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(part one of two)
For the Catholic ceremony, a nearby chapel (ideally a stroll-away or a short drive for a golf cart) is the best option while a Christian ceremony can hold the solemn rites out there by the sand and sea. Needless to say, the reception (more of a party than a formal banquet) should definitely be by the beach with booze, music and some dancing. The possibilities are endless, really! Nice Touches & Tips We asked noted wedding professionals for the nice touches they’ve seen in any beach wedding they’ve been to or share with us useful tips for couples planning to have one. Read on…. Nice touches I’ve seen on a beach wedding: As guests arrive, they were given welcome drinks in the color motif of the couple. They were also given lootbag with dark glasses, fan, pack of peanuts and coco candy, hand sanitizer etc. Male guests had leis made of shell, female had flowers. Bouquet and Garter was one-shot tequila limbo rock game. We also had a treasure hunt with questions based on how well guests know the couple. First dance was a conga line as fireworks lit the sky. Beach Wedding Tips: It is very important to do an ocular of the place with all suppliers especially with technical people. The visit should be done the same time as the wedding. Check the food preparation area, toilet facilities, parking and power supply source. Most important of all, check an adjacent back-up venue in case weather turns bad. Nothing’s worse than a rained-out beach wedding party. If that happens, wind and sand can be a problem if it gets into food and on the guests. - Rita Neri of The Wedding Store, wedding planner
Tips: Attire should be comfortable and light enough so it would be easy for walking on the sand and ready for getting wet. Have lots of wine. Make the event more of a party than a usual reception. - Dino Lara, photographer
Tip: Bonze beauty works well for beach weddings or simply, the NATURAL look. Have the lightest application possible. - Denise Go, make-up artist
Tips: Start your reception before dusk. A glowing sunset heightens the dramatic moments, especially during the magic hour (a few minutes after sunset) where the sky glows with different colors. Pay particular importance to lighting design. Seek professional advice as to what is best for your wedding, be it a warm candle lit intimate or a party till you drop surrealistic beach party. Unlike a ballroom which has walls to help in sound reverberation, the beach doesn’t provide you with this luxury. Common problems for outdoor setups are grounded connections which your guests hear as hums and mic feedbacks. Make sure you have enough amperage for the power requirement of your reception site. This is either supplied by the resort’s electrical supply or through a generator. More tips: The guests are hard to contain once they’re stuffed. Most would take a walk along the shore, some would stay by the bar, or others bid goodbye. Should you wish to have photographs with your guest, it is recommended that you do this anytime during dinner. Hire someone who has knowledge about astronomy. He can teach your guests Skywatching 101 and the stories of the constellation about mythological gods and heroes, the adventure and their love stories. This one has never been done before in weddings (as far as I know). Just learning where the Big and Small Dippers are makes it an exhilarating experience, what more if you get to see the planets or the craters of the moon. - Dominic Velasco of Imacron, videographer
Tip: Fireworks (of course!) done on the beach are very much augmented when fired from a boat, as the reflection on the water doubles the effect. If there's an excellent view of the sea, the fireworks will be twice as good. - Hans Ong of Dragon Fireworks
Tips: Have some pre-wedding activities such as sarong-painting, or beadwork necklace/bracelet or tie-dyeing for attire/accessories to be worn at the wedding. During the toasting ceremonies, the couple can use coconut instead of champagne glasses. Consider getting a unique entertainment for the after-reception party (ie. hula dancers, fire-eaters, ethnic dancers etc.). - Paulette Tan-Dimaano of Demoiselle Events Mgmt., wedding planner
Nice touches: On my upcoming beach wedding: the bride will be coming from a banca for her grand entrance to the ceremony. The table centerpieces are collection of different empty bottles on a box of sand. There are pieces of paper and pen on the tables where guest can write their message then scroll it inside then seal with cork for a “Message in a Bottle” the couple can keep. Tips: Fireworks on a moonlit sky are romantic. Consider logistics, contingencies, time of the year and come up with intimate head count. Allocate budget for transportation and accommodations. Anticipate suppliers’ out-of-town charges. - Teddy Manuel of Flowers and Events
Nice touches: Couples who got married in the beaches of Boracay usually had three days of scheduled activities (golf games, etc.) Tip: It is best to hire a wedding planner. Location weddings can be a logistic nightmare. - Michi Calica, designer
Tips: Torches, candles and drapes could create a very romantic mood if done right. Barong and suits are too stiff for a beach location. Comfy shoes and sandals are better if couple and guests plan to walk around. Do house the suppliers a day in advance to avoid unwanted delays (plane, boat etc). Do provide local transport for suppliers as well, so they won’t get lost. If you will have fireworks, do check wind condition/direction, so the dust/debris won’t end up all over the reception area. - Kai Huang, photographer
Nice touches: Beach weddings are usually more casual and relaxed. For invites, what I recommend is to use handmade paper with accents. If the wants a traditional invite, we use a beach inspired monogram. Tips: Send your invites ahead so that guests can schedule their leaves. Invite more because the ‘mortality rate’ is higher. Lastly, pray that it won’t rain. - Noky Dungo of Printsonalities, social printer
Nice touches: On one wedding I attended, all the guests wore their Boracay best: think batik of all cuts and sizes plus straw hats! The sunglasses were gorgeous and accessories made a big difference. The bride wore a simple Boracay cut dress in pure white with pearl accessories and white cotton sandals. The groom wore all-white Hawaiian cut cotton polo with a small flower in pocket and white pajama pants curls up just above the knee. The couple was under a huge white umbrella with half in cascading flowers while guests sat on covered seats with ribbons. Tips: If planning a beach wedding, get ready as you might have to shoulder some of your guests’ hotel accommodation. Check on hotels which have wedding entourage packages at big discounts. Consider resort hotels which have experience in wedding planning (ie. buffet by the beach complete with PA system, sulo lighting and the works). - Paulo Clemente of Angel’s Wink Productions, wedding singer & event host
Nice touches: I’ve done molded chocolate in sea shell shapes that the couple used as decorations for their cake. They ordered a small plain cake (for easier transport) which they easily decorated it by arranging the chocolate shell on the cake layers. These chocolate pieces can also be given as wedding favors. - Judy Uson, cake artist
Nice touches: In one wedding, the couple had their names in flowers floating by the pool nearby. They had a multi-passenger golf cart transport them and take them to the beach for sunset photos. They had an open bar stocked with whatever alcohol concoction guests wanted and they hired a reggae band. Tips: Hire a coordinator who knows the place very well. It would be best to keep the dress code is casual. If the beach has a good sunset potential, then schedule the ceremony accordingly. - Eddie Boy Escudero, photographer
Tips: Beach wedding requires minimal number of guests because it is too far from the city. For the floral arrangements, I suggest the couple use tropical flowers. - Evelyn Legaspi of Flowers of May
Tips: Make sure you get married around 5p.m. so you have time to take pictures while there is still color in the sky. Make sure your suppliers are on time. Make sure the reception has a lot of tivoli lights, candles, lanterns or any indirect light. - Pilar Tuason, photographer
Nice touches: I did one where we floated big battery-operated lanterns on bamboo rafts to create a different look and add light to the sea. At night, they really looked like they were floating. We also had the beach sand leveled then placed wood planks as platforms so guests won’t be inconvenienced. Dinner was sit-down so it created a more formal atmosphere unlike most beach weddings where the look is casual or ‘beachy’. This one was a class in itself. Tips: Couples planning a beach wedding should seriously look at giving their guests the convenience for them to enjoy. If they are holding it in a faraway beach where guests would need to stay overnight, a nice gesture would be to give a welcome basket of goodies with fruits, sarong, skin products, etc. Things that they may need while on the beach. A bon voyage chocolate or whatever would also be great! - Robert Blancaflor of 1816 Flowers & Event Styling There are more interesting ideas from more suppliers that we simply couldn’t accommodate all in one go. Watch out for the continuation next month. We have saved some of the best for last! = = = = = = = = = = =
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Nice touches: In one wedding, the couple gave away beach sandals. |
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