Beach Weddings?

surely people could wear sandles or flip flops if they want to

I love going barefoot; I haven't worn shoes for over ten years. But I still don't like it when anyone insists all guests must be barefoot at any certain place or event; some people hate being barefoot just as much as I hate wearing shoes. Why do that to your guests? Encourage it by all means, but don't require it.

You may mention that bare feet are allowed, considering that the wedding will be on a beach, but it would be improper to insist on it. Some people are uncomfortable walking barefoot on a beach (have you ever stepped on a broken shell?). If the wedding is midday, the sand could be hot enough to burn and sandals could be needed. Some of the older people have trouble balancing when the ground (sand) below keeps shifting and may need the stabilization of a firm sole. The list can continue but that would be a waste of time.

Insist would be rude and you probably would lose some guests. Reccommend and encourage would be a better way of putting it.

Have a Plan B in case weather is bad. Beach weddings are not condusive to large weddings.

Invitations and RSVP's are still necessary even with a casual wedding if there will be food provided. That is the only real way of getting an idea of guest numbers for a caterer.

i'm making plans on getting married at Myrtle sea coast too. i'm only having an common sea coast wedding ceremony. There are some web pages to help w/ the chapel and all. it must be somewhat too commercial, yet i like it. I pass to there some time a twelve months. that's romantic while you're making it. I plan on getting married on Sept. 29 of this twelve months. i'm confident something there will be rather nice.

Other than establishing the level of formality (casual, informal, black tie) it is gauche to tell guests what to wear.

That being said you can certainly suggest (by word of mouth) that since the wedding will be on a sandy beach the guests may be more comfortable in bare feet.

are they not going to be allowed to the ceremony if they are not barefoot? If they aren't going to be allowed in, then yes, by all means let them know. That way, they can RSVP that they are not attending. Some people feel awkward about their feet showing in public and would prefer at the very least flip flops or sandals.

If you are not going to bar them from the ceremony if they have some sort of footwear, then no, leave it off the invite.

If your in the sand who wants to wear shoes anyway. But if they want to let them. A wedding is about the two people committing them selves to each other for life not what the guest are wearing.

Well, it's not appropriate to INSIST. It's appropriate to suggest and encourage, but ordering people around is downright rude. After all, some people may have issues with going barefoot: injuries, dry skin, athlete's foot -- you never know.

I really wouldn't recommend a beach wedding, though; it can get awfully windy.

no

on an invitation you cannot insist on anything like that

just because it's a wedding doesn't mean that you (or the bride) becomes the ruler of the universe