Rentals at Weddings by the Sea

We often are asked why you need chairs for a beach ceremony when it is only 30 minutes long. We strongly recommend that you provide every guest a chair for an outdoor ceremony on the beach, in a pavilion or garden. Guests standing in clumps can look very messy and chaotic, especially on the beach. You need a well defined aisle for the bride, parents and bridal party so that they know where to stand. It can also look cheap. Your guests came a long way for you. Make them comfortable at your beach or outdoor ceremony. The officiant, photographer and musicians will also thank you for providing the order necessary for a smooth ceremony. It looks so much better in your precious photographs too.

We rent ceremony chairs for sand or land, ceremony arbors, our fabulous 16’ tall white feather banners, sand pouring ceremony tables and cloth sets, reception card holders (mailbox with stand, white 3-tier wedding cake box, white wrought iron birdcage on floor stand with ribbon, pearl and seashell decoration.)

Because the public sites allow for 30 minutes maximum for ceremonies we have established a rental service to accommodate the fast turn-around of set-up and breakdown of chairs, decorations, feather banners, arbors and utility tables. Our Chairman (Catherine’s husband John) and his crew are experts at on site timely delivery, set-up and breakdown of your custom order at exactly the time you designate and in compliance with City requirements. Delivery is free within Cape May City limits. There is an additional delivery fee for locations outside Cape May City and for hard to reach locations.

Ceremony / Event Rentals Terms & Conditions

Available Stock: Land/Sand combinations up to 220 (ivory folding chairs and white one piece molded chairs)

Chairs: Land/Sand/Beach: $4.00 per chair, plus 7% sales tax, 20 chair/$80 minimum  
Sand Pouring Unity Ceremony Table and White Cloth $25
Arbor: White wrought iron w/silk flower garland. (fresh flowers can be added) $100
Birdcage, Mailbox, 3-tier Wedding Cake Box: $40 per day ($40 refundable cash deposit due at pick-up). $10 additional for delivery and pick-up.  Cape May City only.
Supplied Decorations; Set-up and Remove (Shells, Bows on Stakes, Huppahs, etc.) $10 and up. Renter supplies materials.
Wedding Feather Banners: 16’ tall 3 1/2"’ wide, white nylon feather banners on telescopic poles. Great for heralding the street entrance, lining the aisle or flanking the ceremony location. $50 each, min 2 with chair rental, $60 each without rental.
Delivery, Set-up, Breakdown is included with every rental.
Premium applies for Mt. Vernon, outside Cape May City, set-up more than 50 feet past dunes/snow fence, holiday set-ups, banners / arbor / table set-ups with any another rental company.


 

Ceremony Locations: Sunset Pavilion, Beach (Provide Cross-Street Name), Dune Walk / Deck, Bandstand Gazebo, Kiwanis Park Gazebo, Lighthouse area, Harbor View Park Pavilion, Hotel, Other.

Set-Up Time: Chair set-up is scheduled for 30 minutes prior to ceremony earliest.

Permits: Renters must obtain all necessary permits from City and/or State Agencies.

Set-Up Options: We have standard ocean facing set-ups.  Special requests considered.

Chair breakdown: Immediately following ceremony. 1 hour maximum rental.

Deposit 50% to guarantee rental.

All Rentals are Non-Refundable: In case of inclement weather a suitable indoor or protected area may be substituted upon request and with sufficient notice to ensure delivery and set-up. We reserve the right to deny any request for venue change due to scheduling conflicts. No credits or refunds will be issued for change of venue, inclement weather or cancellation.

Payment:  All rentals must be confirmed and paid in full at least 30 days prior to rental date. 50% deposit required with booking. All rentals (counts) become final 30 days prior to event date. Rental count increases and additions will be considered on availability basis. Weddings by the Sea cannot guarantee bookings on unconfirmed or unpaid orders.

Requests: Click on the Wedding Shoppe Inquiry Form on the Contact Us Page or Call Toll Free 1-866-459-7900 or E-Mail your rental request to: info@weddings-bythesea.com

 Weddings by the Sea ~ Top 20 Beach Wedding Tips
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Licensing – State law requires that all who marry in NJ must have a marriage license issued in NJ. A 72 hour mandatory waiting period applies. Call the Registrar of Vital Statistics, Mon-Fri, Noon -4PM at 609-884-9599.
 
Permits – Scheduling with City Hall is necessary for use of public facilities. A $25 administrative fee and official beach rules apply. E-mail to weddings@capemaycity.com.
 
What to Wear on the Beach? Brides wear all styles, lengths and colors, with or without trains and veils. Shoes are left on the promenade or beach entrance. Grooms keep their shoes on – it’s a guy thing. Consider bringing a bucket of paint brushes (the dollar store) for between the toes sand removal before strapping on those heels. Prevents walking and dancing blisters.
 
Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse. Preferably at the ceremony location. Don’t show up at your own wedding and encounter chaos.
 
Do not under any circumstances watch The Weather Channel the week of the wedding. Let that designated person do it. Enjoy yourselves. The weather will be what it is. Make the best of it. It makes your wedding day story unique.
 
Assign someone you trust – preferably not a bridal party member – and give them total responsibility and authority to make the decision the day of the wedding to change the ceremony location in case of inclement weather. This person will tell you and the groom where you are now going to be married – but only if necessary.
 
Be on time. The day goes by so fast. Everyone is happier, especially you, if you have more time for those beach photos and more time at the reception. Be on time.
 
The No No No don’t go there list – No runners on the sand. They are treacherous and only make good wind sails. No PA systems or microphones. Let the ocean waves break and the breeze blow for the best sound affects. The officiate knows how to project. Ask readers to speak-up.
 
Memoriams – Consider readings, a dove release and that special song, ringing little bells, bubbles or a single flower toss at sea off the rock jetty after the ceremony with the officiate. Honor absent, deceased or seriously ill family and friends.
 
Sand Pouring Ceremonies – What a wonderful way to symbolically unite two families with children from previous relationships into one new entity without intimidating the young ones. It is something they will always remember. And it is fun too! Each one gets to pour their own personal sand color.
 
Save unity candle services for the reception. Do it with the blessing before dinner. Wind and strong breezes can make it difficult on the beach. Do a sand pouring ceremony instead. Make the most of the beach and the sand.
 
Provide every guest a chair for the ceremony. Don’t ask your guests to stand in clumps on the beach. It looks very messy and chaotic. It can also look cheap. Provide an aisle for the bride, bridal party and parents. Your guests came a long way for you. Make them comfortable at your beach wedding.
 
Protocol on the beach – Assign the groomsmen to ask the guests to be seated on the beach before the bride gets to the promenade or beach. Guests mean well, but get excited at the sight of the bride. Let her enter in peace and calm to the processional.
 
Be sure to coordinate your officiate and your musicians before the ceremony so that you are not the one queuing the processional, readings, musical interludes, sand pouring, dove releases and recessionals at your own ceremony. Remember once the officiate takes over the ceremony he/she has control of the guests, bridal party and musicians. Another reason to rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.
 
Rings – first check before leaving hotel rooms. And keep them in small ring pouches rather than bulky ring boxes. Try not to drop them in the sand. Do not give the real rings to a ring bearer on the beach. Tie fakes to the ring pillow.
 
Let your parents enjoy your wedding day with you. Don’t make them work. The bridal party is supposed to help with everything first, then look beautiful, handsome and have a good time second. That’s why they call them BridesMAIDS and GROOMSmen.
 
Give the Groom and the Best Man a roll of quarters for the parking meters. Encourage car pooling. Parking can be limited.
 
Bring a cooler to the beach filled with ice, bottled water and rolled wash cloths (the dollar store again). Great for hot days, trolley, the ceremony, and beach photos in the sun.
 
If the weather does not cooperate don’t forget to notify the officiate, the carriage, trolley, limo, the ceremony musicians, the videographer and photographer. They are not psychic.
 
Most important of all is to….Have Fun on Your Wedding Day!
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609-884-7900   Toll Free: 866-459-7900

Info@weddings-bythesea.com    


Revised: April 15, 2008 .
Copyright© 2003. Weddings by the Sea and The Wedding Shoppe. 

All rights reserved.
Web Site by: Cape Graphics 
Comments to: Bill@CapeGraphics.com