Summer school is in session at Charm School, and with these sunny months come wonderful days outdoors – including garden weddings, beach parties, and sunset ceremonies. Here are a few tips on how to make your occasion under the sun or stars worry – free and oh-so-beautiful.

Q We are thinking of having our wedding at the beach in Batangas. What are the stress-points to consider for an out-of-town, specifically a beach wedding?

A       We all have, at one point or other, dreamed of having a seaside wedding. For some brave couples, they have now turned that dream into a fantastic memory. You and your fiancé are embarking on an adventure that will give you immeasurable rewards, though may prove to be a journey of many many steps. But if you plan wisely and anticipate certain details well, you will be well-rewarded. Here are some points to consider :

* Accessibility – pristine beaches are usually remote and difficult to get to. Be sure that the road systems around your chosen location offer not just one but at least two ways in and out of that town. The less transport-transfers you have will ensure more guests making it to celebrate with you..Once there, scope out all possible lodging and resource areas so that you will have something to offer your guests who will most likely be staying overnight to attend your wedding.

* Local Color – Try to choose a place with lots of local “color” by which I mean lots to offer by way of local services and suppliers. You will save a lot of money if you can find a florist/arranger, musicians, wait-staff, some food resources, light and sound equipment rentals, tent and generator rentals and the like within the area of your chosen venue. Take the time to look into the quality of their service, and see how you can work with them to ease the load off the many details that you will have to import from home. Of course if you have chosen a hotel with a good staff that can assist you with bookings, changes, transfers and f&b arrangements, then you are halfway there! At the same time check on the nearest hospital or clinic, ice plant, gas station, and market in case you have to run to them for any emergency. Actual local color in the true sense helps too!

* Plan B ( B flexible!) – Always look out for an alternative venue in the area in case of rain. Nowadays tents just don’t cut it anymore, in cases of extreme seaside wind. Look for a town hall, school covered court, or an attractive old home that you could possibly rent as a venue to run to in case the squalls come. And please please, be practical and flexible in this regard. Think of your guests’ comfort too – they will have come a long way to celebrate with you, and they must be able to relax in order to enjoy the event. Same goes for you and your fiancé. Plan the layout and logistics of the chosen alternative venue way ahead so that there are no surprises. Set a cut-off time by which you and your working team will have to make a decision to move venue, and stick to it so that your Plan B will fall into place smoothly.

* Keep the guest list small, and thus, controllable. If there is a change of venue or any need to reach everyone at the last minute, know that you can always handle informing everyone in time through a text brigade.

All in all, you will have to be ready to be consistent with your theme and your timetables, and keep things simple so that you remain stress-free and able to enjoy your beach wedding as you have dreamed.

Q What would be a good way to word the “attire” portion of our invitation as we want to ask guests to come in casual “beach” attire and not regular formal attire?

A       Guests will always appreciate your hints at what to wear to a wedding, so as to always come comfortably yet still appropriately dressed. If you want to ask them to wear summer dresses or beach florals/whites, you may want to try the following phrases :

Attire :   Summer Whites

Long Summer Dresses Cool Cocktail Attire Casual Cabana Chic

Q How do we go about asking permission to hold a beach-side wedding ceremony?

A If you will be having a Catholic wedding ceremony, the Church will not allow you to hold this in a venue other than a Parish church or chapel. For couples going to have a Christian or Ecumenical ceremony, it would be much easier as this would fall under the discretion of you Chaplain or Pastor. The legal side would be the same as any other, with the couple having to obtain their Marriage License from the nearest Municipality.

For some Catholic couples, they have found a way to still hold the sunset wedding ceremony of their dreams by getting married at the Parish church on the same day (for example in the morning) at a tiny ceremony officiated by their Priest and witnessed by the same Principal and Secondary Sponsors, and then renewing the vows and holding a similar ceremony on the same day (or even at a later date) beachside , cliffside, or poolside.

Q  How late is too late to send a wedding gift?

A I would say the (Charm) School grace period of 5 minutes can also apply. After the bell rings, you have 5 minutes to get to your chair before you are marked tardy so after the wedding, you have – let’s put it at 5 days to a week TOPS- to send your wedding gift. After that it may seem a bit impolite. Usually wedding gifts are sent to the Bride’s residence before the wedding day, with a card addressed only to the bride. On the wedding day and afterwards, you may address the card to the couple. Gifts brought to the wedding should be brought to the wedding RECEPTION and not to the Church.