Large-ish Beach Wedding?

char1217 · January 14, 2009

Hey everyone! I'm looking at the Virginia Beach area and contacted a company that does beach weddings, but some of the things they responded with have left me uncertain. For one, since it's in the middle of the summer, they only do weddings from 9-12 and 5-7. Ideally, I wanted to have the wedding around 330-400 so we could have the reception from 5-9 or 10. The place where they typically set up is about 20-25 min away from the reception/hotels area, which is what I expected. Also, having a wedding on the beach means you can't close off the area, and it may be difficult setting aside space for 150-200 people.

My question is based on these details, have any of you been to or had or planned a beach wedding? Do you have any advice or tips or just facts about how things panned out? Any information regarding a beach wedding would be great!

Thanks so much!

Char

bumbles · January 14, 2009

Hi Char, my initial thoughts are that if you have the ceremony later in the day (5-7), there won't be as big of a crowd compared to prime afternoon beach time. Also, it won't be as hot and you can get photographs of these beach sunset.

TATrisha · January 14, 2009

I actually think the 5pm wedding time is quite perfect. A reception starting at 5 is a little early. So the wedding lasts about a half an hour and then 30 minutes travel time puts guests arriving at 6. That is perfect! otherwise if your wedding was at 3:30, 30 minutes ceremony, 30 minute travel... it's only 4:30. In the summer, that's REALLY early if you ask me.

JessicaM · January 14, 2009

LIke the other girls said I think 5:00 is great, that leaves time for pictures too and travel time. You dont want your guests to melt too, plus 5 hours for a reception should be a good amount of time I think!

char1217 · January 15, 2009

Yeah, the more I've thought about it, the more reasonable 5 sounds with the heat and that way people have time to digest lunch. Thanks for the responses

ilovepunch · January 22, 2009

I think the 5pm ceremony is great. I know that you want a long reception, but you may want to check into that. Most beach cities that I looked into have a "curfew." Some have cut off times at 10 or 11 pm.