Tent

• Tents provide shelter from the sun and rain, and provide a nice blocked off area where guests can congregate. Tents are also great for sheltering tables and a dance floor. If your backyard beach wedding takes place during the spring or fall, cooler weather may be a problem. Many party planning companies offer tents with free-standing heaters to keep guests comfortable. Caterers can set up under the tent with a bar and buffet table as well.
  
  

Dress Ideas

• There are no limits on the possibilities for beach wedding dresses. Just because you may be barefoot and standing on sand doesn't mean you can't be as glamorous as you want to be. You could wear a simple linen frock or a couture designer gown. If your wedding is a casual affair, you could wear a delicate white sarong or sundress. You could even be truly distinctive with a mermaid-style wedding dress.
  
  

Decorations

• Martha Stewart recommends beach-themed favors and centerpieces for backyard beach weddings. You can use mini pails filled with rock candy for favors, and metal beach buckets as flower pots for tables. She also recommends using shells with place cards as wedding keepsakes.
  
  

Food

• Catering a backyard beach wedding is the same as catering any event, provided you have level surfaces and a tent to protect the food. You may want to invest in some insect netting for two sides of the tent to keep the flies away from the tables. It is especially important to protect one of your larger investments: the wedding cake. Make sure it is on a sturdy table out of the sun. Catering companies are usually familiar with the challenges of outdoor weddings, and may be able to provide extra sturdy tables for cakes or clear plastic or glass cake domes.
  
  

Backup Plan

• Ideally, every outdoor wedding should have a bad-weather plan. This is especially true for beach weddings, since flooding and blowing sand can ruin food and décor. It is a good idea to rent or buy a tent that has removable sides. That way, if it rains or a sand storm kicks up, you can all retreat under the cozy tent and continue the party.