wedding planning - Beach Bride

San Diego Boho Beach Elopement

By Jenn

Did you know boho and beach could go so well together? Cory and Josh’s boho beach elopement in San Diego is proof of this! By simply choosing keen details, their special day turned out modish and refined. Neutral colors were featured all throughout. White and beige details were consistent, from the dried pampas and macrame backdrop to the bride’s classic white bouquet. Family and friends celebrated with them on this very special day. However, the happiness in the couple’s faces was paramount. These two were so in love!

From The Photographer

The way the waves crashed into the rocks where Cory and Josh stood for their ceremony felt so powerful! These two are a force. Cory is a Certified Health Coach (RN/MPH) and just by being around her in preparation for her and Josh’s elopement day–she sincerely inspired me in my own self-care routine. She is so passionate about what she does and even gifted me a self-love goodie bag from her brand Salt and Lane. This boho beachside elopement was held with their parents and a couple of close family members. — Joni Bilderback

Vendors:

Just Mauid: An Intimate Tropical Elopement in Maui

By Jenn

Does it get any more romantic than saying your vows in a beach setting, surrounded by the wonder of nature and a cool breeze? Kyra and Noah’s intimate tropical elopement in Maui was exactly like that! Simply Eloped made sure every detail was executed perfectly. From the sweet first look to the heart-melting ceremony and the picturesque shoots, this wedding was a dream! Kyra was classy on her flowing, one-shoulder gown, with intricate floral patches and a tan lining underneath. The groom was looking sharp on his emerald suit too! I love how this couple smartly swayed away from the usual white-black outfits tandem. The day was made even more special with only their closest guests around. A traditional Hawaiian practice, Reverend Kuya blew the conch shell to pronounce the two as now husband and wife. Now, enjoy scrolling through this set by Samantha Takes A Photo and feel the love radiating through the photos!

Associated Vendors

Cuban Love

By Jenn

Maria and Eugene were lucky to be invited on a trip to Cuba with friends. And because it’s not everyday that you get to set foot in what looked like an Instagram-optimised place, the couple took the chance to do their engagement shoot. With pristine waters and breathtaking scenery, the couple’s photos are exactly what destination shoots are made of! They walked around the beach and took a fun ride to see some good ol’ romantic architecture. Would you believe they never had a real photoshoot? Yet these two are so natural in front of the camera and happily kept their eyes on each other! Whether you’re looking to list potential destinations for your beach wedding or simply looking for some engagement poses, this refreshing Cuban love feat by MS VISION is a must-see!

Associated Vendors

Photographer: MS VISION

Tips for Creating Affordable Beach Bride Decor

By Jenn

The great benefit of having a beach wedding is that the backdrop – no matter where you turn – is simply breathtaking. However, to truly make it a beautiful event, you’re going to want some stylish accessories. Here are some tips for creating gorgeous beach bride decor without breaking the bank.The great benefit of a wedding is that the backdrop – no matter where you turn – is simply breathtaking. However, to truly make it a beautiful event, you’re going to want some stylish accessories. Here are some tips for creating gorgeous beach bride decor without breaking the bank.

Rustic Wedding Arch

Moore Creative Weddings shows you how to create a beautiful and rustic wedding arch with materials you’re likely to find around your property. This one shows potted plants as the anchor points for the arch sides, which is definitely creative and fun!

If you know someone who is even slightly good with a hammer and nails, this one can be created for very little cost.

Chair Decor

Beachy Wreaths on Etsy has some gorgeous chair decor created for beach weddings. They are simple and consist of decorative grass and starfish. This can be created for a very affordable price with some artificial greenery and dried starfish.

You could also opt for flowers rather than the greenery. Baby’s Breath would be gorgeous! Exchange the starfish for shells or play around until you find a design you love.

Beachy “I Do” Letters

Create these gorgeous letters, showcased on TB Dress by purchasing cheap craft letters and shells. Simply hot glue the shells to the letters for a chic and beautiful addition to your beach wedding decor.

Change things up a bit by adding jute twine or even rhinestones for a little sparkle.

Fun Beach Wedding Centerpiece

This beautiful centerpiece, originally found on The Celebration Society, is absolutely gorgeous and very simple to make. Various bottles are filled with craft sand, to create a beautiful beach look. Place colored fabric or paper in a frame with a cutout number on top. Voila – you have a gorgeous centerpiece that didn’t cost a fortune!

Beach Wedding Garland

SeaGypsys on Etsy offers up a charming little seashell garland, but we believe it would be super easy to make your own with some jute or hemp twine, craft shells and a drill.

Simply drill a hole in the shell, string it onto the jute and tie a knot. You have a beautiful beach decor garland that literally costs pennies to make.

These are just a few examples of how beach wedding decor can be done for a very low price. Which one of these is your favorite ideas? Share with us in the comment section below.

Jennifer & Jason – A Bright Sunny Day

By Chie

Supposedly, beaches represent sunny and bright days but apparently, the ones in Carmel are known for the opposite – and yes, we’ve searched and it is actually known for rogue waves and gloomy skies. So when Jennifer & Jason’s wedding, which was held in the same exact place, was filled with warmth and sunlight, we just knew that it is indeed their very special day. Aside from this amazing turnout, they were also blessed with wonderful guests who acknowledged their request of wearing neutral colored clothing as to match the beach so they can have beautiful photos. This couple indeed deserved this wonderful day of celebration!

Congratulations Jennifer & Jason!

What is your story as a couple, how did you meet & fall in love?

Jason and I met at work. He is very shy and introverted. He worked at our corporate office in Ohio, and when I finally won him over, he moved to California. We were too old not to take chances. And it worked!

What makes the two of you a perfect match?

We are opposites in many ways but the parts that need to match, do! We are both “thinkers” rather than “feelers”, which according to Meyers Briggs, is a good fit!

How did he (or you) propose?

He took me to Domaine Carneros in Napa, where we had our first date. After ordering champagne, he slyly got on one knee and proposed with the most beautiful ring! Once I said yes, he just as slyly got back in his chair, and no one around us even knew what happened!

How long was the planning process? Did you think it was enough time?

We were engaged May 28,2013 and were married July 11, 2014. We had hoped to married in the middle of June but many locations were already booked. It was plenty of time to plan it all!

What was the best advice you received when you were planning your wedding?

Thankfully, we are both level headed and the wedding was pretty easy to plan.

What tips & tricks (“hacks”?) can you share future brides that you yourself have learned during and after your wedding?

Pick a theme and stick with it. I liked so many different themes, so I kept bouncing around with ideas. Once I picked one, it made everything else easier.

What were some challenges you faced planning your wedding & what would you have done differently to avoid them?

Using Wedgewood took most of the challenges out of it. They cover the majority of the vendors so that made it really easy. The only piece we had to source was our photographer, and choosing Whittaker Portraits was a no brainer! They are so accommodating and take phenomenal pictures!

What inspired your wedding décor? Why did you choose the things that you did?

We really wanted a beach wedding, but a tropical location wasn’t going to be easy for any of our family to get to. Once we decided on Carmel with beach for wedding ceremony and golf course for reception, it made all the decor and accessories easy to decide on.

What was the wedding budget?

Our budget was $10,000

Where did you save the most money?

Using a one stop shop like Wedgewood saved us the most money. We liked the idea of the winery wedding but they were so expensive just for the venue. Wedgewood allowed us to have a beautiful venue and everything else we needed with it.

What was the biggest expense?

Everything was all inclusive

How many guests were invited in your wedding and what was the final guest count?

How did you narrow down your list?

It was strictly budget related and we knew it had to be just immediate family and close friends

What songs did you use during the ceremony?

Traditional…our entrance at the reception was to Notre Dame fight song!

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

Moorea, Tahiti

What are you most excited about for the future?

Being settled and having a fantastic family unit.

Do you have advice for couples still in the planning process?

If you can find an all-inclusive venue, it makes your life much easier! Coordinating a dozen vendors will make you pull your hair out!

What would you say, the overall story for this album?

Beach wedding + golf reception = perfect match

What inspired the wedding day outfits?

I required all guests to dress in neutral colors so the photos on the beach would be amazing….and it worked!

What was your favorite part of the day?

Walking down the aisle to my soon to be husband and seeing all my friends and family in the required dress code….it really was spectacular!

Was there any Do it Yourself (DIY) projects? If so, can you describe them in detail?

We made all the signs at the venue and each goody bag for the hotel rooms contained homemade fudge by my husband and daughter

What were the highlights from the ceremony & reception?

My brother married us. I know he was nervous ahead of time, but he did a fabulous job! I loved watching him deliver our vows and wouldn’t change a thing. My daughter walked me down the aisle, which was simply awesome! We laughed the whole way because the sand was so hard to walk in, and we were about to fall over. Precious moments.

Was there a theme for the ceremony and reception?

Beach meets golf

What part of the ceremonies do you think was the most memorable for you? Your guests?

I think the dress code stood out to everyone and the reception entrance to the Notre Dame fight song. My husband’s family are die hard Notre Dame fans, so they loved it!

Here is what their photographer had to say about that special day.

What would you say, the overall story for this album?

Jennifer and Jason planned a sweet intimate affair with 50 of their closest family and friends. They decided on a beach and golf course in Carmel, California. Each guest was asked to wear white and khaki. Jennifer’s nine year old daughter, Caitlyn was her “daughter of honor.” She had the honor of walking her mom down the aisle and being by her side for the day. In the beginning of the day, Jason gave Caitlyn a bracelet to
match the one he had given Jennifer earlier. We loved the pop of color of Jennifer’s red shoes. Such a fun little detail!

What inspired the wedding day outfits?

Jennifer took the beach theme and ran with it. The guests were requested to wear khaki and white to reflect that, and the light, airy beach vibes were definitely there.

What were the highlights from the ceremony & reception?

The weather was the main highlight for the day in general. Generally, Carmel is gray and foggy, but Jennifer and Jason were blessed with a bright, sunny, warm day for their wedding!

Vendors

Photographer: Whittaker Portraits
Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal
Floral Designer: Elegant Affair
Hair Stylist: Extend Your Image
Cake Designer: I DO WEDDING CAKES
Ceremony Location: Monastery Beach
Reception Venue: Rancho Canada Golf Club