NAUTICAL BUT NICE

Caroline Castigliano
Living in the San Francisco Bay Area I've seen just about every kind of wedding celebration that involves boats. Whether onboard the QE II or a four-seater pontoon, you and your guy can say 'I do' in style. When you think boats and wedding, beachy-chic is probably the first style to come to mind and that's fine. But it's not your only option. Boats cruise lakes, rivers and swamps as well as oceans. Nautical can also mean a land-ho wedding inside a yacht or beach club, some with lavish reception rooms.
 Amanda Wakeley

Beach chic gowns are often halter or strapless, glamourized versions of beachwear celebrating life in the sunshine; many are columnar in silhouette for easily getting around tight onboard spaces. However, the Vera Wang creation above with that generous train would be awesome for a yacht club or houseboat wedding.
Christiana Couture
Vivienne West wood
Have a romantic Pirates of Penzance notion of nautical? All these gowns above and below would be perfect for the wedding on board an historical sailing ship.
 Ritva Westenius

 Vera Wang

Caroline Parkes

Most of my sailor brides have gotten back to me with this advice: the simpler the head chic the better. Since water and wind usually go hand in hand, you'll find beach and boating brides often have florals pinned in their hair or a simple headpiece that compliments the gown. If there's a veil, it's usually a shorter length that won't interfere with overall movement or blow all over the place.
 Ritva Westenius
 Oscar de la Renta
Shoes? That's up to you really. The bride above shucked them altogether wearing her gorgeous Oscar de la Renta with bare feet. Flat or low-heeled sandals or thongs are pretty standard now and available just about everywhere. I knew one innovative bride who showed up in high-top sneekers under her gown.
--Amy-Jo Tatum--
Bride Chic
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