With summer coming up, you may be thinking of planning a beach wedding to celebrate your romance. Even if summer isn’t your prime planning time, you may find great joy in a beautiful beach wedding that will make all of you dreams come true. Of course, the price tag on this dream wedding might frighten you if you don’t know what to expect. There are a few things you can do that will make your beach wedding quite a bit cheaper though. In fact, with a little bit of careful planning and a few money savings tips, you should be able to pull off your ideal beach wedding without having to stress out on the budget.

1. Get Your Permit First
One major problem that a lot of wedding hopefuls run into when it comes to a beach wedding is securing a permit. Some couples feel like the beach is public property, so they plan on getting hitched without getting the permit they need to do so. You’ll want to avoid making this mistake at all costs because sometimes you can end up fined over this. Or, you may turn up in hopes of having your wedding and find out that the beach is totally packed and your guests will have to stand between sunbathers and toddlers working on a sandcastle masterpiece. Securing a permit doesn’t have to be a lot of work though. Plus, if you choose a beach that isn’t popular or in a famous city or county, you can probably save quite a bit of money. Once you pick your location, research to see if there is anything going on during the time of your wedding. This will allow you to secure a permit in an area where volleyball players won’t become the star of your wedding photos.

2. Choose a Public Beach
There’s a whole lot of great beaches out there and many people like to shoot for some of the more famous beaches. This is fine, but only if these beaches are public property. This will allow you to get a permit and host your wedding without worrying about the cost of the middle man. If you’re thinking about doing your wedding at a resort, then you may end up spending more than you’d like. These resorts tack on a whole lot of fees, which will make your budget skyrocket before you can say, “I do.” Some beaches are also privately owned, even if they don’t seem it. You can easily figure this out based on signs or when you go to buy your permit. If you can avoid this at all times, unless you have a loved one who owns beach property. Don’t fret though, as there’s lots of great public beaches to choose from.

3. Shoot for Early
Dates and locations can be pretty important when it comes to your wedding and where it will be held. However, one of the most important things you can do is choose the right time. An early morning can be incredibly romantic, especially if you want to create an intimate setting that is complemented by the sun rise. The air will be nice and fresh during this time too, which will make everyone feel the beauty of your special moment. An early wedding is a great way to bail on some of the pricey aspects of the wedding too. For instance, you won’t need to deal with serving cocktails to your guests, or expensive dinners. Securing a time slot for your permit will be easier too and you may even be able to get a discount on the permit itself. All in all, you also won’t have to worry about people getting in the way of your photos, apart from early bird surfers, which will save you money when it comes to the hourly wages of photographers.

4. Enjoy the Off-Season
Like any big purchase, there is a right time to buy it, so you’ll want to choose a date during the off-season if you can. If you’re planning your wedding right now, then look for dates in October or November, or any time between January and March. With the exception of holidays like Valentine’s Day, most of the dates will be open and at a discounted price, so you’ll be able to grab your permit, hotel rooms and other reservations that will keep your wedding on track. When it comes to beach weddings this can be particularly important though, because they are so popular. It may not seem like the best time to have a wedding during these cold months, but if you’re planning a wedding in warmer climates, like California, then you should be able to enjoy yourself without worrying about the cold weather getting in the way of your special moment. Plus, the off-season will also mean you won’t have to work around tourists, which will make your life a lot easier.

5. Attire
One of the best things about a beach wedding is you don’t actually have to worry about all of the attire that you’d have to wear during a traditional church wedding. Since you’ll be surrounded by wet sand you may not want to spend a small fortune on a billowy or over-price dress. Instead, try to keep it simple with a dress that may not drag the ground. This will not only save you money, but will ensure your wedding dress will be preserved for the next generation. You may also want to skip the heels when it comes to a sandy beach wedding as you won’t be able to get very far as you begin your walk down the aisle. Instead, wear a simple pair of sandals, flip flops or go barefoot. The same can be said for the guys in the wedding as you may not want them to ruin their expensive dress shoes. If the weather is particularly hot, then you may not even want to dress the men in tuxedos, as it could cause overheating that will make for an uncomfortable wedding experience.

6. Short and Sweet
Beach weddings are filled with romance and may even create the romantic vibe you need without the whole long ceremony that will cost you a lot more money. There’s a lot of benefits to a shorter ceremony though. For starters, if you plan on keeping it to a minimum then you won’t have to set out chairs for everyone, apart from the elderly or disabled who may need to sit. This will cut down on the price you spend too. The weather can also be pretty unpredictable on the beach too, so you keeping your ceremony short can help you avoid discomfort as well as preventing some of your décor from disappearing if the day ends up blustery.

7. Move the Reception
Often, the beach isn’t exactly the best place to hold a reception, especially if it means extending your permit to encompass a larger amount of time. A lot of people often end up trying to host their reception at the wedding, which could end up forcing you to spend way too much money on food and beverages that will hold up to the beach. If you can, try to book your reception at a hotel, church or other cheap venue. This will allow you to shop around for a better deal, so you can save money. If you can find a venue that loops in entertainment and food, you’ll get the best deal, but make sure to do the math before you choose this route. You should also be able to find some coupons on discounts for venues who look for couples who are using the beach for their wedding. The key is to do a lot of shopping though, which can be exhausting, but is well worth the effort.

8. Keep it Intimate
Beach weddings provide a more intimate setting to begin with, so go with it! Of course, it’s hard to keep your wedding intimate if you have a guest list that is a mile long. In order to make your wedding dreamier and price efficient, try to trim down the guest list as much as you possibly can. This will allow you to enjoy the small setting and will make the wedding more special for close family and friends. A smaller guest list also means you don’t have to book a huge venue to support your guests during your reception. You also don’t have to stress over paying a lot of money for food and beverages. Plus, beach weddings also mean transporting guests from one destination to the next, which will certainly be less of a burden if you have a smaller guest list.

9. Forget the Extras
A lot of people really go overboard when it comes to decorating their wedding. You don’t have to go crazy here as the beach provides some of the best décor around for absolutely nothing. One of the first things you can cross off the list is flower pedals for the aisle or a special carpet to walk on. These things will be totally ruined anyway, so save your money. You also won’t need to worry about décor for the ceremony itself, as there’s a good chance you’ll end up losing most of items to the wind. Apart from that, you can also skip out on the pricey makeup artist and hairstylist. Rather than spending money on these things, you can easily get a friend to help you do this. Makeup can become obsolete during a beach wedding, especially if you end up in the rain. If you do have makeup done, make sure it is water proof and sealed with primer, but you might want to keep it simple just in case the makeup begins to melt. Hair styles can also be blown around, which will ruin all of the hard work and money put into them. There’s lots of great beach wedding hair tips that your maid of honor could try out, that won’t cost you a penny.

10. Photographer
Beach weddings are amazing when it comes to the photos and memories. This might encourage you to spend a small fortune on a photographer. This isn’t necessarily the case though as you can easily get great shots taken from even an amateur photographer. It you don’t want to spend a few grand on a photographer, then leave cameras out for your guests, so they can take photos of their own view of your wedding. You can also hire a student who may also need the experience for their resume. Before you know it, you’ll get your photographs returned and will be absolutely amazed by them. If you have a friend or family member who dabbles in photography, then try asking them to give you a helping hand as many would be more than happy to comply.

Hosting a beach wedding is a great option when you think about it. A lot of people pass up this dream opportunity though because they don’t want to stress over the price. With these ten tips, you should be able to avoid many of the high prices though, which will ensure your wedding will start off on the right foot.