Tampa Beach Wedding Trends for 2010

Every weekend, dozens of couples hold beautiful, intimate sunset wedding ceremonies on the beaches of Tampa Bay. Feeling the soft Gulf of Mexico sand between your toes at sunset while you look into each other's eyes and say "I do" is something many brides dream of.

By definition, Tampa beach weddings are generally more laid back, simple, and casual than other more traditional ceremonies. They also tend to be a lot less expensive--a big advantage in today's economy. But that doesn't mean they can't be hip, stylish, and trendy, too.

As a professional wedding photographer in Tampa, Florida, I have the opportunity to see (and photograph) the latest beach wedding trends on a near-weekly basis. Whether you're planning your own beach wedding, or helping someone else, here are some of the latest 2010 trends I've seen that may help to spur some ideas:

1. Bare feet are in. For the bride, the groom, the wedding party, and the guests. To the point that those who come to the wedding in shoes usually end up taking them off anyway. Brides and bridesmaids are wearing ankle bracelets (or sand sandals) to dress up their feet... but rarely any shoes. Believe it or not, this is a relatively new trend.
2. Off-the-shoulder wedding dresses--as opposed to more traditional gowns--are particularly hot this year. Many brides are skipping the traditional bridal store and heading to more mainstream retail outlets to pick out their dress. Check specialty retailers like Ann Taylor, Chicos FAS, Urban Outfitters, and J Crew. They have all noticed this trend too, and have begun offering more casual wedding dresses for sale on their websites. Many have plans to offer them in their stores by the end of 2010.
3. Grooms are dressing down a bit, too... but only to a point. While brides may be opting for dresses instead of gowns, we're still seeing the majority of grooms tie the knot in suits, or slacks with sport coats. Ties and vests, however, are for the most part out. And yes, they are indeed barefooted!
4. Small tiaras or combs with jewels have replaced veils on the heads of brides at nearly every Tampa beach wedding we've photographed this year.
5. Sand ceremony sets are very popular.  Available at affordable prices from a variety of online retailers, they facilitate the participation of everyone at the wedding who pours a small amount of sand into one large container filled with shells.
6. The photojournalistic style of wedding photography, which tells the story of your day in pictures, is in. Traditional wedding photography, featuring more formal poses, is out.
7. Speaking of wedding photography, we're seeing more and more couples choosing to make their own photo books with the digital images we give them on discs after their beach wedding, as opposed to ordering traditional wedding albums. Most of the major photo processing sites offer simple and easy to use software to make it an easy, fun process.
8. Simple, white wedding cakes with colorful flower pedals or seashells arranged on and around them are in.
9. Traditional wedding receptions, featuring formal introductions, the first dance, bouquet and garter tosses, cake cutting "ceremonies", etc are out... at least with the beach wedding crowd. We're seeing a lot of more casual sit down dinner-receptions, often accompanied by a DJ for dancing afterwards.
10. Personal, more casual touches are in. One couple I spoke with recently are building their own wedding trellis out of bamboo, to ensure that it looks just how they want. More than a few grooms have chosen to carry point and shoot cameras with them, in order to capture personal memories of their bride being walked down the aisle. The bottom line? It's your wedding... do your own thing!

The common thread among all of these trends is clearly a move toward being more casual and frugal, which is no surprise. But that doesn't mean beach weddings are any less romantic, beautiful, memorable, or fun than those in the past.

For pictures of recent beach weddings we've photographed in the Tampa Bay area, including Clearwater Beach, St. Petersburg Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Sarasota, and Rocky Point in Tampa, check out our website: www.CoolChangePhotography.com.

Best of luck in your planning... and see you on the beach!