keep fussing with your tresses throughout the ceremony. And veils? Maybe bring those in for certain parts of the day — photos specifically for your portrait session. Really think through having a sail in your hair — yes it looks lovely (in theory) coming down the aisle, but also — we can’t tell you how many times we’ve seen brides fussing with their veil up at the alter, wanting to make sure they look good, and they aren’t paying attention to a thing the officiant or their new husband is saying. Choose wisely!
One last thing...
Beach weddings in SC are a great option for any bride to be. Don’t let these mishaps deter you from having the wedding that you’ve always wanted. Just be prepared.