Coastal Weddings was honored to coordinate Jason and Kim’s big day. The open air sanctuary of St. Andrew’s by the Sea was a gorgeous backdrop for their “I Do’s.”

It was followed by a romantic, coastal reception in shades of soft white and sand. 

The reception was a foodie’s delight! The upscale custom brunch buffet featured chef Matt’s bourbon steak bites, egg, spinach, feta and sundried tomato empanadas, brie with raspberry coulis, and many other savory treats. And of course, no brunch is complete without coffee. Wildflower Coffee’s charming coffee cart offered guests a variety of gourmet coffee options with custom his and hers drinks.

Anna St. Angelo outdid herself with a stunning 3-tier seashell cake, classic white cakesicles and a delicious tiramisu for the groom’s cake. The personal touches on this brunch wedding were exquisite. 

Ceremony Venue – St. Andrew’s by the Sea https://standrewcctx.org/ 

Reception Venue – Port Royal https://port-royal.com/

Wedding Coordinator – Coastal Weddings by Nola Osborn https://coastalweddingstx.com/

Photography – Natalie Nicole Photography https://www.facebook.com/NatalieNicolePhotography

Catering – Port Royal

Florist – The Blossom Shop https://www.blossomshoptx.net/

Cake – Anna St. Angelo https://www.facebook.com/cakesbythebeachcc

HMU – Ever After Glam https://www.facebook.com/everafterglam/

Coffee Bar – Wildflower Coffee https://www.facebook.com/Wildflower.Coffee316/

Lively Beach Resort

www.livelybeach.com

Lively Beach Resort is an amazing property on Mustang Island that has several areas perfect for wedding ceremonies and receptions. With luxurious guest accommodations on site, it is a one-stop shop for destination brides!

Beautiful Boardwalk

The private boardwalk allows access straight from the Lively Beach property to the beach where we can set up a gorgeous ceremony. Sunset weddings on the beach are fabulous! Guests can park at Lively Beach and walk across the boardwalk to avoid driving on the sand. Not to mention the boardwalk has beautiful intricate designs and makes an incredible backdrop for wedding photos!

 

Grassy Areas

There are two grassy areas at the entrance of the boardwalk that can be used for a ceremony or reception area. Lively Beach provides large wedding tents when you rent this area. The possibilities are endless!

Rooftop Terraces

The three sky decks really set this venue apart from the rest. With views of the ocean and the vast green space around the property, the terraces are breathtaking! They have lounge furniture and shade structures and are the perfect location for a wedding reception. Imagine having your first dance with this background!

Luxury Accommodations & Amenities

Lively Beach has a variety of modern and stylish rooms from studios to two bedroom suites to accommodate all your guests. The rooms have full kitchens, gorgeous views, and offer deluxe comfort. You and your guests can relax in the private pool or stroll over the boardwalk to enjoy the beach. 

If you are interested in touring this venue for your wedding, I would love to show you around and help turn your wedding vision into reality.

Wedding planners play an essential role in making sure the bride and groom enjoy their day and that the wedding goes off without a hitch. There are several types of services that wedding planners provide such as day of coordinating, partial coordinating, full coordinating, and wedding design. The right fit for you depends on your budget and the level of involvement you want in the planning process. 

Avoid this Common Misconception

One of the biggest misconceptions that brides have is that a venue coordinator is the same thing as a wedding coordinator/planner. They are most definitely NOT the same thing! Most venues have a venue coordinator that conducts the tours, schedules the weddings, and makes sure the venue and the items the venue provides (i.e. tables, chairs) are in order on the wedding day. Venue coordinators generally do not help with decor, set up, timelines, coordinate other vendors, etc. That is the role of a wedding planner. Some venues have an in-house wedding planner, but most do not. When touring venues, make sure to specify the services that are included.

Day-of Wedding Planner

This service is for the bride that wants to take care of the majority of the wedding planning by herself or with the help of family and friends. A day-of planner is available during the planning process to suggest vendors or answer etiquette questions; however, their duties really begin about two weeks out from the wedding. At this time, the planner calls all vendors to confirm services and delivery/setup times. The wedding planner then creates a detailed wedding day timeline.

A day-of coordinator is the point person for your wedding day. They are available to help set up your personal decorations at the ceremony and reception, direct the ceremony processional, and oversee the timeline. A wedding coordinator is able to problem solve and manage challenges that arise to keep things moving smoothly for both the ceremony and reception.

A day-of planner allows the couple and their family and friends to be stress free on the wedding day, so they can enjoy the festivities and not be burdened with all the behind-the-scenes tasks. Even as a wedding planner myself, I hired a day-of planner to ensure that I was fully present on my special day!

Full-Service Wedding Planner

A full-service wedding planner includes all of the day-of planner duties and so much more. They start wedding planning with the couple on day one and help make all wedding decisions. A full-service planner is available to visit venues and vendors and confirm final selections. They create a detailed wedding checklist and assist in budget allocation and management. Full-service planners can help with creation, ordering, and tracking of all stationary (save-the-dates, invitations, thank you’s). They can also arrange guest accommodations and wedding day transportation. Wedding design includes color palette creation and design concept and can also be included in full-service planning. If it is wedding related, chances are a full-service planner can accommodate. co

The beach is a stunning backdrop to say your vows. Here in the Coastal Bend we have miles and miles of gorgeous public beaches to host your wedding ceremony. However, the natural elements of sand, salt water, and wind require thoughtful choices in wedding attire. After planning hundreds of beach weddings, here are my suggestions to avoid a wardrobe disaster on the beach.

Wind-Proof Your Look

My biggest piece of advice for anyone attending a beach wedding is to be prepared for the wind. Even if it is not windy in town, chances are that the beach will be windy. Ladies, you do not want to risk a wardrobe mishap, so either wear a long dress or make sure to wear shorts under your dress. You want the bride to be the talk of the wedding, not your undergarments. 

Before spending hours on your hair, consider that the moisture from the water combined with the wind can really derail your long flowing curls. For a beach wedding, up-dos are a more practical option. Be sure to use lots of pins and hairspray. You don’t want to be holding your hair back in all your pictures. Gentleman, even if you don’t usually use gel in your hair, you might want to for the beach. It will help keep it in place in spite of the ocean breeze.

Do I Wear Shoes?

Take the sand into consideration when selecting shoes for a beach wedding. Although beautiful, ladies, please do not wear heels. Not only will the sand be difficult to walk in, but you will get sand inside your shoes making it terribly uncomfortable. Sandals are a great option for both men and women on the beach. It is even completely acceptable to leave your shoes in the car and attend the wedding barefoot.

My personal favorite for the bride and bridesmaids are barefoot sandals. There are many beautiful styles to choose from. This option keeps your feet looking gorgeous while allowing you to be comfortable walking in the sand – a win-win!

Bride & Groom Attire

The elements of the beach make for a naturally more casual atmosphere. If you are imagining a formal wedding, consider an indoor venue for the ceremony and take your engagement photos or bridal portraits on the beach. Especially in the hot months (spring through fall here in the Coastal Bend), please don’t make your groom wear a full suit. It is hot, sweaty, and uncomfortable and just looks out of place on the beach. If you want a more dressed up look, use a vest or suspenders, not a suit jacket. A nice linen shirt and a pair of dress pants is the classic look for grooms on the beach.

Brides, be mindful of both the wind and the sand. I recommend dresses that are not full length, not too tight, and breathe well. I love the bride’s choice in the picture above. The dress is flowy, has an element of length, but will not get ruined by the water or sand and will keep the bride cool during the ceremony.  Dresses that are too long or have trains pick up all the sand, seaweed, driftwood, etc. along the beach making it look dirty. An alternative to consider if you really want a full length dress is to take bridal portraits before the ceremony at an alternate non-beach location and then bustle your dress for the beach ceremony. 

Beach weddings are absolutely beautiful and the photos are incredible – if you prepare properly for the elements.

(fun, cost-effective ideas on how to stretch your alcohol budget)

Want to provide an open bar for your guests, but don’t have a massive budget? These clever, cost-effective ideas will save you a bundle on alcohol for your reception. Your guests look forward to the party at your reception, and with these suggestions, you won’t disappoint! Instead of buying lots of types of liquors, wines, beers, and mixers and having to hire a bartender, try one of these festive alternatives! 

Margarita Machine

Guests will rave about the delicious, frozen drinks from a margarita machine. Margarita machines are actually very reasonably priced and the company will come and set it all up for you. The machines come with the margarita mix and all you have to provide is the tequila or liquor of choice. Most machine companies offer lots of drink options like pina coladas, blue hawaiians, strawberry daiquiris, hurricanes, etc., plus several different flavors of margaritas. If you live in the Coastal Bend, I recommend Margarita Man https://www.margaritaman.com/.