Planning for a beach wedding can become stressful and can bring out the worst from the nicest of women. Women are just human, but have this uncanny ability to transform ourselves into “creatures.” And we’re not talking about PMS just yet.
But seriously, all the stress that we have been put through while planning the beach wedding is never an excuse to come across as having poor taste or being ill-mannered. This is our day, yes, but no bride wants to be put on the “I-hope-she-never-throws- a-party-again” list. We’re brides, not divas.
1. Don’t be late. Being fashionably late is not cool. This is especially important if you’ve timed the wedding when the sun is blazing like crazy. It’s bad enough that the schedule was incredibly thoughtless, now the guests will be melting away just like that. Stick to the schedule no matter how late you went to sleep the night before. If the makeup has to be redone, inform the guests about the delay. Guests are very considerate in the face of an actual emergency or delay, but not when the bride feels like spending another hour in the tub or admiring the scenery before going to the beach wedding ceremonies.
2. Don’t be a diva. It doesn’t matter if the bride is clearly the “star” of occasion, but the people who are with you on your beach wedding are equally important. Don’t throw a fit. There is always a better way of saying things to someone, or getting your point across. If the DJ can’t find the song for the bridal waltz, give him time to actually look for it on the list. Don’t give him the “look” or start firing away expletives. Have a copy of the song yourself, in anticipation for this little disaster. Have your wedding planner or wedding partner deal with EVERYTHING on the day of the wedding itself. Ignorance is bliss.
3. Don’t forget to say “Thank you.” Remember that the beach wedding location is probably far from the where your guests live, and they have taken time off work or school just to celebrate with you. Everyone needs to know they are appreciated. The bridesmaids and the rest of the bridal party as well as all of the guests have traveled all the way to your beach wedding location. Beach wedding favors should be given a lot of thought to show guests and attendants that you appreciate their participating in your celebration.
Obviously, we have come a long way in trying to throw an amazing beach wedding for ourselves and an equally amazing bash for our guests. Brides have always been given the notion that her wedding day is when everyone and everything is at her beck and call. But no matter how hard we have worked on this occasion; our beach wedding is never the right time to manifest bad manners.
