Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Weddings Dresses & Style Fashion Wedding Dresses 33 Stunning Beach Wedding Dresses Worn by Actual Brides By Sarah Schreiber Sarah Schreiber Sarah Schreiber has been writing, editing, and producing lifestyle and weddings content for over 7 years. In that time, she has interviewed and worked with hundreds of leading experts to become an authority on all things homekeeping, flower arranging, home design, and wedding planning. Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 6, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Shanell Photography If you're planning an oceanfront ceremony, you probably already know that your wedding dress will—in some way or another—play into the location. For some brides, this means donning a slinky silk sheath that moves with them and won't billow up too much during gusty waterfront vows. Others may prioritize a gown that keeps them cool and protects them from the sun with cap sleeves or a full-cover back. Whatever you decide, keep the elements top of mind while shopping. Ahead we've rounded up our favorite gowns worn by real brides to their seaside nuptials. Most brides want a beach-ready look that flows and moves as easy as an ocean breeze (just like this bride's floaty, backless number by Carol Hannah). But if you've always envisioned a dramatic, figure-hugging mermaid wedding dress and a beach ceremony, you don't have to give up one idea for the other: Traditional ball gowns or trumpet silhouettes can fit in with the shoreline—all you have to do is go for it. 01 of 32 Lacy Sweetheart Anya Kernes Photography If you love the unfussy look of a silk gown but still want to wear a little lace on your big day, this bride's Anais Anette wedding dress, purchased at Love and Lace, might be the answer. It worked especially well at her beach féte since the skirt could move with the wind while the top felt a bit more dramatic. 02 of 32 Illusion and Tulle Krystle Akin Just because you're tying the knot on the beach doesn't mean you have to wear a boho-chic gown. This bride chose an elegant Galia Lahav A-line wedding dress with a plunging neckline for her big day—the floaty skirt ensured the look worked for a sun-soaked ceremony. 03 of 32 Flowing Pantsuit Meg Smith There's no rule that says you have to wear a dress on your wedding day, and that's especially true when your special day is on the beach. This bride chose a flowy pantsuit from BHLDN, which certainly made traversing the beach terrain much easier. 04 of 32 Plunging Halter Sylvie Rosokoff Sometimes less is more, as evidenced by this bride's simple, elegant halter wedding dress from Estee Bridal. The dramatic V-neckline and ruched bodice detailing balanced out the otherwise understated fabrication; her colorful bouquet also popped against the gown's ultra-clean lines. 05 of 32 All-Over Lace Meg Lucks, Abby Jiu Photography If you love a glamorous look, don't shy away from one for your beach wedding. A strapless Berta wedding dress complete with intricate lace detailing was a surprising choice for this couple's oceanfront beach vows, but the bride balanced her look with a tropical bouquet and relaxed hairstyle. 06 of 32 Sparkling Vintage Jillian Mitchell A vintage-inspired Naeem Khan wedding dress the bride found at Saks turned out to be the perfect beach wedding dress. A simple sheath silhouette is a great choice for a breezy locale. 07 of 32 A Little Sheer Brklyn View Photography This bride's subtly beaded Mira Zwillinger sheath shimmered under the warm sun—and showed a peek of leg, thanks to a semi-sheer skirt. Sexy Wedding Dresses for Brides Who Want to Turn Heads 08 of 32 Ball Gown Julie Livingston Photography Though it wasn't a typical beach wedding dress choice, this bride's elevated Monique Lhuillier ball gown was beautifully juxtaposed against the casual, natural setting. The garment was, however, perfectly designed for the warm weather—note the spaghetti straps and light-as-air skirt. 09 of 32 Illusion Back Abby Jiu Photography A classic but sheer buttoned-up back panel kept this bride cool throughout her waterfront ceremony. Amsale brought the garment to life. 22 Wedding Dresses That Wowed From the Back 10 of 32 Bohemian Lace Lorenzo Accardi Boho-chic and entirely effortless, this laser-cut lace ensemble from Rue de Seine was the perfect choice for a wedding on the shores of Santa Marta, Colombia. 11 of 32 High Neck Jade Osborne Photography This beauty proved that a Victorian-inspired, high-neck wedding dress, like this one by Christos Costarellos, is absolutely an option for beachy brides. To pull it off, you just need to choose the right fabric—the lighter the better. All the Ways to Wear a Boat Neck Wedding Dress 12 of 32 Yellow The Times We Have To honor her wedding location's constant sunshine, this bride donned a cheerful yellow frock by Sarah Seven for her sandy ceremony. 13 of 32 Formal Sweetheart Melissa Jill Photography This bride's traditional Watters wedding dress—featuring a feminine sweetheart neckline, beaded belt, and trumpet skirt—felt decidedly classic, but still appropriate for the beach setting. 14 of 32 Long Sleeves Stephanie Brauer and Ushna Khan Photography Illusion long sleeves, gathered with lace at the wrist, gave this Victoria Kyriakides wedding dress ethereal vibes. We love how they billowed in the breeze as the bride walked with her new husband. Long-Sleeve Wedding Dresses We Love 15 of 32 Simple Rad and In Love This bride kept her big-day ensemble simple, donning an effortless, strapless A-line dress for her post-ceremony walk on the beach. 16 of 32 Light as Air Luna de Mare The floaty components of this bride's look—from the lightweight skirt of her Monique Lhuillier wedding dress to her matching veil—ensured she was comfortable under the sun. 17 of 32 Boned Bodice Jenna Leigh Photography See-through lace kept this bride's Essense of Australia wedding dress' corseted bodice from feeling too restrictive during the outdoor ceremony. 18 of 32 Deep V Julie Livingston Photography This bride knew that her beach wedding was the perfect opportunity to show some skin. Her deep V-back, accentuated with the sweetest bow tassel, on her Mikaella Bridal gown was the ultimate summery touch. 70 Wedding Dresses with Bows 19 of 32 Punchy Florals Corbin Gurkin Color and palette played a major role at this couple's Mexico destination wedding, starting with the bride's bold, floral Lela Rose dress. Colorful Wedding Dresses That Make Statements Down the Aisle 20 of 32 Lotus Catherine Mead The lace floral appliqués on this bride's Pronovias wedding dress referenced the indigenous lotus blossoms surrounding the ocean-front ceremony site. 21 of 32 Short Sleeves Rebecca Arthurs This Jenny Packham gown's short, lace sleeves protected this bride's shoulders from the overhead rays. 22 of 32 Halter Los Ébano This bride chose an ever-popular beach wedding dress neckline for her Mexico nuptials: a halter. She purchased the Rue De Seine garment from The Dress Theory. The Best Hairstyles for Every Wedding Dress Neckline 23 of 32 Crisscross KT Merry Everything about this bride's Berta wedding dress—including the elegant crisscrossed pattern, the dramatic V-back, and subtle shimmer—referenced the celebration's overall theme: beachy sophistication. 24 of 32 Formal-Meets-Beach Abby Jiu Photography Don't let this bride's fitted Lovely Bride wedding dress fool you—just a few hours later, she actually did "the worm" on the dance floor while wearing the garment. It was the ultimate choice for both the beach setting and celebratory, dance-filled evening. 25 of 32 Suntan Jodi & Kurt Photography This bride's illusion open-back Berta garment showed off her subtle tan, courtesy of her destination wedding location: Cancún. 26 of 32 Last-Minute Lace Lauren Peele Photography For her Mexico beach wedding, this bride tried on just under a dozen dresses before choosing what she thought would be "the one." But when it arrived, she realized she hated it! So, she called her maid of honor and drove to a bridal boutique near her hometown, where she chose the first and only dress she tried on: an Enzoani lace sheath that happened to be hemmed to her exact height. If that's not fate, we don't know what is. 27 of 32 Something Blue KT Merry This bride donned an Oscar de la Renta gown that matched the ocean water's hue and served as her "something blue." 28 of 32 Beaded KT Merry The same bride wore a second gown to her reception: a slinky, beaded Zuhair Murad dress. 29 of 32 Lace Appliqués Erich McVey A lightweight, A-line Oscar de la Renta gown with Chantilly lace leaf appliqués was more than appropriate at this Thailand beach ceremony. 30 of 32 High-Neck and Beaded David Newkirk This bride wore a high-neck Jenny Packham gown with a beaded bodice and flowing skirt to her seaside nuptials. Gorgeous Embellished Wedding Dresses 31 of 32 Lace Gown and Flower Crown Jillian Mitchell Photography This bride wore a gown by Rue de Seine from LOHO Bride. "I loved that the dress was romantic but also lightweight and no-fuss for international travel. When I saw it, I could immediately picture us dancing on the cobblestones," she said. She topped off her look with a floral crown from Flor Mimo. Your Ultimate Wedding Day Checklist 32 of 32 Lace Sleeves Luke & Katherine Griffin of Max With custom long-sleeves, an open back, and illusion neckline, this lace Erdem dress was a hit at a Tulum wedding. The bride finished off her look with white Prada sandals and a crown of fresh orchids. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit