New Jersey Beach Wedding Dresses: 10 Tips to Help You Shop

While shopping for your New Jersey beach wedding, NewJerseyWeddingVendors.com recommends you think carefully about the setting where you will be holding your NJ wedding ceremony and your NJ wedding reception.  New Jersey wedding dress vendors recommend that you stay away from the formal style. A beach wedding just isn’t a formal setting…a formal, heavily adorned wedding gown just doesn’t match. Keep in mind, you want to be comfortable, gorgeous, and gracefully feminine all at the same time - not tripping or sinking in the sand.

1. The Don’ts

Don’t choose a fabric that will:

• catch the sand, such as an organza
• cling to your body, preventing air to circulate and hold in the heat
• wilt with the humidity and salt air
• raise up in the air if a strong breeze comes along

Styles to stay away from:

• ball gown
• princess gown
• with a bustle
• heavier dresses are hotter and will cause you to sink into the sand

2. Best Fabrics

The best fabrics for a New Jersey beach wedding are:

• Crepe - a thin delicate fabric with a creased or crinkled appearance
• Charmeuse - a soft, light fabric with a slight sheen
• Duchesse Satin - a light blend of rayon and silk, a great alternative to heavier satins
• Damask - a woven fabric that has the look of brocade without the weight
• Chiffon, Batiste - these fabrics are lightweight and can be layered for very feminine looks

3. Silhouettes

Styles that will allow you to gracefully maneuver the beach:

• A-line - fitted in the bodice with a gradual soft flare starting at the waist
• Trumpet - fitted through the hips and flared above the knees
• Sheath - straight and loose fitting with a slit up one or both of the side seams

4. Necklines

Necklines that are appealing and cooling:

• halter top - also gives illusion of length (but you may be sensitive to fabric on the back of your neck on a hot day)
• strapless - better style for broad shoulders (but may slip if not fitted properly - don’t lose weight between your last fitting and your NJ wedding day!)
• spaghetti straps - prevents gown from slipping down when dancing (or someone stepping on your hem!)
• V-neck - add a bit of netting or lace to cover some cleavage, if you have too much showing (you be the judge but good to get a second opinion)
• low back - can be very sexy (be careful with how low it goes when sitting)

5. Hem Length

To avoid potentially embarrassing moments, consider the best lengths for your wedding dress:

• knee length
• tea length
• ankle length

Every bride wants a graceful entrance and exit, so choose a length that won’t trip you up - remember tripping and sinking in the sand mentioned above - then again it might allow for an unforgettable wedding photo!

6. The Train

You’ve always pictured your wedding ceremony entrance with a train sweeping behind you:

• For a NJ beach wedding, NewJerseyWeddingVendors.com recommends a wedding dress with a train - just not a long one. Today’s informal ankle length wedding dresses can be found with a “sweep” train - it is just long enough to sweep the sand, but not heavy and cumbersome.
• Hawaiian style wedding dresses are designed with the ankle length in the front and a sweep train in the back.

7. All That Glitters

If plain is not your style, catch the NJ beach sunlight on your gown:

• Embellish you wedding gown by adding beads and crystals to enhance the bodice of your informal wedding dress
• Oftentimes, simple is more elegant - add elegance with the perfect wedding jewelry
• Hint to your groom - he can give you the jewelry as a wedding present that will last through your years together as a rememberance of your New Jersey beach wedding.

8. The Barefoot Bride

Fortunately, you have several alternative footwear options:

• bridal white flip flops adorned with crystals and beads to match your wedding dress
• white water shoes
• bare feet

One of the great advantages of having a wedding on a New Jersey beach is that the bride can go barefoot - and so can the bridal party and guests!  No aching feet after a long day, no broken heels, no blisters from shoes rubbing on a hot day… Instead of buying expensive wedding shoes, indulge in a luxurious pedicure!

9. Walk the Walk

Walking in a wedding dress on the beach may be difficult for you so take time to practice, keeping your balance when you hit the dunes and valleys:

• Request someone to smooth the sand where you and your bridal party will be walking
• Ask for a runner to be placed on the beach to give you a firmer footing
• Don’t drink (too much) before your ceremony! (no oops! before you say “I do”!

10. NJ Beach Wedding Dresses

To help you visualize the styles discussed above, NewJerseyWeddingVendors.com has provided you with a link to a designer’s page and a local NJ Wedding Dress vendor:

• Beach wedding dresses by Moonlight
• available at Cara Lynn’s Bridal, Eatontown, NJ.