1. Customized Sand Ceremony
Incorporate your wedding colors into your sand ceremony. Get creative with this symbolic union tradition by choosing elegant bottles that you'll want to put on display in your home after the wedding.
2. Oceanfront Style
If you're looking for more casual, beach-appropriate bridesmaids' accessories, gift your ladies colorful sarongs to wear. They're available in all kinds of styles and colors. Caribbean Wraps International, (757) 495-8003, AllYouNeedtoWear.com/default.htm.
3. Green Wedding Guide
Planning an earth-friendly wedding? Find Virginia Beach vendors who are certified green with the Virginia Green program. There's a guide on its website. www.Deq.Virginia.gov/p2/virginiagreen
4. Hit the Water
Cruise through Broad Bay during your rehearsal dinner or while the wedding party has some downtime. Sight-seeing cruises are available on the Virginia's Jewel. (757) 425-6688, VirginiasJewel.com
5. See the Sights
Gather up your wedding party and the family and head out for a little sight-seeing. For $8 a person ($6 per child) you can tour Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park in an open air Blue Goose Tram. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, (757) 721-2412, FWS.gov/backbay
6. Illustrate Your Wedding Plans
Hire an artist to create custom paintings or illustrations of your centerpieces and wedding décor. Vivid Expressions offers gorgeous customized paintings. (888) 878-4843, VividExpressions.com
7. Chill Out with Ice Arts
Consider a carved ice sculpture or luge to chill your guests' cocktails. Ice Art of Virginia doesn't use the computerized routers or molds to create their beautiful ice art; everything is customized by hand. (757) 498-4777, IceArtVA.com
8. Make Some Memories
Rent a vintage-inspired photo booth and give your guests lots of fun props to snap some memorable shots. Incorporate some of the photos into your sign-in book and ask guests to autograph them! Boardwalk Photo Booth Company, Chesapeake, (757) 510-1508.
9. Release Butterflies
For an unforgettable moment, have colorful butterflies released during your ceremony. Social Butterflies has a variety of species available and is a member of the Association for Butterflies, the International Butterfly Breeders Association and the Butterfly Society of Virginia. (434) 823-3666, SocialBtrFlies.com
10. Island-Style Hair
Island braiding is a popular Caribbean craze in Virginia Beach. If you're looking for a fun, casual look for your oceanfront wedding, have braids and colorful beads twisted into a strand of your or your bridesmaids' hair. Braids on the Beach Incorporated, (757) 450-1715
-- Carrie Chambers