35 Beach Wedding Dresses Perfect for a Seaside Ceremony

Casual elegance at its finest

Updated 07/03/19

For brides-to-be planning seaside nuptials, beach wedding dresses can easily feel too fussy when you’re going for laid-back ease. However, saying ‘I do’ with your toes in the sand hardly means your wedding dress should feel anything less than extraordinary. Beach wedding dresses run the gamut from incredibly casual to supremely decorative—it’s all about finding one that suits your personality and style of beach wedding (which can also range from a private ceremony to a formal tented affair). As a starting point, lightweight silk, chiffon or lace are ideal fabrics to look for.

If your goal is a beach wedding dress that’s as casual as your regular assortment of summer frocks, a midi length, high-low hem or asymmetrical silhouette all come with an easy-going sensibility that's still sophisticated. Whether done in cotton, crochet or swingy chiffon, a shorter hemline feels innately relaxed and is definitely something you can easily wear again either for your honeymoon or for warm-weather events like brunches, birthdays, and garden parties. Accents like floral embellishments, lace trim or eyelet embroidery will make an easier dress feel a skosh more spectacular for your wedding day.

For the seaside bride seeking a full gown, simpler, fluid shapes and figure-faltering cuts are best—the beach hardly feels like a time for a voluminous ball gown, diaphanous layers or a massive train. Loosely woven lace, relaxed embroidery, flouncy tiers, and sheer panels give a simpler silhouette a beachy feel, but are elegant and eye-catching details for those craving more design. So long as your dress is flowy and breathable, it’ll be picture perfect against crystal blue water on a sun-drenched day.

Purist beach brides-to-be will love the easiness of a simple slip, chiffon wrap dress or two-piece set. In wispy fabrics, cotton poplin or sleek silk, the effect is unfussy and fresh—the perfect canvas for a colorful lei or blooming flower crown.

If you’re searching for a casually elegant beach wedding dress, scroll through our edit ahead to find your perfect style.