Beach wedding traditions, and weddings by the sea

Newport is an awesome destination for a beach or ocean view wedding! For years, tradition has dictated what was ‘acceptable’ when planning a wedding. The long white gown, the programmed church ceremony, the rented reception hall with the arranged seating and the sky-high wedding budget were all considered to be proper wedding etiquette.

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Well, those traditions are fast falling by the wayside, and a beach totally creates an informal and relaxed ambiance! That beach sand under your wiggling toes, the sound of the waves, and that salt-tinged sea breeze. Ahhhh.

Today your wedding can be anything you want it to be. Your wedding ring does not have to be a diamond. Your reception doesn’t have to be a stodgy sit-down affair and you guests don’t need to be afraid to cough during the deafening quiet as you exchange vows.

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Today, beach weddings are becoming very popular as more and more savvy couples opt for less traditional, more relaxed settings for their big day. Having your beach wedding in beautiful Newport, Middletown, or South County can be much cheaper, less stressful, and just all around plain fun. Beach weddings allow you to involve everyone in the activities. Guests are not restricted to sitting quietly in their seats. They can actually be a part of the celebration! And with some of the cool and unique (and ever evolving) wedding ceremony options offered by Cool Beans Weddings, you'll start your marriage off on the correct flip flop!

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A beach wedding allows you total creative freedom and there are so many ways to go.

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You may choose and elegant sunset ceremony with a formal reception under a grand white tent illuminated by candle light and Tiki torches. You may choose to just ‘cut loose’ with an afternoon ‘fun-in-the-sun’ beach party by exchanging your vows at the water’s edge, spreading the beach towels and having a barbeque reception. Or you can just "show up" at the beach, find a private spot (and maybe a nearby sandcastle), get rid of your shoes... and get yourselves married! You can also choose to have either a sunrise or early morning wedding, and there are many advantages to going this way. It's cooler in the morning, all the beach goers are absent, and you get the rest of the day to relax and celebrate, so it's not a wasted day of your precious vacation time! For couples concerned that their guests may not want to rise too early, we suggest that the couple make the effort to get up and experience a private and romantic sunrise for just the 2 of you with a cuppa coffee or a few mimosas on your balcony overlooking the sea, or maybe from a sunrise vantage point on the local fishing pier, and to start your day centered in the spiritual nature of our planet. It can be a relaxed and casual beginning to your life long love affair!

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Your gown may be a beautiful Hawaiian “holoku”, a beach wrap, sarong or a simple sundress.

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Your wedding cake might be a tiered cake, a sheet cake, a sculpted cake, individual mini cakes, cupcakes or even cookies!

Your favors may be elegant chocolate shells or sand dollars tied in pretty tulle bags or just plain fun items such as sunglasses, mini beach pails and sunscreen.

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Your music may be as simple as bringing a great sound system and playing your own favorites or you may choose to “limbo” to the sounds of an authentic steel drum band playing Calypso and Reggae music.

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Your theme may have a Caribbean or Hawaiian flavor, or you may choose to incorporate your own favorites such as dolphins, mermaids, lighthouses or sea creatures.