Everyone loves an outdoor wedding in the fall. The temperatures are cooler, but not too cool, the morning skies seem bluer and the sunsets are a radiant blend of pinks and oranges. If you’re planning fall nuptials, consider the sugar-white sands of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach for your destination wedding location.

Whether you say your vows on the sand or from the deck of a beachfront cottage, the natural surroundings will provide a picturesque backdrop for your special day. Make your event a day to remember with unique touches that only a beach wedding can provide.

• Send a love letter afloat with your wedding date in a message in a bottle.
• Send guests home with a little piece of the beach. Sprinkle a little sand in a clear goodie bag with seashells in it for guest favors.
• If your nuptials will be in the sand, provide each guest with a pair of flip flops.
• Consider a departure from the norm and use starfish for boutonnières.

Another plus to beach weddings in the fall are the off-season lodging rates. For a list of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach lodging options, visit the directory to find the hotel, condominium or beach house that is right for your guests.

To make planning your event even easier, visit this directory of caterers, florists, ministers and judges, wedding planners and entertainers.

Come say “I Do” to a beach wedding!