Walking in the dress in sand

phataya

Hello!  Maybe this is a weird question since I can't find anyone else asking this online, but I'm starting to stress out about walking in my dress.  We're doing a beach wedding and I will be barefoot so I'm wondering what it's like to walk in the sand with a heavy long dress.  (I'm wearing the Rhianna Royale dress by Maggie Sottero...I bought it for the first venue we picked, but that fell through and I LOVE the dress so I decided to keep it even though it's not really "beachy".)  Do I need to have them take it up an extra inch or more so I don't trip in the sand?  Or will it be fine with the length that's fine barefoot on carpet?  Any advice from fellow beach wedding brides? 

phataya

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_walking-in-the-dress-in-sand?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:15Discussion:76496043-9f6f-4e8a-a796-25ede2efcb81Post:435ece43-3d97-45fb-aaf3-a7963a1ffeff">Re: Walking in the dress in sand</a>:
[QUOTE]This is why I don't understand beach weddings. Find a new venue.  That dress is gorgeous, but not for a beach wedding.
Posted by CMGr[/QUOTE]

...because beach weddings are FREAKING AWESOME!  :D  I can't wait!  It's in 2 months and I don't see why I would have to give up my dream beach wedding for the dress??  I just want to know if I should have it shortened a little more. 

dubird

I would take it up about an inch more, just in case.  Feet sink into sand, and this way, you minimize your chances of tripping or messing it up.

meganb1977

Yes beach weddings are freaking awesome!  (This is what I wanted but could not convince fiance).  I had bridal portraits taken on the beach and my gown was totally fine and probably wouldn't have even needed a cleaning except that the photographer convinced me to wade in the water and the hem got wet.  My dress isn't heavy but I didn't have any trouble walking in it even though I was barefoot and it was hemmed for three inch heels.  Sand isn't really dirty and your gown should be absolutely okay and nowhere near getting trashed.  I did have my dress clean but the picture in my signature actually shows my dress after my pictures but before I had it cleaned...no major damage :-)  Worst case, a good dry cleaners can work magic getting out spots and smudges and making everything good as new.  If your dress is hemmed to the appropriate length and fitted for you, it shouldn't be too heavy and you'll have no worries.  You can ask your seamstress for her input, but you will probably want to have it hemmed to be barefoot and then have a pair of flat shoes that you can slip into for when you are not walking on the sand.  The seamstress will have good judgment of where the hem line should fall.  You will probably also want to have your dress bustled so you will have the option of having the train for walking down the aisle, pictures, etc., but then you can get it out of the way when you need to.  Hope it all comes out beautifully!

phataya

Thanks for the info everyone!  I feel much better about it now.    My seamstress did do a bustle so I can dance at the reception and I will probably wear flats or sandals for that.  I'm so excited!!  I can't wait!