A personal favorite time of year is September where the summer winds down, cooler crisp air moves in, where it becomes quieter, cozier, and the leaves just start to turn from green to different colors of yellow, orange, and red. It’s also not so “crazy” busy on the Southern Coast of Maine, prices are lower, and venues are more available. The weather is usually gorgeous too; hence September is a wonderful time to get married on the beach!
Beach weddings are special. The setting is stunning with bright blue skies shimmering on the ocean with the sound of the ocean and wind in your hair. Great memories too with outstanding pictures to compliment the scenery.
With this said there a few things to consider when planning an oceanfront wedding. You’ll want to plan according to the elements so it can be the best day ever!
One, is making sure your site is accessible to not only guests but food vendors and anything that has to be delivered. Seats, tables or whatever you are using for set-up will want to be sturdy so that they are not blown away or collapse in the sand. You’ll also want to plan the day around busy beach days and holidays too.
It’s windy on the beach even on a calm day so making sure your décor is wind-proof is essential. Choosing things that won’t get blown away such as tying down programs to your seats and getting heavyweight stands for place cards are good ideas as well as a sturdy arch that can hold flowers and fabrics.
Also, choosing the time of day is important because being on the beach means there is no shade, so earlier or later in the day is ideal. Even choosing a canopy can be a great investment.
If you are serving food the best thing to consider is keeping it simple or reserve an off-site reception. Anything that needs to be refrigerated would prove to be difficult to keep well and buttercream icing on the cake may melt just a little too quickly.
Furthermore, choosing your attire is essential to a successful day! For the wedding dress, choosing fabrics that are lightweight and not going to overheat such as chiffon or charmeuse are the best to choose from. As much as one wants to look dreamy, long dresses or trains will prove to be a challenge while walking down the “aisle” or taking pictures. Try to get a dress that can bustle easily too. Also, when choosing your veil, one made of flowers or having a fascinator are great choices.
Taking into account what your groom and groomsmen are wearing are of utmost importance. The last thing they want is to overheat as well. Cotton pants or Bermuda shorts are great options, and lightweight tops are vital.
Having an updo hairstyle is the best plan against heat and wind. Having a local hair stylist is ideal as well, in case any touch-up is needed.
A really neat consideration in your planning is ditching the heels! Wedges or espadrilles are great options. Also, plan on having some sort of runner for your aisle because the sand may be quite hot even in September. Even things like flower petals or fabric works.
Now, harder said than done but keeping a tan free line is a something to plan for prior to your wedding day. Even take into consider what type of dresses your wedding party will be wearing.
Something that may not be thought of is a shoe station. Having a rack to switch out fancy shoes for flip flops is a great idea. The station should also have something to wash or wipe off their feet before putting back on their fancy shoes, towels and a seating area should be in the mix as well.
Also, a welcome package is an excellent way to give travel size sunscreen, bug spray, hand sanitizer, hand towels, bottled water, and even personal fans. It is recommended to get bug spray and sunscreen that doesn’t stain and is fragrant free.
When choosing a vendor, it is imperative to research what is included such as professional photography and video, whether there are extra fees for services, whether they help facilitate the process of acquiring a marriage license and certification, how accessible they are and what the guest limit is.
With all this said, Old Orchard Beach is a great place to have your wedding and namely the Alouette Beach Resort can be your venue for your beautiful day! We are very helpful in assisting all your needs. It is a perfect stage for a wedding for the beach is just about level and very accessible.
We offer a Seaside Elopement Package where we offer all sorts of amenities such as champagne, fresh fruit and cheese platter, flowers and a personalized wedding cake. We also provide an officiate, a coordinator, guest limit of 6 and the best of all an oceanfront wedding. You may also add on things like a bridal bouquet, grooms boutonniere, a photographer and breakfast delivered to your room the next day. There are also many local vendors that can assist with all that you will need, as outlined above.
The hope is this will assist all your needs in planning your wedding during a magnificent time of year. We hope to see you on your best day ever by booking our special Seaside Elopement package here as well!
