What do you bring to the beach for a picnic?

What beach wedding destination is better? Beach wedding tips? HELP!?

• I live in the Pittsburgh PA, we are looking to have a beach wedding. I really like Myrtle beach. My parents are pushing for Virginia beach since its closer. I was wondering what beach is better? We are planning either a late April 2011 or an early Oct 2011 wedding. Depending on how money & vacation days from work works out. My parents have never been to either beach, I have only been to Myrtle once my fiance & his family have been going to Myrtle for years. Neither of our families are paying for our wedding. That is why we picked an destination wedding its cheaper. My parents will help pay for the "welcome back" picnic at their house when we come back. Our plan is to find a house on the beach, have just the bridal party stay with us for a few days. Get married & then kick everyone out so we can have some kind of "honeymoon". My fiance will only have 5 days vacation at that time. I don't care if people stay in the area but we need our own space then. If everyone we invite comes & brings a guest we will have 26 people coming to our wedding that includes bride & groom! (but I don't see his sisters bring any one, our rule is you have to be dating them at least 6 months+ we are paying for random people to come to the biggest day of our life then never see them again) Wedding party can bring who ever. Any other tips on planning a beach wedding?

• Answer:

  Don't buy a long gown unless you like the idea of spending all of that money on a bridal gown and then seeing it get ruined by water and/or sand. Don't buy a veil. There is always a breeze on the beach and the veil will always be blowing in your face. Have your attendants buy a simple dress that can be worn again rather than a bridesmaids gown. Shop at "dress stores" on the web rather than "bridal shops." Don't let the men look sloppy, some men think beach casual means sloppy (shirttails out and mismatched clothes). Just recently I was associated with a Bride and Groom who looked like "Mutt and Jeff." She looked pristine, he must have pulled his faded tuxedo out of the bottom of someone's clothes basket. And then he had the nerve to wear old beat-up sneakers with his wrinkled tuxedo. The Bride's parents were horrified by his appearance. Don't have a beach reception. Nobody enjoys a sand sandwich. Always have a Plan B within five miles of your beach location in case it rains. If you wish to have serve low cost meals that are appropriate for an outdoor setting consider ordering "picnic baskets" or "bag lunches" from a caterer. Answered by: A Certified wedding specialist / A Professional bridal consultant / A Wedding ceremony officiant