Category: after wedding

Midday & Harsh Sunlight Advice

Post author By Margo R. Sears
Post date April 19, 2023
No Comments on Midday & Harsh Sunlight Advice

Avoid harsh, burning, overhead sunlight in midday hours ruining your once-only beach wedding photos! See examples above. Sunrise or sunset times (with exception during winter) have cooler, cleaner, nicer, more private & beautiful results. See our 1-minute video on this:

SOLUTIONS!

Sunrise or sunset hours get you clean, soft, deserted beaches, more private, quieter, much cooler temps, and amazing sky colors with fantastic wedding photos! See explanations below.

The exception is wintertime & early spring in late November to March – midday warmth is needed then.

BUT DURING May, June, July, August, September dates:

Avoid 9am – 6pm between mid-April to mid-October. It is SUPER HOT (& heat index around 100+ degrees May-Sept!)
Overhead, harsh sunlight makes everyone squint nonstop with shadowy ‘black-eyes’ and black cheekbones/noses make everyone look super haggard, old, tired (see pics above & below & the video in this article).
Heavy humidity, sweaty, running makeup and hairdo wilting …
Burning sand on bare feet …
Crowded & very noisy (running & screaming kids, loud music boxes, half naked, sandy/dirty, sweaty strangers in your photos)
Trashed beach cluttered with towels, chairs, shoes, coolers, cups, wrappers.
THE hottest hours YEAR ROUND are 2-5pm.
THE Best time for summertime beach weddings is first hour at sunrise time. Second Best is the last hour before sundown time, sunset time.
FYI: a breeze will not help at 100+ degrees in direct burning sunlight! It’s just a ‘hot breath’ with humidity.
Reminder: weddings are nothing like visiting the beach in your swimsuit and shorts, friend. Cool off by jumping in water or walk away into shade during your ceremony, are not options. So control the timing instead.
Seriously! sunrise or sunset times are best choices to avoid harsh sunlight issues.

Tags advice, best time, harsh, midday, photographer, photography, photos, planning, sunlight, sunrise, sunset, timing

advice after wedding dress and hair during ceremony Photography pre-wedding reception

Hair & Wind Advice

Post author By core-admin
Post date April 19, 2023

Hair & Wind Advice

Avoid Windy Hair Covering your Face & in Mouth!

GREAT ADVICE FROM 2,000+ beach weddings’ experience:
THIS cannot be emphasized enough: Nothing ruins your lovely wedding photos (SEE PICS BELOW!) like wind-whipped hairdos flapping in your eyes and mouth because:

LOOSE HAIR absolutely DOES flop in your eyes and mouth, always! Secure your hair with the following advice, how-to videos, & tips:
DO NOT WEAR LONG HAIR LOOSE and down–speaking from over 2,000 weddings — DOZENS of our brides & guests regret ignoring this! This is a PROFESSIONAL advising you here – secure your hair away from your eyes with the hundreds of styles & tools available for it (look on YouTube)!
Loose hairdos are not romantic and flowy-looking at all. It whips around and appears as a large, tangled, crazy, hairy “squid” covering your face in pics OR a curtain over your face that no one can see through.
Frowning, clawing, spitting, frowning more, SCOWLing faces in your wedding photos are bad news.
And with flyaway guests’ hairdos: ALL your group shots HAVE to face in the same direction, same background, no creativity, no variations and some GREAT poses are impossible… cuz loose ‘dos must face the wind only. Seriously… Margo’s photos totally rock… don’t cut yourself off from that! Secure the hair!
ADVICE: secure hair OUT OF EYES AND MOUTH. NO tendrils at all! You two, all guests, men, kids, women, AND short hair too! Secure hairstyles with TONS and LOTS stiff gel or hairspray (a little ‘spritz’ is useless), AND use braids, clips, head bands, ponytail, pins, flowers, crowns, hats, barrettes or combs… secure it OUT OF EYES AND MOUTH.
Short hairdos will get bald spots and angry bird tufts / cowlicks in beach wind…use stiff sprays!
NO TENDRILS! that is the worst thing for this… they swing straight into your eyes and mouth nonstop, by design. It’s not cute or soft or romantic squinting and spitting for 45 minutes IN THE WIND OUTSIDE (not the same as indoors looking in your mirror). See pics below!
Here are 3 easy, pretty, HOW-TO videos on controlling your hair around the face. See 3 MORE fast, cool, how-to videos on our Facebook linked here: facebook.com/Beachpeopleweddings

MORE TIPS TO HELP YOU:

REMEMBER, it is WHIPPING WINDY at the beach by the water 95% of the time! See pics below! If the forecast says wind speed is above 9 mph, then fix your ‘do tightly which means:

BASIC: at least wear a nice headband with TONS and TONS of hairspray. NO tendrils at all – not even a little bit.
BETTER: use bobby pins, combs, flowers, braids at your temples AND hairspray a lot. NO tendrils! Eating hair is not cute nor pretty.
BEST for DIY: HEAVY layers of STIFF strong hairspray, plus pins, plus combs or barrettes, a tiara, flowers, plus gel and lots MORE HAIRSPRAY! NO TENDRILS at all! Think: they are meant to swing into your eyes and mouth by design. No good on windy beach–see proof pics below!
BEST OF ALL: hire a pro stylist who has experience with beach weddings (not all of them do!), PLUS insist on tons of hairspray.
This is true for men’s hair and short-haired ladies too! Wind means a silly-looking ‘bird’ tufts stick up, or a large bald spot or chunk missing on his head. Looks clownish, childish.
USE LOTS OF HAIRSPRAY! TONS and TONS! Your hair should feel VERY crunchy and uber stiff (shampoo will remove it later).

And Another Hot Tip — Jewelry:
WEAR your biggest and SHINY JEWELRY! This is a wedding…its one time only and Special…and these are your once-in-a-lifetime wedding photo Portraits. So, borrow some pearls, or a “big” necklace, wear shinier, nicer earrings, AND that a nice bracelet. Strapless dresses look VERY “empty” or bland without some bling at neckline. So wear your showy bling! REALLY! Even a simple string of costume pearls is great.

Men too, wear all your bling, earrings, bracelets, etc. Empty earring lobe holes aren’t pretty.

Men need hairspray/gel

Angry bird tufts!

Men's Tufts of Messy hair

Angry bird tuft /cowlicked hair

Squid hair attack

No tendrils

No tendrils, use braids

Tags advice, hair, hairdo, issue, men, problem, wind, women

advice after wedding dress and hair during ceremony Photography pre-wedding reception

Wear Bright Colors

Post author By core-admin
Post date April 18, 2023

Wear Bright Colors Advice

Look at this picture in an overall way–notice how it “feels”.

In wedding photos, the FEEL is
THE. MOST. IMPORTANT. THING!
for your great, sentimental photos from your wedding.

No one wants ‘blah’ pics, right? We want exciting or at least pretty ones of happy times! So, in that same picture above– notice the camouflage of neutral gray clothing vs. the neutral background, and notice the left/right balance of whole picture…

Which side looks AND feels better – yellows or grays? maybe it feels ‘lopsided’ or off-balance?

For YOUR best results, WEAR COLORFUL CLOTHES to your beach wedding and any beach photo session, too!
Traditionally, your wedding party & guests can wear any bright colors, But its now popular for WEDMATES TO WEAR ANYTHING! Especially on a casual, outdoor, beach setting. AND, all-white makes anyone look bigger and fatter. Not a popular look if you aren’t a small person.

If you want THE BEST photos possible:

AVOID matching the beach: no white, ivory, cream, gray, silver, tan, beige, khaki, light blue, NO pastels.
This is true for your flowers too… white and pastel flowers disappear on a white/pale dress and the pale beach background!
**Choose strong colors or jewel tones for Flowers AND CLOTHING!** Can’t emphasize that strongly enough–you need CONTRAST!

More Honest & Blunt Advice for ALL Bridal Dresses:

The traditional American strapless, sleeveless, long skirt, white dress does NOT look good on most body types (80% of us are not tall and slender with athletic arms). So, get a colorful dress that FITS well, and covers what you don’t like. Seriously… read on…

Women (and Men) of Color: you got a natural advantage–you can wear the white/ivory/blue colors okay, but bright colors still look MUCH better on you too.
SHOPPING ADVICE: shop in non-wedding dress departments & bring honest friends who have good taste (do not rely on salesperson–they work for the store, NOT you. They are hired to sell the most expensive dress possible to you. It’s just business.). Try on different colors and pick YOUR best color & STYLE instead–be YOU! Be a stunning bride in color that compliments YOU.
IF you just GOTTA do a white dress, there are helpers. Put your partner and attendants in bright colors, you carry bright/contrasting flowers (avoid white/ ivory/ pale color), put colorful decor in your hair (like flowers, small hat, or crown wreath), consider a color sash or color accents.
Beach bride Veils: consider that likely-to-be-windy shores will whip it in your face, or pull it off your head, and yank the hairdo … so have a Plan B for it. (Margo has cool ideas for veils)

FOR ALL DRESSES: pick a style which has shoulders that flatter YOUR awesome shape. FYI: the photos will show EVERYTHING! Photoshop does NOT fix all the bulges and wrinkles and scars you dislike. So for example:

- You don’t like your upper arms or back bulges–AVOID all sleeveless, backless, or strapless styles.
- Feel self-conscious of your legs or ankles–choose a floor-length skirt only.
- Buy the right size for your bust and waist sizes–do NOT compromise on size.
- FYI: white and pale colors make your body appear much MUCH, MUCH bigger. Patterns and darker colors flatter any shape.
- Get the dress tailored or fitted to YOU! AND get men’s shirts IRONED (fold wrinkles give a sloppy, childish look). Don’t skimp here!
  Too small or too loose will make you wince or frown or fake-smile in all your photos… you’ll look angry, annoyed, goofy, stinkface … as you pluck, poke, yank, bend, re-pin, tuck, and swear unhappily (looking awkward, sad and ungraceful in photos) … NOT a happy day! And iron the new shirts… wrinkles and fold creases from the package looks cheap, sloppy, childish, lazy and indifferent. Put some effort into your wedding day clothes – LOOK GREAT for the next 700 years in these photos!
- AGAIN: BIG EMPHASIS: Get a colorful dress that FITS well, and covers what you don’t like on your body. Seriously. ~from a photographer of over 2,000 weddings

Hover on Each Picture Here:

They disappear all together!

Bride's dress is camouflage. His shirt defines her a little.

Escort shows; white clothes & flowers just 'disappear'

White clothing disappears; minister's coat saves photo

Ivory, white and gray all disappear on beach. The bright flowers save this pic.

Khakis make a "legless" boy!

Gray & white camouflage on the sand.

Teal dress helps this photo.

Coral shirt saves this photo.

Groom's shirt saves this picture.

Color lets you show up

Color on everyone is great!

Tags advice, bouquets, clothes, color, colors, dress, dresses, flowers, khaki, pants, suit, what to wear, white

advice after wedding during ceremony Photography pre-wedding reception rentals Uncategorized

Chairs and Arbors Advice

Post author By core-admin
Post date April 18, 2023

Chairs and Arbors Advice

Useful Chairs/Benches and Arbor Advice ~

Decor: we offer our unique, signature beach sand and seashell Heart Art as decoration, but NO seating or arbors / arches BECAUSE among our 2,000+ past couples decide against it as follows:

90% don’t get chairs (ceremony is 10 minutes) and
95% don’t use an arbor/arch after they read why in this article, BUT…
If you REALLY want or need them, we recommend these reliable rental companies (click here) but first read on…
We DO decorate the wedding site around your feet in our gorgeous, handmade, unique Sand Groomed Heart & Shells (click here to see more pics) or see some pic below.
MORE INSIGHTS:
- ceremony & arbors last only 5-15 minutes for this event.
- Lightweight, thin arbors are a risky wind hazard of falling or striking someone especially with drapes on it, and
- Renting heavy bulky, fancy ones are pretty but cost $200-$800 or more!
- HOWEVER, the lovely oceanscape / soft beach backdrop alone are very unique and profoundly pretty!
- Also, most Guests do not sit down even with chairs available … over 2,000 weddings’ experience–its the truth.

CHAIRS & BENCHES ADVICE:

Wedding ceremony lasts about 10 mins + guests assembling (5-15 mins) + photos session afterward (up to 60 mins):

BUT if any guests are elderly, handicapped, pregnant, then seats/chairs are a GOOD IDEA!
If you have fewer than 30 guests and no elderly or handicapped, then consider no chairs. Let them stand, and move comfortably, in a half-round formation around the couple instead (click here to see that in our Facebook album photos).
Or consider bringing out a few patio or folding chairs for the “first row” of special guests (parents, g-parents, elders, handicapped), and invite fit guests to stand around them.
If you rent chairs/seats or an arbor, we recommend renting from vendors we trust (avoid rusty, greasy, dirty, broken chairs, seriously) – click this link to see a list of Rental websites here: Suggested Vendors webpage .
When asking Rentals for quotes, be sure to ask for delivery fee and setup/breakdown fee…those are 2 additional, and often separate, fees besides the chairs or arbor.

ARBOR ADVICE:

With officiating, we include an artful marking on the sand for your ceremony site with our unique sand grooming and seashells heart at your feet, (see pics below) and our cast iron hook-and-shell horn.
But, some people like the extra color and framing of an arbor in their photos… so it’s personal taste.
FYI: arbors can be white PVC (shiny plastic), painted metal, bamboo or other woods. They can be 4 or 2 posts, in various shapes. People sometimes add flowers or drapes or similar things.
Arbors with 4 posts, chunkier and professionally well-anchored with metal stakes 2 feet deep, are safer and more lovely.
The thin, light, department store arbors are cheaper AND VERY LIKELY to fall over in the beach wind with soft sand beach (especially with fabric draped on them–acts like a boat sail!).
FYI: about 60% of the “homemade” arbors we’ve seen don’t work…hard to transport, delicate, breakable, not anchorable, not wind resistant, and fall right over during setup! Pretty much high-maintenance and stressful for the couple.
Honestly, if you really WANT an arbor, shop around and rent a sturdy one from trusted pros on our other page: beachpeopleweddings.com/suggested-vendors.

Tags advice, arbor, arbors, arches, beach wedding, chairs, chuppah, huppah, NC beach wedding, SC beach wedding, seating, seats

advice after wedding dress and hair during ceremony Legal Photography pre-wedding

Gay Friendly! LGBTQ+ Couples Welcome

Post author By core-admin
Post date April 7, 2023

LGBT Friendly Since our First Day!

We Welcome All Types of Couples ~

ALL couples are always warmly welcome here! Since 2004 when first ordained to wed, we continue to happily serve our LGBT Q+ community with ceremonies loooong BEFORE the local government came around officially in 2013.

Here’s what one couple had to say about us: “We were a little reluctant at first during our browsing [for vendors], because we only wanted to share our special day with people who truly accepted us. David and Margo were/are definitely the ones! They made us feel at ease and accepted us from the moment we started working with them. I would recommend Beachpeople Weddings to absolutely anyone especially to the LGBT community.” Joanna A. & Lori F.A., wedmates

Concerned about being in public? Or how strangers may react?

No worries here. First, we feel very protective of ALL our clients. And, since we started this, NOT ONE stranger has been inappropriate at an LGBT ceremony by us. Quite the contrary, strangers often cheer from a respectful distance, or stand up and applaud, grinning & waving when they see us and you standing up for what we believe in…freedom and love. Your wedding gives people genuine Hope for our struggling society; hope for Humanity! It is quite beautiful to see, and an honor to witness! Also, we know when the beaches are least and most crowded.

Here are a few of the ways we customize a wedding to your needs:

You have a choice of male or female officiant, who are David or Margo (see About Us).
While every couple is inherently unique, we have no desire to view or treat your wedding as ‘different.’
We customize all pronouns and wording for your gender choices.
We love working with Everyone!
We offer our female photographer, Margo, who is 100% fine with same-gender weddings, but IF YOU WISH IT, we also can recommend great male photographers who are gay-friendly and very cool.
A simple ceremony, or an elaborate one, or something in-between are all good choices.
You may have non-religious wording, or spiritual Vows, or using YOUR own words also warmly invited here. We’ll guide you.

Questions always warmly welcome!

Tags gay, gay friendly, gay wedding, homosexual, lesbian wedding, LGBT, LGBTQ, rainbow wedding

after wedding dress and hair Photography

4 Magazines Cover Photos by Margo

Post author By core-admin
Post date April 7, 2023

4 Magazines Cover Photos by our talented Photographer, Margo!

Wow! Our Margo Ross Sears was awarded the honor of FOUR of her photographs gracing the front covers of 4 wedding magazines! See them below.

Are you interested in seeing sample photos and her UPFRONT, reasonable fees? Click Here.

Want to know more about Margo, her personality, and her photography background? Read More.

Tags 4 magazines, beach wedding, cover photo, honors, magazine, magazine cover, magazine covers, Margo, photographer, photography, photos

after wedding during ceremony Photography pre-wedding

24 Excellence Awards

Post author By core-admin
Post date April 7, 2023

We’ve Earned 24 Excellence Awards since 2013

One is Knot’s “Hall of Fame” award for consecutive years earning them – we are consistent!

(Did you notice that The Knot has changed their awards logo 6 times since 2013?)

(Wedding Wire has changed theirs 3 times)

Want to know what people wrote about us? What they REALLY think about how well we served their needs? It is easy!

Click on our badges above to read 230+, glowing, five-stars Reviews from our past clients on The Knot and Wedding Wire.
Plus, Zola gave us another one for a total of 24 awards in 2024!

Or, see a few handwritten thank-you notes below that a few couples sent us:

Tags applause, awards, badges, beach weddings, best, excellence, five-star reviews, Hall of Fame, honors, Officiant, photographer, prize, The Knot, Wedding Wire

after wedding during ceremony music Photography pre-wedding

Unique Shell Horn Herald

Post author By core-admin
Post date April 7, 2023

Our Signature Shell Horn Herald

Our very cool Shell Horn Herald!

Our signature Triton Shell Horn Blowing by our Officiant or Minister is included optionally:

An ancient tradition, classy, coastal, fun, elegant and SUBLIME – gorgeous and mellow sounding!
This shell horn is also used in symphonies and orchestras for its lovely low, strong, tone

Revs. David and Margo use the Triton shell horn instead of a Caribbean conch at your ceremony. The Triton is much prettier in photos, has a more musical tone and sounds smoother too. This horn is more reliable than a conch to make an impressive sound in all weather conditions too.

Just like church bells and trumpet fanfare played at indoor weddings, the shell horn heralds the Beginning of a new Marriage and calls in blessings and good fortune for the happy couple.

When blown properly, the Triton shell produces a low, gentle sound that can carry for miles across land and sea!

The Hawaiian ceremonial practice of blowing the Triton shell dates back to ancient times and continues to be used in present-day events such as symphonies, orchestras, graduations and weddings. In Polynesia, this distinctive resonance from the horn once heralded the arrival of the the Chief or Royalty, the beginning of the peaceful Makahiki season (Hawai’ian New Year), or other noteworthy events.

Today, it is often heard at weddings, graduations, or other special celebrations in ANY country with a seashore coast: the Caribbean, the USA, Celtic/Irish/Scottish islands, and on African and Asian shores too.

The sound it makes? Seashells were used as ship horns before the inventions of metal and electricity, thus the low, deep vibrating sound reminds most people of a foghorn on a boat. Please listen to video linked above to hear it briefly.It is

Tags Ancient, at the end, blowing, Celtic, conch, foghorn, Hawaiian, herald, horn, seashell, shell horn, shellhorn, tradition, Triton

after wedding during ceremony pre-wedding

Unique Sand Ceremonies & Bottle

Post author By core-admin
Post date April 7, 2023

Unique Sand Ceremony & Bottle

Our Signature Sand Ceremony & Glass Heart Bottle ~

Our unique and lovely sand ceremonies are included free in every ceremony which our Officiant/Minister performs. It’s easy, fun, meaningful and very pretty!

During our unique sand ceremonies, as your Officiant guides you through it:

each of your scoop up some beach sand from beneath your own feet, right where you stand for your ceremony, then
place that natural sand ceremonially in a big yellow seashell
then together you pour it into a sturdy, pretty, keepsake glass bottle which is heart-shaped (we provide bottle or use yours)
last, we say a short lid/cork-closing blessing (or non-religious closuree) to ‘seal’ it all
See below pictures
The bottle is 4.5 inches tall, 3 inches wide, and 2.5 inches thick
You may include guests, kids, family at no extra charge, or the two of you only.

Afterward, couple keeps that lovely heart-shaped bottle of loved sand, as our gift, no charge of course. Take it for engraving later or as-is. At your home, perhaps you might set it on a special shelf or nook in your home as a truly meaningful keepsake.

Note, just in case: IF your beach sand is damp (its the beach, it might be…) during ceremony, when you are home again, open and leave the top off bottle for several days to dry out more thoroughly. You want it very dry.
We also offer an ‘off-beach’ version which is equally fun, cool & lovely! We bring a cute pail of local beach sand and same bottle to the ceremony and add a few words telling everyone what sand in the pail, too.

Tags bottle, feet, glass bottle, heart, sand, sand ceremony, signature, unique

advice after wedding dress and hair during ceremony Photography reception

Enhancements and Artwork to Photos

Post author By core-admin
Post date April 7, 2023

Enhancements of Photos

~ Enhancements, Touch-Ups and Artwork

Packages with “enhanced” or “enhancements” wording get the edits, touch-ups and visual enhancements needed for outdoor photography (which inherently has big challenges with unpredictable light changes, oblivious strangers in background, and no control of objects in the environment). See list of the possible changes, below.

FYI: Margo chooses which images to alter, but she prefers to keep your faces natural looking as possible. Some artsy creativity is also very valuable too! Learn about Margo’s background. If your

Enhancements May Include (and sample pics below):

Remove distracting strangers, chairs, poles, trash cans, bags, shoes, etc.
Boost sky colors & streaks to appear more sunrise or sunset-y colorful
Add lens flare – overlay a pale colorful ray of sun spots, looks romantic, soft, mystical
Teeth whitening and/or replace missing teeth (my specialty, so you can genuinely SMILE!)
Remove bruises, cuts, scars, pimples, some age spots and sometimes bra straps
Make 1-3 select-color images: combine black-n-white and color into 1 image (i.e. flowers in color, all else is grayscale)
Soften wrinkles or reduce a double chin
Lighten harsh shadows on important faces
Remove some flyaway hair strands, when possible
Level the horizon line on ocean
Make 2-4 dramatic Sepia (brownish) or Black-n-White copies
Make 1-2 dramatic, colorful “oil painting” copies of abstract photos (ones without faces)
Overlay vignettes (very subtle “haze” around image borders–creates focus)
Add subtle face ‘makeup’ to fix faded lipstick, sweated-off eyebrows, uneven outdoors light/shadows