Beach Considerations
There are a few things most couples never think about when planning a romantic beach wedding. The following information is provided to help with different factors to consider when planning.
The sun is strong in this part of the U.S. - During your stay, you'll notice a lot of people burnt to crisp from their first day on the beach. Looking like a lobster isn't such a good idea, especially on your wedding day. The sun is almost at triple its intensity on the beach due to white quartz sand, and near the water due to reflections given off. Getting burnt not only can give you sun poisoning, but it can also make your event day and the rest of your visit really miserable. Follow some simple guidelines to make your tan not so harmful and your wedding day as pain free as possible.
Tan in short intervals - This helps keep you from getting burned and also helps promote a more even, healthy, and non-peeling tan. Trying to tan in one day is just not smart. Not only can you receive sun poisoning, it can also make your visit a miserable one.
Wear sun-block as often as possible - Anytime you're going to be in the sun, wear sun-block. This keeps from getting burned and protects you from harmful UV rays. Also make sure to get those tender areas, such as your nose, ears, neck, face and back portion of your body. Remember the higher the SPF rating - the better you're protected. Also make sure to re-apply often.
Wear protective gear - Such as sunglasses, hats, sun-block, shirts over swim suits, socks and shoes. Do this right after tanning or if you're just walking around outside for the day.
Don't use products that speed up tanning - These are unnecessary and could promote burning if you're not careful.
Don't fall asleep in the sun - If you fall asleep in the sun, you're going to be a crispy critter if longer than 20 minutes without sun-block. Try to stay alert while tanning not only for your own safety, but for the safety of your friends and family as well.
Red Tide / Fish Kills
A red tide, or harmful algal bloom, is a higher-than-normal concentration of a microscopic alga (plantlike organism). The Florida red tide organism, K. brevis, produces brevetoxins that can affect the central nervous system of fish and other vertebrates, causing these animals to die and wash ashore along the coastline. Wave action can break open K. brevis cells and release these toxins into the air, leading to respiratory irritation in humans to include coughing, sneezing, tearing and an itchy throat.
Red tides can last as little as a day or two, or longer than a year. They can subside and then reoccur. The duration of a bloom in nearshore Florida waters depends on physical and biological conditions that influence its growth and persistence, including sunlight, nutrients and salinity, as well as the speed and direction of wind and water currents.
Although the occurrence of a red tide cannot be predicted, scientists can forecast its movement using wind and water current data once a bloom is located.
Weddings can usually be relocated a mile to several miles down the beach if a chosen location is affected
A red tide, or harmful algal bloom, is a higher-than-normal concentration of a microscopic alga (plantlike organism). The Florida red tide organism, K. brevis, produces brevetoxins that can affect the central nervous system of fish and other vertebrates, causing these animals to die and wash ashore along the coastline. Wave action can break open K. brevis cells and release these toxins into the air, leading to respiratory irritation in humans to include coughing, sneezing, tearing and an itchy throat.
Red tides can last as little as a day or two, or longer than a year. They can subside and then reoccur. The duration of a bloom in nearshore Florida waters depends on physical and biological conditions that influence its growth and persistence, including sunlight, nutrients and salinity, as well as the speed and direction of wind and water currents.
Although the occurrence of a red tide cannot be predicted, scientists can forecast its movement using wind and water current data once a bloom is located.
Weddings can usually be relocated a mile to several miles down the beach if a chosen location is affected
Sea Grass
Large amounts of seagrass wash ashore at various times of the late Spring and throughout the Summer. Many people complain about it because it stinks, is unsightly or can be rough on the feet. Seagrass, whether in the water or ashore, is an important and necessary part of the environment
Many weddings can be located at a different location nearby if the chosen location is affected
Large amounts of seagrass wash ashore at various times of the late Spring and throughout the Summer. Many people complain about it because it stinks, is unsightly or can be rough on the feet. Seagrass, whether in the water or ashore, is an important and necessary part of the environment
Many weddings can be located at a different location nearby if the chosen location is affected
Black/Stable/Dog Flies
The beaches can become severely affected by large numbers of stable flies especially in west Florida, from Wakulla County to Escambia County. The time frame of the worst infestation is late August through September.
Stable flies congregate on beaches because they are sensitive to the wind. When a northerly wind blows toward the beach from inland, the flies are carried to the beach and take shelter from the wind on the leeward side of the dunes. Stable flies are usually on the beach during the morning hours, when the wind is from the north. Frequently, during the middle of the day, the thermal currents on land pull the winds in from the Gulf and the flies suddenly leave.
If it is necessary to go outdoors into areas where biting flies are prevalent, it is important to wear protective clothing. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants will protect arms and legs from the feeding activity of biting flies. If necessary, application of a repellent labeled for biting fly protection may be appropriate. It is always important to apply products according to label directions and to reapply only as needed. Most repellents do not work as well for biting flies as they do for mosquitoes, and therefore must be reapplied more often.
Yellow Flies
In Florida, the name “yellow fly” is used to describe about a dozen different species of yellow-bodied biting flies. Yellow flies readily attack humans and are usually abundant in Florida with peak annoyance occurring in May and June.
Yellow flies congregate in shaded, humid areas on the edges of forests, rivers and creeks, avoiding large, open, sunny areas. Some species are active in the early morning while other species are more active in the late afternoon.
Yellow flies are not on the beach, but are a nuisance at wedding in parks such as Eden Gardens State Park and other inland parks of the area
The beaches can become severely affected by large numbers of stable flies especially in west Florida, from Wakulla County to Escambia County. The time frame of the worst infestation is late August through September.
Stable flies congregate on beaches because they are sensitive to the wind. When a northerly wind blows toward the beach from inland, the flies are carried to the beach and take shelter from the wind on the leeward side of the dunes. Stable flies are usually on the beach during the morning hours, when the wind is from the north. Frequently, during the middle of the day, the thermal currents on land pull the winds in from the Gulf and the flies suddenly leave.
If it is necessary to go outdoors into areas where biting flies are prevalent, it is important to wear protective clothing. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants will protect arms and legs from the feeding activity of biting flies. If necessary, application of a repellent labeled for biting fly protection may be appropriate. It is always important to apply products according to label directions and to reapply only as needed. Most repellents do not work as well for biting flies as they do for mosquitoes, and therefore must be reapplied more often.
Yellow Flies
In Florida, the name “yellow fly” is used to describe about a dozen different species of yellow-bodied biting flies. Yellow flies readily attack humans and are usually abundant in Florida with peak annoyance occurring in May and June.
Yellow flies congregate in shaded, humid areas on the edges of forests, rivers and creeks, avoiding large, open, sunny areas. Some species are active in the early morning while other species are more active in the late afternoon.
Yellow flies are not on the beach, but are a nuisance at wedding in parks such as Eden Gardens State Park and other inland parks of the area
