Do's and Dont's for Your Outer Banks Wedding

So you've decided that the Outer Banks is the ideal location for your beach wedding. As you plan your big day, keep in mind that although the Outer Banks can provide some stunning outdoor wedding venues, there are many details which are unique to an outdoor or beach wedding that should be considered. Here are some dos and don'ts.

WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENT

The local weather is notoriously unpredictable. Have a back up plan, whether it's a tent or an indoor location to retreat to. It's a good idea to outline your back up plan to your guests, so they know the drill if the weather turns sour. Many couples who have outdoor weddings will include a bad weather plan card with their wedding invitations.

DO - Have an area that's out of the sun if your wedding is during the day, or a place where guests can warm up if your wedding is at night. This is especially important if some of your guests are elderly, frail or prone to sunstroke. A tent works well. Make it a fun spot to spend time by stringing up hammocks, using adirondack or beach chairs to relax in, hanging fish net around and scattering sea glass and shell assortments about.

DON'T - Stage your beach wedding for midday. Otherwise, you may have a lot of uninvited guests in your wedding photos. Early morning and late afternoon are less busy times to stage the event-and the lighting is much more conducive to photography. Also, at public beaches make sure you have a cleanup crew to clear the area of garbage and other unsightly objects before the ceremony starts.

DO - Check the tide tables. Many Outer Banks beaches have minimal tide ranges, but some beaches flood at times of high tide. And who wants a wet wedding?

DON'T - If you are planning your ceremony in a National Park Service or State Park location, don't forget to obtain a permit first.

DON'T - Although it may be tempting to use audio amplification at your beach ceremony, it sometimes serve only to amplify the sound of the waves and wind, making vows unintelligible. Microphones also make for unsightly additions to photographs.

ATTIRE

DON'T - It may sound obvious, but we have see many an expensive pair of shoes ruined by salt and spray. Plan on sandals or even bare feet.

DO - Wear something simple, light and airy. If you're not too worried about being conventional, go with a long flowing white sun dress and wide brimmed sun hat or large tropical flower in your hair. For the groom and groomsmen, again, casual is probably better. How about a nice white sports jacket and white or beige pants. Add some fun to it by donning a colorful tropical fish tie. For bridal attendants, consider either long or mid-calf sun dresses with chiffon scarves to tie back long hair or wide brimmed sun hats. The dresses could be in a colorful pattern or in colors to match your color scheme.

TABLE AND FOOD ARRANGEMENTS

DON'T - Don't forget to keep the temperature in mind while planning your menu if your wedding is in one of the warmer months. If you won't have adequate cooling facilities then center your menu around foods that don't spoil easily.

DO - Extend the beach theme to your menu and table arrangements. Serving your dishes inside scallop shells or abalone shells is a nice marine touch and so is using sand dollar place cards at the table or seashell napkin rings. Use sand or water in your centerpieces, like flowers floating in water or candles buried in sand. Sand castles make great centerpieces as well and you can strategically place goodies and sweets on them for your guests to nibble on. Miniature beach chairs piled with candies are also an innovative party favor.

SOUND

DO - Use music that works well with the natural sounds of the environment. The higher the pitch of the instrument, the better the sound carries without overriding the noises of the surf crashing into the beach and the cries of seagulls. Whether you are hiring a band, a soloist or using pre-recorded music, keep this in mind.

DON'T - Assume your voices will be heard by all your guests without the aid of microphones. As you read your wedding vows, you could you be competing with the sounds of surf, voices of playing children, passing planes and boats, seagulls, or the barking of a dog. If you are wired for sound, you don't have to worry about any of these noises drowning out your wedding vows.

DECOR

DO - Keep in mind that the Outer Banks can be very windy, especially in the fall and spring. Don't use any decorations that could be blown away. Use seashells to create an aisle and if you want to have an archway, the narrower you make it, the less likely it will get blown over. Put flowers inside display shells glass vases or pails filled with sand, pebbles, and sea glass. Glass floaters are also heavy enough to combat the wind factor.

DON'T - Leave the poles of your tent bare, the metallic gleam of the naked poles will probably mar the look you are trying to achieve. You can wreath them in flowers, drape them with fish net and party lights or cover them with a variety of seashells and grasses.

DO - Incorporate plants wherever you can, the greens make a nice contrast against the tawny sand. Wheat grass is a popular method of instilling a little green into the décor.