If you want your special day to take place in an exotic, sandy locale, you will have to consider beach wedding dresses when planning your wedding. Beach weddings are growing in popularity, and many couples are choosing to roll their wedding and honeymoon into one location. While these beach weddings are just as exciting and romantic as traditional church weddings, there are certain differences to be considered when planning yours, especially your wedding dress.

Many of the traditional trappings of a wedding dress are inappropriate for a beach setting. A veil, for example, will blow around in the wind, and flowers must be considered as well. Long, complex dresses will collect sand and even get soggy if you get too close to the water, and thick fabrics with lots of detail can be too hot in the beach sunlight. Generally, simpler, more casual beach style wedding dresses are preferred for these weddings. This does not mean your wedding will not be as classic, romantic or elegant as a traditional church wedding, however if you want a wedding with full formal skirts and a veil, you may want to consider moving your wedding from the beach to an indoor location.

Wedding dresses for the beach are generally much simpler than traditional ones, so they require much less tailoring and work. This means they can be much less expensive than their indoor counterparts, making them an attractive choice for couples on a tighter budget or a short engagement. Beach weddings in general can be an elegant way to save a great deal of money on wedding expenses. Due to the casual nature of beach weddings, you can even find your wedding dress “off the rack,” with little or no tailoring required. Some things to keep an eye out for are colorful accents or fun details that you can incorporate into your wedding theme. While you can find an informal beach wedding dress at a bridal boutique, there are other places where you might find more options and better bargains. Just because you saved money when you got your dress does not mean you won’t look just as beautiful and classy on your wedding day. There are also many places to shop online that feature wedding dresses for the beach. These may be more helpful during winter months, when stores do not have summer dresses in stock. Some good sites are Hawaiian Wedding Shop (www.hawaiianweddingshop.com) and Dessy Group (http://www.dessy.com/wedding-dresses).

Other things to consider when picking out your beach wedding dress are your accessories: since you will be on the beach, you probably won’t want to go with those expensive satin pumps. Some brides prefer to simply go barefoot at their beach weddings, but there are other options if you don’t want to. Elegant bridal flip-flops and sandals do exist, and can be purchased in any number of configurations and designs, with flowers, crystals, beads and pearls aplenty. You may also consider looking in department stores for regular summer flip-flops in white or silver, with decorative elements that will work with your dress. Flowers are not out of the question on the beach, but you should make sure you pick a more sturdy bouquet, perhaps a few long-stemmed flowers such as lilies or roses rather than a big, complex arrangement.

Weather is also an important thing to consider when looking at casual beach wedding dresses. Beaches tend to be windy, so billowy dresses and veils are usually good to avoid. It can also be chilly on the beach, especially in the evenings or during certain times of year. If you plan on saying your vows as the sun sets on a September beach, you should consider a warmer beach wedding dress. On the other hand, you might not want those long sleeves and heavy embroidery out in the hot beach sun.

Your wedding can be perfect no matter where you decide to have it, but if you opt for a beach wedding, a little forethought goes a long way when it comes to picking beach wedding dresses and will help you have an exciting, romantic wedding unconfined by traditional expectations.