Getting married on the beach, for some, is a dream, a must-do. We certainly have plenty of beaches here in the Carlsbad area to consider - Ponto, Tamarack, Frazee, South Carlsbad, Grandview, Stone Steps, Beacon's, Moonlight, Swami's, Cardiff State Beach.
I'm not a wedding planner or anything of the sort, but this topic is kinda important right at the moment. My older daughter and her fiancé are planning their wedding for next September (we are thrilled) and getting married on one of our local beaches is a must do. We think it's a great idea.
While it might seem to be a simple matter, at the same time there are some things one has to consider in planning a wedding on the beach - I'm sure there will be others we have yet to think about:
- Time of day - getting married at sunset could be pretty romantic, or perhaps mid-day when it might be warmer. Check out the sunset calendar for the time period you want
- Access to the beach - some are easy to get to, as you can walk right on to the beach from the road or parking, while others require a significant climb down stairs from the bluff top. Probably not a good idea to do a lot of stair climbing, especially since the trip up after the ceremony is far more invigorating
- Parking - even if the wedding is fairly small, parking at different beaches varies quite a bit, and in the warmer months there is lots of competition for parking spots. What to do if there isn't enough parking? Do you have folks park elsewhere and arrange some sort of shuttle or carpool? Probably at sunset this is less of an issue but worth considering.
- Permission - I don't know all the rules but it seems you need permits for getting married on the beach, and having parties, etc. It'll be important to investigate all the requirements and timing (e.g., date, cost, purpose, number of people, ability to serve alcohol if desired) for Carlsbad, Encinitas and Cardiff to make sure all is in order.
- Being in the public eye - some beaches are more crowded, for various reasons. Do you want to be married on a more popular beach where you will likely attract much more attention and looky loos?
The weather in September is probably not a big issue. It tends to be fairly warm and too early in the season to worry about rain. But it probably makes sense to have alternative plans, just in case. And of course folks need to know in advance about the plans - high heeled shoes and sand don't work together very well.
So the big choice remains...WHICH beach? The rest will get decided once that decision is made.
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All content copyright © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits
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