What Do I Wear to a Destination Wedding?

Of course, if you’re the bride-to-be, you’ve been dreaming of this moment, and this DRESS, forever. But if you’re the groom or a guest, you may want to know a bit more about dressing for a destination wedding before you pack your bags and fly off to paradise.

No matter your role, the surroundings are going to be so beautiful that you know you’ll want to take dozens, if not hundreds, of photos – and you’re going to want to make sure you look just as good in those photos as the beautiful beach backdrop. So read on to hear exactly how to dress for a destination wedding:

For the bride:
Yes, you have found your dream dress. Yes, you’ve already thought about how it would look on the beach, as the sun is setting: perfect. We would never doubt your dream dress. But we here at Beach Honeymoons & Destination Weddings are here to remember the details you may be leaving out of your flawless wedding fantasy…

First: the train. If your dress has a long train, that is going to look absolutely stunning in all of your photos. But it may be an absolute mess when walking down the aisle, or dancing the night away at your beach-party reception. Sand can get everywhere, and you don’t want your train to be dragging around a pound of sand by the end of the night. If you get a train, make sure it includes a loop and a button on your waist in order to pin it up when you’re not taking photos, or saying your vows with your husband-to-be. That way, you can have your dream dress, your dream beach wedding, and your dream of still looking beautiful all night.

Second: the shoes. Shoes are usually an afterthought, but with a destination beach wedding, we cannot stress enough that you must have backups. Let’s say you’re aiming for that perfect, beachy vibe with your outfit, and that includes bare feet. Make sure that even if you are planning on going barefoot, you have shoes with you that you would be happy to wear with your dress if worst comes to worst. No one wants to think about the “worst,” whether that’s an accidental cut or scrape on your foot that needs protection, or an unexpected storm causing your ceremony to temporarily relocate inside, but you’re going to want to make sure you’re prepared for every possible situation, so if something happens, you can focus on your dream day instead of scrambling.
 
For the groom:
One of the best aspects about using Beach Honeymoons & Destination Weddings to plan your celebration of love is that the groom doesn’t really have to think about his wedding attire: typically, the properties our company works with have an option to rent a wedding tux right there at the resort.
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If your fiancé has dreams of a beautiful, relaxed beach ceremony, you may not even need a tux – many of our grooms choose to marry their true loves in loose, cotton pants and button-down shirts in white or bright beach colors. The advantages: you’ll be comfy, you’ll still look nice, and it’ll be easier than ever to scoop your beautiful bride up in your arms for that show-stopping kiss as the sun is setting. The disadvantages: none we can think of!
 
For the guests:
What could be more fun than dressing for a destination beach wedding??
You’re on vacation, you’re surrounded by beauty, you’re watching your loved one marry their soulmate, AND you get to wear bright, fun clothes?

​Many of the same considerations the bride and groom will be making should also apply to you when choosing your outfits: it’s okay to keep it loose, casual, and beachy, but make sure you have a backup plan if you’re rocking bare feet or some other outdoor-only wear. If you’re a member of the bridal party, odds are you’ll already have specific instructions on what to wear, but for the rest of the guests, remember this one crucial rule: even though the wedding’s on a beach, white is still only for the bride. 

This post was written by Jill Williamson a Senior Destination Wedding Planner for Beach Honeymoons & Destination Weddings - LTW Travel.

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