Nova Scotia Beach Weddings

Most people when they think of beach weddings they imagine going “down south” to a resort with white sand or visiting a tropical island destination that hosts weddings. Not as many people consider Nova Scotia, our sweet and humble province, for their white sand beach wedding. So let us fill you in on what that looks like …

Photo by Samson Photography

We love when we get inquiries for beach elopements. Bring it on - walking down the aisle barefoot - yes please! Sunset ceremony on the beach - we can do that. Tying the knot and celebrating with a lobster boil and bonfire - fire it up! Saying “I do” high up on cliffs overlooking crashing waves - vows with a side of wows!

We believe having an elopement or tiny wedding on the beach is pretty simple and straightforward. It’s all kind of there for us, set up and ready to go: the backdrop, the ambiance, the photo ops.

There are a few things to consider though, so let’s explore:

Photo by Chris and Amber

Beach Location

There are so many gorgeous beaches in Nova Scotia, with most of them being public (hooray!) Public beaches are great and really accessible for elopements. If you’re ok with a few onlookers a public beach in Nova Scotia is a great place to get married. Got a favourite public beach in mind for your elopement? It’s as easy as walking on and getting married in the sand.

Oceanstone Elopement, Chris and Amber Photo

Beach resorts are also great option as they offer the bonus of an overnight stay or having a celebratory drink or meal afterwards.

One of our favourite beach resorts is The Quarterdeck on the South Shore. Their resort overlooks Summerville Beach which is stunning and stretches on forever. We can easily find a quiet spot for your ceremony and there’s sandy beach, trails and meadows for your photos. Their villas are pretty spectacular too, you can hear the waves crashing from the bedrooms!

If you want to be a little closer Halifax and prefer a more rugged coastline Oceanstone Resort takes the cake! Only 50 minutes from the city and less than 5 minutes from the iconic Peggy’s Cove this resort has it all. Even a spa!

There are also loads of airBNB rentals in our province with beach access. These often offer the option of a bit more privacy if a public beach wedding isn’t your thing.

Time of Day

Sunrise.
Early Morning.
Early Evening.
Sunset.

Basically anytime except mid-day. The sun on the beach throughout the day makes things hot, it makes photos washed out, and it makes for squinty-eyed faces. No thanks.

Midday is also the most popular time of day on a beach for families and sunbathers. To avoid the heat and crowds, consider morning or evening ceremonies, you will thank us later.

Photo by Samson Photography