12 Beautiful Beach Wedding Dresses for Coastal Ceremonies

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So, you’re planning a seaside ceremony and hunting for the perfect beach wedding dress. Picture this: gorgeous white sand, a gentle sea breeze, blue skies and a billowy gown that beautifully blows in the wind. What more could you want? 

For a beach wedding, it’s a must to consider the type of dress you want to wear in harmony with the location. As you probably already know, your choice of wedding dress can make or break the day. If you’re jetting off to somewhere tropical for the destination wedding of your dreams, you’ll likely want to opt for something lightweight and airy to keep you feeling cool throughout the day. Or, if you’re making the most of what the UK has to offer by tying the knot on one of the beautiful sandy stretches of Cornwall and Devon - don’t get caught out by the wind! You might prefer to explore a slinky and silky wedding dress that moves with you and won’t involve any unfortunate flashing! 

Whatever you fancy, there are so many beautiful beach wedding dresses to choose from to help you say “I do” in style at your coastal ceremony.

What kind of wedding dress is best for the beach?

As with anything related to weddings, bridal fashion is super personal. It’s your special day, after all. So, while you can wear almost anything to your beach wedding - practically speaking, there are some specific styles or materials which you may prefer to consider. An A-line silhouette is often favoured for the relaxed and flowy shape, guaranteed to complement your sandy backdrop and the elements that come along with it! And, while we all love the drama attached to a beautiful dress with a train, there’s nothing worse than a sandy (and maybe even wet) wedding dress, so it’s best to avoid something too long. There are plenty of other ways to give drama with stylish accessories instead! If you expect temperatures to soar, fabrics like chiffon, organza, tulle, silk and jersey cotton are the most popular for beach weddings as they allow air to circulate and capture a gentle sea breeze stunningly!

What does a bride wear to a beach wedding?

That will depend on the vibe you're going for, but we're here to help break down your options! For minimalist brides, simple wedding gowns with a halter neckline and smooth crepe fabric are a stylish and timeless choice for beach weddings. Halter necklines are super popular for coastal ceremonies, styled with an elegant low bun hairdo with soft and romantic curls, and delicate jewellery is always a winning choice! If you're after something more statement, ensure your beach wedding dress has extra-special stylistic features like a dramatic leg split, beautiful lace, elegant embroidery or flowy sleeves! 

Do brides go barefoot for a beach wedding?

If you're not a fan of heels, you're in luck! Beaches are one of the only wedding locations where heels would probably even look out of place - so it's worth saving yourself the pain (and troubles of sinking heels) by opting for something flat. Whether you're keen on a sparkly pair of bridal sandals or get closer to nature by feeling the sand between your toes - what better? If you do decide to get married barefoot, it's worth considering a few things: 

• Pay attention to the time you're tying the knot! Will the sand be too hot to walk on? There's nothing worse than an ungraceful hop down the aisle. 
• Think about having a pair of shoes on hand for after your ceremony. While barefoot is fun, you'll likely want to change into some stylish slip-ons for your reception. 
• While warm and dry sand between your toes is a big yes, wet sandy toes when the moment has well and truly passed is an even bigger no... Consider how you'll clean your feet after the ceremony and provide areas for guests to do the same. You don't want to ruin your beautiful wedding reception with stray sand on the floor! 

How to travel with your wedding dress?

When planning your destination wedding, while we're sure you've considered even the finer yet more fun details - it's essential to ensure everything runs seamlessly to avoid unnecessary wedding planning stress. And, of course, figuring out how to transport your wedding dress to your destination of choice is just one of those aspects to consider. 

If we had one piece of advice on travelling with your wedding dress, it's to never put your gown into any bags you plan to check! Wedding day attire should always remain in your carry-on only - after all, a lost, misplaced or delayed bag is the last thing you need. You'll also want to ensure your dress is completely protected, so if it doesn't come with a garment bag, you can cheaply buy one online. 

Better yet, depending on the airline you're travelling with, some have wardrobe space as a high-level service for passengers with treasured items who need special care (like wedding dresses or suits), perfect for a worry-free long-haul flight. 

12 best beach wedding dresses for 2024 from our favourite brands

Whether you already have a style of dress in mind or have no idea where to start your search for the perfect beach wedding dress - we're here to help! Rock My Wedding has compiled our favourite beach wedding dresses for 2024 in a range of different silhouettes and designs, ensuring there's something for every kind of bride. From beautiful and ethereal boho beach wedding dresses to on-trend, stylish and practical short beach wedding dresses - we have everything you need to say "I do" coastally. 

Boho beach wedding dresses

Boho wedding dresses are known and loved for their laid-back styles, and flowy silhouettes are romantic designs, making boho wedding dresses a popular choice for beachside ceremonies. If you're a fan of beautiful embroidery and elegant and lightweight sleeves, you'll love these picks from Hopy & Ivory and Coast. With the A-line skirts and chiffon material - both beach wedding dress favourites - what's not to love?   

Plus size beach wedding dresses

Finding the perfect plus-size beach wedding dress that makes you feel both comfortable and confident is second to none when hunting for your dream frock. If you've found a few styles you love but are yet to find the perfect fit, we recommend shopping at retailers with dedicated plus-size or curve collections to ensure your gown hugs you in all the right places. Head to ASOS and PLT, where you'll find heaps of choice. To narrow down your search, we're big fans of these dresses with statement features like ultra-feminine tie sleeves or tassel hem detailing.       

Short beach wedding dresses

Want to avoid a sandy hem but don't want to compromise on style? A short beach wedding dress is your answer! Short wedding dresses are more popular than ever for 2024, and we've seen brides opting for a mini gown for all kinds of occasions, including for their registry office wedding dress or even engagement party dress. Whether you opt for a classy floral lace like this dress from Mint Velvet or a statement oversized bow, as shown by this Karen Millen dress - just because your wedding dress is mini doesn't mean it won't command attention! 

Casual & simple  beach wedding dresses

Beach weddings often call for a laid-back and relaxed vibe, and if you consider yourself somewhat of an elevated minimalist, a casual or simple beach wedding dress might be the choice for you. While you may be thinking that these aren't usually words typically acquainted with wedding day attire - who wants to go unnoticed on their special day? Minimalist by no means equates to boring! And these wedding dresses from Coast and Club L London prove just that. Both dresses are formfitting, offering a sophisticated take on beach fashion, each bringing something different to the table. We love the halter neckline with the floral corsage on the Coast number (a popular beach wedding feature), and the dramatic cape on the Club L London promises to elegantly blow in the wind, making for the perfect beachy photos! 

Lightweight beach wedding dresses

If you're jetting off to a tropical destination for your wedding, a lightweight beach wedding dress is non-negotiable! There's nothing worse than clinging material on a hot day, so choose your beach wedding dress wisely. We're obsessed with these super lightweight halter maxi gowns from Cupshe and Mint Velvet for all upcoming beach weddings in 2024. The beautiful floral straps on the Cupshe dress offer a stunning design element, differentiating it from the rest, and the cut-out detail and crinkle design on the Mint Velvet dress provides a stylish yet elevated option that you can wear and enjoy again and again.  

Lace beach wedding dresses

For those after a sexier alternative to a beach wedding dress, you can't go wrong with lace! As lace is ultra universal, you're sure to find a gorgeous lacey wedding dress, no matter your style. Beach weddings are the perfect time to show some extra skin, and these House of CB and Lulus offerings are fit for all kinds of beach babes. Between the dramatic thigh split at Lulus and the corseted-style lace-up back at House of CB - we can't get enough! 

Sandy shores and stunning gowns: Your dream beach wedding dress journey ends here!

We have no doubt you'll find the perfect beach wedding dress to help you make your seaside vision come true! To make your planning just that little bit breezier, don't forget to explore our beautiful beach wedding roundup for all the ceremony inspo you need.