Shots Photography

Unique Beach Wedding Receptions

The most unique beach wedding reception ideas are sparked by imagination not tradition.

Never mind etiquette, tradition and timelines. That information is outdated and stuffy. Do what will make you and your guests happy. It is a time for fun and celebration, not pomp and ceremony!

Long gone are the days of "assigned" seating arrangements and cookie cutter reception programs. Everyone waiting to be told what to do next. Yawn! Today, you can "have it your way". No, I am not suggesting that "Burger King" host your reception. But, you could, IF you wanted to! That's the message.

To plan for your reception, you need first to know:

* What is your theme?
* What time of day you will be having your wedding ceremony?
* What type of atmosphere do you wish to create?

Answer those three questions and great beach wedding reception ideas will follow.

Perhaps you will marry in a romantic sunrise ceremony followed by a breakfast reception. How about an early afternoon wedding followed by a beach barbeque? Plan fun activities such as a sand castle building contest or a volleyball game. Marry at sunset. Follow the ceremony with a wine and cheese reception and dancing.

The size of your guest list and your budget will also help to determine which path you take.

Buffet or food station receptions lend themselves very well to informal beach weddings and are the most fun. They are also cheaper! You can easily coordinate this type of reception yourself and eliminate the added expense of a caterer. Those special women in your family who love to cook would be honored to assist with this project I'll bet. Heck, knowing "Aunt Jo" and "Grandma", they will probably take over and you won't have to worry about a thing!

Formal afternoon weddings will of course lead to the usual "sit down" planned menus. Caterers will be necessary. The advantage being that the whole affair will be tended to without you lifting a finger...for a price. In order to cut costs here, you will have to limit the menu and the guests.

So, if you have a large guest list and a limited budget, avoid marrying late in the afternoon. Guests will be hungry and expect the dinner reception. Instead, stick with a breakfast, brunch or cocktail reception.

The wedding industry dictates that a reception should be from three to five hours in length. Rubbish! A reception should be as long as it takes for you and your guests to enjoy each others company and have fun. It can last a couple of hours or all day if you like.

Don't feel obligated to stretch the event out. Often, your older guests tire easily and would like to leave before the designated departure time anyway. If you are having a beach side bash, consider a "come and go" atmosphere. Let people know what time your departure will be so they can be there to send you off.

As far as beach wedding reception ideas go, the rule of thumb is - there is no rule of thumb! Break the mold. Do something different, something fun, something memorable.

Whatever you and your guests will enjoy most, IS the perfect beach wedding reception!

Cindy English is the publisher of:

Beach-Wedding-Themes.com
Beach wedding themes full of fun, fantasy and romance!

All-Florida-Beach-Weddings.com
Plan your wedding celebration in Paradise!

© Copyright 2005 by Cindy English
This article may be reprinted with no changes, omissions, or additions. All links must be left live and in tact.

MORE ARTICLES:

Cheap Wedding Invitations
Your wedding invitations are your announcement to family and friends of your wedding date. A special day you want them to remember as the best wedding they've ever been to.

Wedding Preparations - Tips To Get You to The Church On Time
For many brides, the wedding ceremony starts long before they walk down the aisle to stand beside their groom at the alter. For many, it is the preparation that they have dreamed about for so long.

Wedding Lingerie – Honeymoon in Paradise
There are many things to remember in preparation for your wedding day. Of the many items you can't forget, your wedding lingerie is very important.

Did You Ever Try Selling Your Photography?Part 2
Anyone with the ability to use a camera correctly has the potential to sell their images. Picture agencies handle images of every subject and are always looking for emerging talent.

Tips For Shopping For Wedding Day Essentials
Tips For Buying Essentials For Your Wedding Day

Create Unique Wedding Invitations That Only Look Expensive
Save a substantial amount of money on invitations, without sacrificing quality, by making them yourself using your computer. It's easy and fun to create distinctive invitations, at a price you can afford, by layering fine printable paper over a heavyweight card and fastening them together with a unique embellishment.

Renowned Photography Duo to Offer Free Digital Photography Advice on Website
Renowned professional photographers offer advice on digital photography, PhotoShop enhancements and photography marketing.

Dance Music for the Wedding Reception
The most enjoyable part of the wedding reception is the dance music. When choosing dance music for your wedding, you need to decide if you want the services of a DJ or a band for your wedding.

Add A Special Touch Of Elegance To Your Wedding With Pearls
Every bride wants her wedding day to be remembered in years to come?not only by her and the groom, but also by her friends and family as well. A wonderful way to add that special flair to any special occasion is to use pearl accents. Pearls are elegant accessories for almost any formal event and can be used in many ways. Pearl bridal jewelry is a wonderful way to incorporate pearls into your wedding theme. Even more so, pearls are an appropriate choice for most bridal gowns.

Why Your Business Needs Professional Photography
When running a business you have to worry about many different aspects of your business to make it successful. You have to worry about payroll, rent, product development, and following governmental guidelines. However the most important part of your business is actually selling your product to your customers. Without sales your business will fail in a very short period of time.

Coming Up With The Best Wedding Planning Ideas
Coming up with the best wedding planning ideas can be a tedious task. Where do you even start? Here are three major sources to come up with some of the best wedding planning ideas to help you with your wedding.

Toronto Weddings Guide
Theme Nuptials Marriage, love and friendship are the best things in the universe. God?s creation and beauty are beyond factual description. The harmony of a Toronto wedding is the best part of the ceremony. Moreover, most of the weddings have a theme that makes it easier to insert the required pace, the attire, the venue, etc in accordance with the theme of the marriage. Good planning and execution also ensures that all the guests and visitors are visible enough and you get a chance to socialize with them and spend some happy moments. Such an arrangement and theme makes a cherished and memorable nuptial. This can personalize the wedding and be like a treat to the guest list. The theme speaks about your thinking and values as well as those o...

What Happens If You Dont Wear Proper Wedding Shoes?
Here comes the bride! Walking through the alley confidence holding her father's arm, but suddenly the shoes slip and she fell down. Wow.

Jamaica's All-Inclusive Resorts: Leaders In Destination Weddings
Long before destination weddings were the rage, couples were quietly flying down to Jamaica for romantic beachside ceremonies. The all-inclusive resorts on the former British island have been catering to wedding ? and honeymoon ? couples for decades and have perfected the destination wedding to an art form. The island's resorts range from the casual to the elegant to the slightly risqu?. Consider one of the following for your wedding or honeymoon: