How to Plan a Beach Wedding in Texas

Beach weddings in Texas can be romantic.

Beach weddings are romantic and exotic, and fortunately Texas has a lot to offer when it comes to beach weddings. Beach themed weddings provide the magical backdrop of the ocean or the colors of a setting sun. It takes careful planning to create your perfect wedding day, and your beach wedding in Texas should be everything you always dreamed it would be.

Things You'll Need

• Budget
• Photo ID
• Social security card
• Marriage license

Instructions

1. Set your wedding date. Once you know the day you want to get married, you can start making plans. The date is very important to a beach wedding, because you need to be relatively certain that the weather will be nice. Texas has a rainy season and a hurricane season, so schedule your wedding on a day that does not fall during those times.

2. Research locations. Texas has more than 22 beaches to choose from, including South Padre Island, Corpus Christi Beach, Odessa Beach, Victoria Beach and Bay City Beach. If you can, visit each of your favorite beaches to see which one works best for you. If you want an indoor reception after the ceremony, you will need to find a reception hall near your chosen beach.

3. Reserve your date. The earlier you do this, the more smoothly your wedding planning will go. Reserving your date early gives you the comfort of knowing that your favorite beach is yours for your big day. Some beaches in Texas require a permit for weddings, so reserving early will also give you time to jump over any legal hurdles that might be in your way.

4. Create a backup plan. It's a good idea to have other options for your wedding if the weather is bad or something else goes wrong.

5. Ask someone to officiate at your wedding. Texas law requires officiators to be ordained ministers, judges or Justices of the Peace. You can choose an officiator from your area, or you can find one in Texas, near the beach you have chosen. Some wedding planning agencies in Texas offer to provide officiators with their wedding packages.

6. Hire a wedding planner to help you audition and hire vendors near your beach. Vendors provide the items and services, such as decorations and photography, that you need for your wedding. A wedding planner can help you coordinate everything.

7. Find accommodations for you and your guests. There are a variety of inns and hotels near most Texas beaches. Search for hotels that fit your needs and your budget.

8. Acquire a marriage license from the State of Texas. If you live in Texas, you can get your license from your county clerk. The license can be used in any county in Texas. There is a 72 hour waiting period before you can use your Texas marriage license, so if you live in another state, you and your fiance should plan on arriving in Texas at least four days before your wedding.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a photo ID and your Social Security card with you. You will need them to get your marriage license; and you might need identification when you make your reservations, sign contracts or pay your vendors.

• Hire vendors near your beach in Texas if you live out of state. If you hire out of state vendors, you will have to pay their travel expenses.

References

• The Knot Beach Wedding Basics: Getting Started
• The Knot Beach Wedding Basics: 12 Must-read Tips
• Port Aransas Beach Weddings: Getting Married in Texas