A Beach Wedding
They may need a little more planning, not least when it comes to licences and legalities, but the beach – whether it’s the rugged crashing waves of home or the still aqua waters and soft sand of a far-off paradise – make for an awesome wedding backdrop. So borrow the beach, let the ocean be your something blue and say ‘I do’ between the sun and the sand. Follow the arrows for our favourite beaches to get married on…
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Cumberland Island, St. Mary’s, Georgia, USA
For Intimate Southern Charm
The backdrop to the iconic love affair of Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler, Georgia certainly doesn’t come up short in the romance stakes. But we’re in love with one place in particular: Cumberland Island. This beautiful little land does big romance on an intimate scale.Wild horses roam the beaches, willowy green grasses ruffle in the wind, and white sand collects in dreamy dunes. Say your “I do’s” to the sound of nothing but the Atlantic waves folding gently on the shore, or in the charming white-washed wooden chapel in the forest behind. No licence is needed for groups of less than 20 for a beach wedding, and the island is restricted to a population of 300 people at any time, making Georgia the peachy location for your petite, private nuptials.
WHEN: May to Sept for sun-seeking sweethearts
TAKE ME THERE
WHAT TO WEAR: Get inspiration on what to wear with Beach Tomato’s fashion features. -
Manorbier Beach, Pembrokeshire, Wales
For a Guestlist-Friendly British Beach
If you’re willing to take a gamble on the weather or happy for your wedding photos to be of the more windswept variety, then why not celebrate on sands closer to home? Manorbier Beach is magnificently rugged, recklessly beautiful and best of all… it’s in Wales. With buttery sand scattered around the curling cove, and chestnut brown cliffs anchored behind, the photographer’s stunning scene is already set. The mystical medieval castle and Norman church (in which the ceremony is conducted) add a stroke of magic to this historic sleeping beauty, and as you meander down the enchanting emerald hilltop, let the romantic Welsh winds leave you feeling wild at heart.
WHEN: British “Summertime”
TAKE ME THERE
WHAT TO WEAR: Get inspiration on what to wear with Beach Tomato’s fashion features. -
Île Sainte-Marie beach, Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar
For an Undiscovered Exotic Original
Aisles of sprinkled gold sand, arches of glistening green palms, and sweet indigo waves embracing the angelic Île Sainte-Marie beach are just some of this little island’s jewels. It’s also a Noah’s Ark of birds and animals (and a haven for whale-watchers), a flawless canvas of organic scenery with orchids springing from mangroves and coral painting the ocean, and home to a local culture fiercely protective of its traditions. This exquisite Madagascan secret sparkles with life, and we can’t think of a reason why exchanging vows in this exotic enclave would be anything less than unforgettable.
WHEN: April – June are warm and out of cyclone season (wed by day to avoid the nightly rain)
TAKE ME THERE
WHAT TO WEAR: Get inspiration on what to wear with Beach Tomato’s fashion features. -
Tangalla Bay Beach, Tangalle, Sri Lanka
For Palm-Swaying and I-Do-Saying
Get tangled up in love on Tangalla where the sand is brushed with bronze, palms swing in the sultry breeze, and the steamy Sri Lankan sun blazes overhead. This serene stretch will set hearts alight and ensure your romance is as fiery as the Asian heat, And with tropical treats ranging from scuba diving to riding elephants across sweeping crescent bays, your celebration can continue far beyond the ceremony. Cool your pre-wedding nerves with a dip in the glassy green shallows and as the sun sets on your sensationally scorching nuptials, keep the fire burning with a night in a beachside cabana. You’ll be the first to see the cloudy pink sun rise, and have first pick of freshly caught local fish for your wedding breakfast.
WHEN: Nov – April (P.S. Sri Lankan law requires couples to spend at least five days in the country prior to their wedding, such a hardship…)
TAKE ME THERE
WHAT TO WEAR: Get inspiration on what to wear with Beach Tomato’s fashion features. -
Marina Piccola, Capri
For Short-Haul Chic
We’re not sure what ‘I do’ is in Italian, but since it is the language of love we’re pretty sure it would sound amazing echoing over fabulously chic Capri. Quaint and quixotic, Marina Piccola is a match made in heaven for any marriage that requires a little luxe. This tiny Riviera is effortlessly elegant and the beach is as elfin as its name; the pebbles are smooth, the fawn cliffs are craggy, and the wild flowers cascading from scattered rocks will add a dash of Italian charm to your bouquet. The au naturel vibe of Italy’s idyllic outpost is enough to make every bride feel like an emerging Aphrodite, and with a stack of local chefs cooking up a storm in the pastel coloured restaurants behind, you won’t be stuck for choice when it comes to that other Italian passion; food.
WHEN: April – May / Sept – Oct for toasty temperatures, but less tourists
TAKE ME THERE
WHAT TO WEAR: Get inspiration on what to wear with Beach Tomato’s fashion features. -
Combers Beach, Vancouver Island, Canada
For the Wild At Heart
Fringed with epic alpine firs and decorated with dusky white dunes, the drama of Vancouver Island brings highland wilderness to a city escape. Accessed via a green-canopied “Spruce Trail your Combers Beach nuptials will feel wonderfully wild with only the driftwood and the odd bear (possibly, but probably not) to witness it. As you get hitched in front of hypnotic headlands the sounds of urban chaos are exchanged for feathery foam tides and the fauna of the forest. Combers coastline is also part of a string of seamless sandy beaches just waiting to be strolled, spelling a scenic end to your special day.
WHEN: June – Sept for streaming sunshine
TAKE ME THERE
WHAT TO WEAR: Get inspiration on what to wear with Beach Tomato’s fashion features. -
Pampelonne, St. Tropez, France
For an Amazing After-Party
For those who want their ears to ring as loudly as chiming wedding bells, high-octane party glamour awaits in St. Tropez. For an A-list touch to your nuptials say ‘I do’ on the glossy Pampelonne where the fabled azure waves of the Côte d’Azur gently skim over blonde sand and sun floods the pristine bay with fiery Mediterranean rays – and the sun-seeking onlookers will be beautiful enough to warrant a feature in your wedding album (just make sure they don’t stand too close).With the world’s glitziest beach clubs, casinos, firework displays and yacht-hopping soirees, the post-wedding after party options (this goes far beyond a mere ‘reception’) are plentiful.
WHEN: June – Aug for sun and the party calendar
TAKE ME THERE
WHAT TO WEAR: Get inspiration on what to wear with Beach Tomato’s fashion features.
Words by Holly Hampshire-Barnes