Beach Weddings and Elopements in Wexford: What You Need to Know

I live beside the sea in Rosslare Strand, and I couldn’t imagine a better base for the work I do. Wexford has some of the most beautiful beaches in Ireland, and a ceremony on the sand, with the sea behind you and your favourite people around you, is hard to beat. Elopements are one of my favourite things to do, and I know the beaches, the light, the tides and the hidden spots. Here is what you need to know before you plan a beach wedding or elopement in Wexford.

Can you legally marry on a beach in Ireland?

This is the question I’m asked most. For a legal ceremony, the venue must be generally open to the public and have an identifiable address, and the location is part of the details you give at your notification appointment. Whether a particular stretch of beach can work for the legal ceremony is something I’ll talk through with you for your chosen spot.

There are two simple ways to have the beach ceremony you want:

• Legal first, beach second. Take care of the legal ceremony at a nearby venue or the Registry Office, then hold your full ceremony on the beach as a symbolic celebration, with your vows, your story and your rituals.
• A venue near the sea. Choose a venue close to the coast, so the legal ceremony happens there and the beach is a short walk away for the moments you want by the water.

A symbolic ceremony has the same care, the same words and the same meaning. The only difference is the paperwork. My guide on how to get legally married in Ireland explains the legal steps.

Wexford beaches for a ceremony

Curracloe

Eleven kilometres of soft sand and dunes, with the Raven Nature Reserve where the strand meets Wexford Harbour. Curracloe holds a Blue Flag, and it is the beach where the opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan were filmed. The dunes give you some shelter and a sense of privacy away from the busiest stretches.

Rosslare Strand

My home beach, about 12 kilometres south east of Wexford town. Rosslare Strand is a Blue Flag beach of sand and stone, with timber breakwaters along its length, and it is where you will usually find me walking my dog, Dolly.

There are plenty more stretches of Wexford coast, some well known and some hidden. Tell me what you have in mind and I’ll help you find the right spot.

Planning your beach ceremony

Tides

On the beach, the tide plays a huge part in deciding the time. At high tide some beaches almost disappear, so check the tide tables for your date and plan the ceremony around them.

Wind and sound

Even a light breeze carries voices away and plays havoc with veils, candles and notes. Choose a sheltered spot where you can, keep your guests close, and plan for sound so everyone hears your vows.

Light and timing

Around midsummer, Wexford evenings stay bright until close to 10pm, so a late ceremony can end in golden light. In December the sun sets a little after 4pm. Talk to your photographer about the light they would love, and avoid the busiest part of a sunny summer afternoon if you want the beach to feel like your own.

Comfort

• Flat shoes or bare feet. Heels and sand do not mix.
• Blankets, and a few folding chairs for anyone who can’t stand for long.
• Somewhere to shelter if a shower passes over, and a plan B you would be happy with.

Respect the beach

Wexford’s beaches are public spaces and home to wildlife. Check Wexford County Council’s beach bye-laws for your beach, including the times dogs are allowed on certain beaches (useful if your dog is part of the wedding party). Take everything home with you, choose natural petals over confetti, and talk to the council if you are planning anything bigger than a small gathering.

Eloping in Wexford

There is something about a small, intentional ceremony, just the two of you or a handful of the people who matter most, that strips everything back to what is actually important. For a legal elopement you still need to give three months’ notice and have two witnesses aged 18 or over, but everything else can be as simple as you like: a sunrise ceremony on an empty beach, a handfasting with the sea behind you, a picnic in the dunes afterwards. We’ll write a ceremony that is short, personal and completely yours.

Let’s plan it together

If you are dreaming of a Wexford beach wedding or elopement, I would love to be part of it. Get in touch and let’s talk: the first conversation is free, with no obligation. You can read more about weddings and elopements, or browse my guide to wedding ceremony venues in Wexford if you would like a venue close to the coast.