By Patricia Koch

For many Jersey girls, there’s no more romantic spot than the Jersey Shore.  Naturally, many New Jersey brides hope to exchange sun-splashed vows there, with the surf pounding and sand between their toes.

Along with its undeniable ambiance, a beach wedding also offers unique complications. Just ask Catherine Walton of Weddings by the Sea in Cape May, who organizes as many as 80 beach weddings there every year.  “Cape May is the number-one Jersey Shore town for weddings and the number-three destination wedding site in the country, just behind Las Vegas and Disney World,” Walton tells us. Walton always warns brides that rain, wind—even hurricanes—cannot be prevented, and that strangers can and do wander into festivities on public beaches.  Here are some of her pointers for surfside weddings.

Weather or not.  The busiest and best months for Jersey Shore weddings are May, June, September, and October.  Schedule your ceremony at an hour when there’s likely to be less wind and smaller crowds—and definitely when the tide’s out.  Turn off the Weather Channel, and assign your fiancé to make that last-minute weather decision. Map out a rain retreat to a pavilion or reception site, just in case. 

Legally speaking. Apply for a wedding license and permit to use a public beach at town hall; ask if you need liability insurance.  Catholic churches do not recognize open-air weddings, so schedule a second ceremony in church if need be.

Getting around. Circumvent beach traffic by mapping out alternate routes and reserving parking spaces.  Arrange horse-drawn carriage or limo rides if parking is too far away.

Forget the candles.  Keeping candles lit on the beach is a hopeless task, so try a sand ceremony instead.  To symbolize the mingling of two families, pour pure white sand into a glass vase as your groom pours black sand.  You’ll treasure the beautifully layered sand sculpture on your mantle. 

Shoes or feet?  Most brides and bridesmaids leave their shoes behind and wear sequined flip-flops or bare feet on the sand. The guys invariably keep their shoes on. Treat yourselves to honeymoon flip-flops (white for you, black for your groom) with specially printed soles.  They’ll spell “just” and “married” as you stroll arm in arm along the beach.