Surviving a Melbourne Beach Wedding
Dreaming of saying “I do” with your toes in the sand and the Melbourne shoreline as your backdrop? A beach wedding here can be breathtaking, but it also comes with a few unique challenges. With the right timing, smart planning, and a focus on comfort, you can enjoy the ocean views, soft sea breeze, and golden light while keeping you, your guests, and your photos looking and feeling their best.
Here are a few tips and tricks that will help make sure your Melbourne beach wedding is flawless!
Why Melbourne Beach Is One of Florida’s Best Wedding Locations
Melbourne Beach sits on the Brevard County barrier island between the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean, and it’s one of the quietest, most naturally beautiful stretches of Florida coastline for a wedding. Unlike the congested beach resort areas further south, Melbourne Beach is residential and low-key, meaning your ceremony backdrop is the actual ocean rather than a hotel row. The wide, clean sand, the Atlantic sunrise light, and the absence of commercial development make it a legitimately special place to get married.
The Space Coast location also means your guests aren’t fighting Orlando or Miami traffic to get to your venue. Melbourne is 60–70 miles southeast of Orlando, easily accessible from all directions, and serves as the gateway to the Kennedy Space Center for any guests who want to extend their trip.
Surviving a Melbourne Beach Wedding
Timing Is Everything
Your ceremony time is important! The best part about Melbourne beach weddings is the beautiful natural light of the sun. It should be taken advantage of in every way. Avoid scheduling your ceremony during the sun’s highest point in the day around the noon hour. Heat and glaring light can be an issue for your photos, video, and for you and your guests.
You want to be able to open your eyes and see the love of your life while you say your I do’s and not sweating off your makeup. Our best advice is to schedule an early morning ceremony before the sun gets too hot or schedule your ceremony 1.5 to 2 hours before sunset. This will allow enough time for your ceremony (roughly 30 minutes) and your family and wedding party photos/video following the ceremony. This also allows you enough time to get incredible sunset photos and video footage of the two of you.
Comfort for You and Your Guests
You want your guests to be comfortable. If you are getting married on the beach, do not forget to have water available for yourself and your guests. Handheld fans are very popular. You can even customize fans with your wedding theme or colors. Towels and shoe/flip flop stations are all very much appreciated by brides, grooms, and guests.
Clear the way
Hire someone to direct beachgoers make sure they don’t wander into the wedding area. No one wants the public bombarding you’re gorgeous wedding video or photos.
Have a Back-up Plan
Florida weather is ever-changing, especially during the summer months. Late afternoon showers and storms may delay or eliminate a ceremony at the beach. Check with your venue to see if they have policies that close beach access during stormy weather. Some venues will close beach access if they receive reports of lighting within a certain radius of their venue.
Beach Wedding Logistics
In some areas, permits and even liability insurance policies are required. Also, check to see if enough parking is available, and if setting up tents or arches are approved.
Power Options
Beaches do not typically have AC power for DJ sound equipment. Check with your venue and with your DJ company to see if they can provide a sound system that runs on a battery or a generator.
Microphone for the Officiant
When you’re planning a wedding on a beach with 25 or more guests, it is recommended to have a microphone so your guests can hear the ceremony. We recommend using a handheld microphone to minimize background noise from the wind and waves.
The right photographer makes or breaks a Melbourne beach wedding. Our Melbourne wedding photographers have experience with tide timing, golden-hour positioning at Melbourne Beach, and the specific light conditions that make a Florida beach wedding shine in photos. Browse our photography packages or check availability for your date. Beach wedding dates fill fast, particularly in October through April.
About Complete Weddings and Events in Melbourne FL
If you’re looking to tie the knot or throw an epic event, you have come to the right place. Complete Weddings + Events will help you find the right event or wedding photographer, videographer, and DJ to throw a phenomenal party, plus we have a fun photo booth and lighting rentals to elevate your event and give you the type of unforgettable experience you’re looking for. When you party with Complete Weddings and Events, it’s completely about you! Offering the best wedding services in the area.
Complete Weddings + Events, Melbourne’s leading provider of event and wedding photography, videography, lighting, DJ services & photo booth rental.
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