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Expert July 2023 Cornwall

Advice for ceremony in a public place... and dealing with the public haha!

Anonbride, 8 February, 2022 at 11:01 Posted on Etiquette and Advice 0 12

Getting married on a beach - woo! It's owned by the hotel we are getting married at, so they will set up and create space for the aisle and there will be a flower arch for us to be standing by, but the beach won't be closed to other guests etc.

No problem with this, it comes with the territory! However, I have just seen one photo of someone else's wedding at this venue that's got me panicked! In most photos the public seem to have set themselves up at a respectful distance, so you do see people/windbreakers in the periphery background, but this one photo has a sunbather lounging next to an ugly looking tent basically right up close almost in the arch and looking very prominent in the ceremony Smiley surprise

It's really shocked me that someone would plonk themselves down that nearby to someone's ceremony, and I know a photographer could photoshop them out... but it's not great to have someone right there while you're saying your vows... So it's got me wondering whether (1) I should be tasking someone like the ushers with politely ushering anyone too close away from the ceremony and/or (2) if there are any clever ideas any one can think of to kind of cordon off a few feet of area that's kind of just behind the arch so we have a little bit of buffer space?

Completely aware that I'm getting married in a shared space, and in most photos people seem to be respectful and give a little boundary space, I just don't want a stranger and all their gear squished right on top of my ceremony and this one photo has freaked me out that that might happen Smiley atonished

12 replies

Latest activity by PhotographybyBillHaddon, 11 February, 2022 at 16:28
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    Savvy March 2022 East London
    Louisa123 ·
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    You’d think people would be respectful and keep a distance but there are people out there who have no brain cells! However in the event that someone does get a bit close… I don’t see a problem with someone asking them politely to move. Best man or an Usher can do this. I think as well you’ll be so excited about getting married that you probably won’t care much about the public around you ☺️ Congratulations!
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  • A
    Expert July 2023 Cornwall
    Anonbride ·
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    Honestly it baffles me!! Asking best man is a good idea, they usually sit up the front while the guests are arriving don't they, so could probably spot anyone quite quickly...

    I keep wondering about whether I could get someone to create a border with pebbles or something but people wouldn't probably traipse right over that wouldn't they haha

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  • L
    Savvy March 2022 East London
    Louisa123 ·
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    Yes probably, or ask the hotel to see if they could put up a border of some sort?
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  • A
    Expert July 2023 Cornwall
    Anonbride ·
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    I may ask again and show them the photo they found... initially they just said they'd keep the area clear for setting up the aisle etc. and the public usually keep a distance as a result but they can't control what they do in the background

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  • C
    VIP April 2022 Wiltshire
    Charlotte ·
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    Our ceremony is at a Castle and public are allowed in, but they have said they will cordon off a section and staff will politely ask people to move out of shotnwtc. Maybe speak to your venue and express your concern and see what they suggest, I think it would be better for them to police it so to speak rather than your ushers
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  • R
    Genius July 2020 Monmouthshire
    RomanticGreenStationery27135 ·
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    You could ask the hotel if they have rope barriers they could use to cordon off an area. As it is a public beach, you can't keep anyone out of the area, but you can set it up so that only the most insensitive will be brave enough to gatecrash!

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  • A
    Expert July 2023 Cornwall
    Anonbride ·
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    That's exactly what I want to do - discourage anyone but the boldest and rudest from gatecrashing! I had wondered about getting some form of additional decoration to use instead of a rope barrier but that kind of thing - it's a tricky one because it would need to look nice but not block out the sea too much...

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  • R
    Genius July 2020 Monmouthshire
    RomanticGreenStationery27135 ·
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    I think as long as the rope was in a colour that didn't clash with your decor, it would look ok. You could always think about tying some kind of decoration to the poles to dress it up a bit. Or maybe look at tying fake or dried flowers to a ribbon to use instead?

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  • A
    Expert July 2023 Cornwall
    Anonbride ·
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    I've just had the idea of using wooden boards, we could write something on them (our names, the date, etc.) so it's just natural wood and white - a bit like this: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.diys.com%2Fbeach-wedding-ideas%2F&psig=AOvVaw2dDfebnIUCo0WuU877VTsK&ust=1644589945524000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCIiKmI6t9fUCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAO

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  • PhotographybyBillHaddon
    VIP January 3000 Leicestershire
    PhotographybyBillHaddon ·
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    Unfortunately I doubt that the hotel would even be allowed to but up ropes on a public beach. When it comes to your photography unless you have already booked one I suggest before you do that you ask for examples of what they can do with regard to Photoshopping as they may not be able to do major changes or may charge you more. Here's some of my Photo Editing

    The general public can sometimes be "not very understanding" ( I am being very professional here Smiley winking ) I find some just do not realise but there are plenty that are just bloody minded. I have come across it many many times in public spaces and if I need to ask them to move 9 times out of 10 I will get "this is a public space I can stand where I want". I can usually get them to wind their neck in and back down by saying to them that it is not for me - its for the the bride and groom.

    At a Church there is always some person standing in line of the Church doorway as the bride and groom walk out. I swear to God that its the same person at every Church with a dog and wearing a blue cagoule. Smiley xd

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  • A
    Expert July 2023 Cornwall
    Anonbride ·
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    The public can be infuriating can't they! I had the same worry about whether we'd be allowed to rope off an area, that's why I was wondering whether we could do something with some decor to cheat this a bit...

    We have booked our photographer, he's shot a lot of weddings on public beaches with gorgeous results so hopefully he's on it!

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  • PhotographybyBillHaddon
    VIP January 3000 Leicestershire
    PhotographybyBillHaddon ·
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    Not sure if this would work but when I shoot at a couple of my regular venues I know that I cannot do a particular shot if someone has parked their car there, so if when arrive and the space is free then i park there and that way i am in control and can move my own car.

    So you just need to get the groomsmen/ushers get in their speedos and grab the spots you want to keep clear Smiley xd

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