Wedding Dresses for the Beach

So you're a bit of a free spirit. You'd like to get married with a breeze in your hair, the sun on your face and the sound of waves lapping on the sand.

You'd like to carry a colourful spray of tropical blooms.

Sounds like you? Sounds like you're a beach wedding kind of bride.

Mind you, you need to think carefully about what you're going to wear on your wedding day if you've opted for what's known as a €˜destination' wedding.

(Here's some advice on marrying abroad and how to plan.)



Destination wedding dresses are designed with blue skies and tropical scenes in mind €“ and there are some stunning options around, both for you and your bridesmaids.

Much as we all admired Kate Middleton's beautiful lace wedding dress at the Royal Wedding, this would be completely the wrong sort of outfit to choose when you're expecting to feel the sand between your toes as you walk towards your fiancé down a flower-strewn beach aisle.

Opt for full skirts and petticoats and you'll look and feel all wrong.

You need to be thinking lightweight bridal gown fabrics like chiffon. Words like €˜filmy',€˜gossamer', €˜ethereal' spring to mind. Consider the romance of your surroundings €“ white sand contrasting with azure skies.

Think about simple €˜goddess' style lines to your wedding dress. Look out for column designs which hang in simple folds and drape the body loosely.

Strapless style wedding dresses can look fabulous at a beach wedding. You'll look elegant as you glide towards your groom and you'll stay cooler when the time comes for dancing.

Bridal accessories? Well, you might decide that a vibrant tropical flower in your hair is enough to set off your outfit. As for bouquets, this is the time when some brides choose to commission an heirloom 'costume jewellery' bouquet - a piece they'll be able to keep forever as a memento of their special day. Think about shading yourself and your maids under a pretty parasol. And as for shoes, it's time to ditch the heels - think wedding flip flops instead. Dessy has different coloured flip flops in a wide range of colors.

Photography credits: Lori Paladino (couple) , Carol MacGregor (hair flower).