How to Plan a Beach Wedding in Gulf Shores AL
For residents and visitors alike, Gulf Shores, Alabama, offers an ideal setting for a beach wedding. With pristine beaches, plus many types of lodging and a variety of restaurants, Gulf Shores gives bride and grooms plenty of options for hosting a beach wedding. Whether it’s an elaborate affair or casual gathering, a beach wedding in Gulf Shores will require planning, flexibility and organization.
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Instructions
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Choose a date and take into consideration the weather. While you may not be able to predict rain or other bad weather, you can somewhat predict temperature and humidity and choose a time of the year when the weather will be most pleasant. Because of its coastal location, Gulf Shores receives sea breezes that cool hot temperatures in the summer and make for comfortable spring, fall and winter temperatures. July and August tend to be the hottest months with daily highs in the upper 80s.
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Choose a beach location. Gulf Shores has public and private beaches, each with pros and cons. Gulf Shores’ three public beaches—Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores Public Beach and Lagoon Park—each are free and include various amenities such as restrooms, free parking and covered pavilions, according to GulfShores.com. Gulf Shores’ public beaches do not allow large weddings from spring break through Labor Day and do not permit placing gazebos, arches or chairs on the beach, according to the Gulf Shores government website. Private beaches cost money but there are not date restrictions, they do not require permits, and you can use chairs, gazebos and other wedding props.
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Find a minister or other official to conduct the ceremony. Couples may use their own minister from a home church or can choose a for-hire officiant. Several officiants work in the Gulf Shores area and can be hired to perform beach wedding ceremonies.
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Obtain a marriage license. Whether you are an Alabama resident or nonresident, you must have an Alabama marriage license to get married in Alabama. You can get Alabama marriage licenses at any Alabama county clerk's office and use them in any county (see Resources). Baldwin County, where Gulf Shores is, requires both marriage license applicants to be present when applying and to bring proper identification, such as a driver’s license, birth certificate or military license and a Social Security card. Baldwin County does not require a blood test or waiting period, and the license remains valid for 30 days. As of July 2010, licenses cost $40, cash only accepted.
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References
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- Photo Credit Beach Wedding image by Michael Wuelfrath from Fotolia.com
