Having a
beach wedding and hoping to find the perfect centerpiece? Not to worry: this theme makes the most of modest elements. Sure, you can hand your florist 20 grand or call up Preston Bailey for some crystal trees ... but even if you keep things super-simple, your tables will still look grand.
Still, a word to the wise: most beach weddings take place in challenging conditions. Wind is no friend to flames, so make sure any candles are shielded.
Plus, all that sun can really beat down your flowers. So if you're using live blooms, test them out. You can take steps to avoid common problems (drooping tulips, browning hydrangeas), but you need to know what to expect in your own unique setting.
Finally, an important style secret: what goes under your centerpieces can be just as important as the showy stuff on top. A mirrored tile might bounce light, but these days, it just doesn't look that fresh.
On the other hand, something like a bamboo mat or banana leaf, a palm frond or a few looped blades of sword grass will make your tables look like the hand of an old pro was involved.
Sand and Candle Centerpieces
These have to be the gold standard when it comes to beach weddings. Brides use them over and over, because they're inexpensive, easily styled and lots of fun to look at. Plus, you can find the makings almost anywhere.
The essential ingredients: sand, a candle, maybe some seashells and a glass container. After that, it's all about design. So here's a few ways to make your sand and candle centerpieces really pop.
White-Out. If you just grab the first sand or shells you find, you might find the look a bit blah. Try to really work the colors: focus on bright white, for example. Start with a white pillar candle, and set in white sand. Scatter light-colored seashells around the base, and prop up a zesty white starfish against the candle. The effect's much brighter (and more bridal) than the usual grays and bieges.
Of course, other brides crave more color and zing. So alternately, you could place a bright coral votive inside your bowl, and scrunch a small sea of aqua organza underneath it.
Style Secret. It's funny how boring sand can look when you just pour it into a bowl ... almost like concrete. Give it much more interest by mixing it up the top layers with tiny seashells or pebbles. Also, be sure to tuck in a starfish or two as a focal point for each bowl. They really draw the eye, while piles of just-plain shells can be pretty sedate.
Bling up the Bowl. If all this isn't enough visual excitement, add more by lashing a starfish or sand dollar to the outside of the bowl. Combine an aqua satin ribbon with raffia for rich yet rustic tying material.
Surrounded! Every great centerpiece deserves a solid supporting act. Popular choices include rose petals, mini adirondack chairs for nautical chic, smaller votives, individual orchids, or large chunks of beach glass that bounce the light beautifully.
Cylindrical Stylings
Tall glass cylinders are some of the most stylish centerpieces you could ever want. And yet, their simplicity borders on criminal. Spend a bit of time staging these ahead of time, and you'll have some astounding designs that any good friend can easily toss together a few hours before the reception.
The Ingredients:
A glass cylinder vase (about 10" tall and 3.5" wide).
A large floating candle (about 3" wide).
Anything else your heart desires ... or nothing, since they already look perfectly elegant.
The Theory. Glass cylinders are sleek and modern. Fill them with water, and you get extra reflected-light mileage out of your floating candles. These centerpieces look gorgeous as is, but you can also personalize more by including "drowning" fruits, flowers or other inserts.
Fab Fillers. Try adding these interest-grabbers to the bottom of your cylinders: sunken hydrangeas or orchids, sand and seashells, whole and sliced citrus fruit, silk flower petals, beach glass, vase gems or river stones.
Design Secret. Make sure your floating candles are nearly as big as the cylinder is wide. If they're smaller, they'll float to one side and look lopsided. Also, don't overstuff your cylinders with fillers. Three shades of hydrangea blossoms or citrus fruits crammed all the way to the top don't look nearly as nice as they should. Instead, fill each cylinder anywhere from 1/4 to 2/3 of the way to the top, leaving the rest of the space for water or air.
Remember, though, if these babies are going outside, the candle needs to be well below the top of the cylinder. Also, clustering adds major visual punch. Plan on grouping these in threes. Fill the water to three different heights for a sophisticated, graduated look.
Amazing Aqua
Oh, this is too easy ... and yet too cute. Take some ordinary but stylish little fishbowls, and fill with aqua-tinted water ... don't forget to add that touch of yellow! Now, finish them off by slipping in masses of simple, bright-white blooms: hydrangeas, white peonies or even carnations. Gorgeous and witty.
Potted Orchids
No wonder this solution's so popular for the terminally chic. (And no more wailing about expensive blooms that die three days after the reception!) Simply deck each table with a tall, ethereal potted orchid. Replant each one in a pretty terra-cotta pot with a shell motif. Cover the soil with sheet moss or flower petals.
Then, style the base with a simple frame you've lashed together with bamboo and raffia. Or simply tuck a banana leaf underneath each pot. These look extraordinary, you don't have to fret over flames, and at the end of the night, they make great prizes for an impromptu raffle ... or touching gifts for your loyal bridesmaids.
Faux Coral "Trees"
This is a hot idea that's sure to get guests talking ... and it offers some height for cheap. Put a cool tropical spin on the usual bare-branch solution by spray-painting masses of curly willow, birch or other decorative branches a bright coral red. Place the finished result in a vase filled with white sand or clear gems. The results: haute and exotic.
All-Natural Table Runners
Why not pile interesting materials down the table as an eye-catching alternative to the usual
damask or satin runners? Inexpensive but intriguing: try a line of driftwood, punctuated with glass votives and scattered orchids. Or, for more of a splurge, go with a whole heaping pile of star lilies, orchids or rose petals.
Share Your Sense of Style!
What designs did you dream up for
your beach reception? Trade ideas, share your inspirations, and post your mock-up pics ... or the finished result!
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Style Guide to the Nautical (Preppy!) Wedding
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Pull Off a Hawaiian Luau Wedding Reception Anywhere — With Ease
Beach Wedding Favors With a Personal Stamp
I Love this site and everyones ideas are so great. I am getting married next month in Florida and then having a reception in June in our hometown in Oklahoma. This is “beach” themed of course and I am looking for some inexpensive ideas on table decorations. I want it to be unique but not tacky looking so if anyone has any ideas I would love to hear them
Also we will have children at the reception and I wondered about setting a table up for them with coloring books and little things to keep them occupied…good idea or not ? 
angel,
setting up a kids table is a perfect idea!! it WILL keep lil’ hands busy. you can do something as simple as scattering abundant seashells( found at a craft store for super reasonable) along the center of table mixing with votives like pic shown. i posted the ones i thought were great!! i thought beach grass made the centerpieces very nice!! most items could be free or next to nothing!! borrow all the glass containers you can. also if you want to use a water filled container check out flora lytes these great lil’ lights can be submerge to change the water color or better yet head to your local grocer and pick up some food dye just a couple drops and you have “ocean water”!!
Stacey,
Thank you for the ideas, I too love the one with the beach grass. Very nice and yet can be done very reasonably ! The kids table i think will be a great hit…trying to keep little ones busy is sometimes a challenge
Now you said something about flora lytes, where can I find these at ?
angel, google search and google image submersible floralytes and it will take you to several links. these are inexpensive and have a powerful impact!! love them!!
Hello,
) so …….. basically what I’m getting at is ……. HELP!!!!!! Any ideas I can get my hands on are welcomed and appreciated. Thanks ever so much for taking the time to read this (even though it was kind of a pity party).
I am a little new to this site, so please bear with me, But after reading through the comments - it is obvious I’ve come to the right place. I am getting married, but I am unsure when….. My Guy is in the Navy so it is pretty stop. GO. at this point. He is in the Nuclear Engineering Program, So I am kinda planning this by myself. I have some things, like for flowers I want Tiger Lily/Beach Grass arrangements. Since it is illegal to pick Beach Grass, I have begrudingly admitted that I am going to have to have silk flowers but I have no color, no dress ideas, no anything really. Also to my disadvantage My Sister is getting married in April (stealing most of my ideas
Wishing you the best in all your endeavors,
Julia
Oh by the way, my wedding is hopefully going to be late spring early summer on the Navy base in Pensacola Florida at the Chief’s club.
I don’t know if that would be necessary information but its there none the less.
julia, hi!! can you tell me a little about the colors youlike and dont like. what color tiger lilies are you using? i am assuming your using orange, i just got through looking at yellow and pink ones gorgeous!!! and super important what color is your venue? are you looking for centerpieces only? or more overall ideas? what is your formality, casual, semi-casual, formal?
*Keep it simple sister ( love, love, love this table!! it is simply done but speaks volumes and wows!!)
this is the way i would go!! add this with the pics i posted. let the single bold color make its statement. keep to tiger lilies and bear grass only( single flower type in single color for a simple and effortless decor that looks like a million bucks!!) i would choose a orange, white, and deep champagne( let bm try on dresses in different shades of champagne from light to dark and see which one compliments their skin tone best) for my colors.
julia, oh yeah dont 4get to add the cylinders of sand and candles to round out the table( like in link). have the cake in another color with the orange for an unexpected pop of color!!
actually i was planning on white tiger lilies but i like the idea of one distinctive color. However, orange is not really my cup of tea. i was thinking like pale colors for the bridesmaids which really goes with the champagne idea… but im just looking for any ideas i can find. Just in general. Your thoughts?
julia, heh white works!! love the white tiger lily beautiful. understand the orange. but you can do white tiger lilies on a colored cloth and still get the same effect. ot better yet, have a mostly white theme( white flowers, white cloths and bring in the color in the napkins, favors, cake, small things etc.) have you thought about aqua and white? it is an AMAZING color scheme. another is yellow and white ( which you could replace the orange flowers with yellow from the keep it simple link i gave) it doesnt have to be orange. i just loved the simplicity of the table and thought how elegant and simple and beach like it is !!
and thought that this table setting would work soooo well!! smile!! especially with tiger lilies and bear grass wow!
let me know what you think!!
Could you tell me what colors do catch your eye?
it will help me narrow down ideas. also what colors are in the chiefs club? some colors i have suggested might clash. ??? just on a whim have you thought about a theme? if you want one what about a nautical theme? the colors blue green and white. you could really play around with this color scheme!!
*Sara and James ( this is nice, i am in love with the green and white reception, completely romantic and timeless yet still fun!) green and white palette is super stylish and the bonus?!? it goes with everything!! google image seaside wedding board for some pics, you may like the way it looks. also google image nautical wedding board.
*Andrea and Philip in Cayman Islands
*Paradise Found
*Jodi and Aaron in Baja, Mexico ( all white but beautiful!!)
*Narda and Albert in Ocho Rios, Jamaica ( i have loved this for a while now. the colors just look creamy dont they, very soft! i love the champagne, white and mocha color scheme and white orchids/pink centers.) didnt know if it fit what your looking for but had to show you!!
Hiya Stacey!
to have the guests on the ground next to the elevated boardwalk (it’s not very high like 2 feet) and make it the “aisle” that i walk down. i was going to wrap white taffeta(sp?) around the top of the side railing and every so often have it wrap down the pole. like I don’t know every 5-10 feet? Originally, I was going to get married on the fourth of April and use spring colors However when my sister decided that she wanted to get married on th 18th of April and use pastels, How could I tell her no? 
So all the while< I’m helping her with wedding I’m giving her all my original ideas…… I’m too nice to her.
ok so as far as the Chief’s Club the colors dont matter because we are having the ceremony outside the and the reception on site there. The main thing is that if you book wiht the Chief’s Club they do it ALL ‘cept decorating. They provide the catering, servers, bartender for the open bar everything. Plus my Grampa is in the know because he used to barber on base there. Basically it has like a boardwalk to the beach, sand, the ocean and a BIG brick buliding. I thought it would be AWESOME
BUT ANYWAY….. I loved the Sara And James one and also the Jodi and Aaron. As far as colors go, my favs are pale pink, powder puff blue, and lime green so thats where my predicament lies. Which color do I choose, pluse any color I do choose one (or all) of my bridesmaids will be displeased with it. I want it to look good, but I want something original…… something to match Ryan and My’s personalities. Something that says “young, but mature” …… that says “against all the odds, We WILL make it” …………..Does that come pre-packaged? LOL
Julia,
i am so glad you liked those 2 weddings they are beautiful and jodi’s is different. why not pick all these colors? you said the bm’s will be displeased with waht you pick?!? is it cause they dont want to wear those color dresses? why dont you look at this then. i love the neutral and totally wear again friendly brown dresses( will they like this) then anchor it against a creamy brown and white reception, add lots of white. then for your bouquet carry a solid bouquet of white tiger lilies. then have your bm carry the pink green adn blue bouquets. use fresh greenery and bear grass for the decor. i love the white taffeta, but i think its a little heavy of a fabric. why not flowy chiffon, tulle or organza? have your bouquet with white (the flowy fabric also trailing down with long ribbons, the wind would catch it and be gorgeous, for your something blue add a simple blue ribbon or heirloom keepsake to it( a brooch?) i think the brown anchors the young fresh pastels. and you will give a twist to your wedding while both you and your sis could choose the pastel scheme. even in the daytime the paper lanterns ( are super budget friendly) and would give your colors to the wedding decor easily. navy blue would be another excellent choice to set the pastel colors against.
like this for example:
the green is the accent through the greenery etc. not an addition tothe color scheme. so it basically left a palette of navy pink and white which looks sooo sharp!!
*Board #8: Shipwrecked( i cant lie i love this board see how the browns the touches of pinks and blues with greens gotogether, just fantastic. you dont have to have this theme, i just wanted you to look at how its just so beautiful and relaxing yet fun! and the kicker pull in the natural surroundings of the beach. that speaks volumes to me, i like natural beauty shining through. it seems so sad when covered up.
you also have an all white and brown( or soft mocha) color scheme keep that simple. that way you can add what you both like, it will flow and go with everything but will reflect you. this board reminds me of pirates of the caribbean. i think fresh picked flowers bound by simple, natural ribbons. centerpieces with picked flowers of the island with grasses(for instance bear grass) put in a mix of antique looking containers. champagne, brown or blue dresses for the girls( common colors of the day) with guys in blue or brown with white shirts. add a today touch with flipflops carrying a single long stem bloom with ribbons( a tiger lily) all white or natural colored linens. a look that echos a time before florists and wedding planners but modern enough to not be to rustic. an amazing cake adorned with the island wildflower look. up to date with tiger lilies( that would look fresh picked fromthe era) also in blue glass bottles( collected at every flea market). yards of sheer fabrics( an up to date touch cause most of the fabric then would be heavy) made into a beautiful arch of bamboo and decorated with flowing greenery, grasses, and a FEW flowers. let the greenery shine against the fabric. antique looking paper(parchment) for invites. have a real peacock feather pen for signing the leather journal looking guestbook( which actually is a journal). what a fab wedding to throw! sorry was dreaming there for a bit!! lol. only problem here is you dont want to use another flower type with the tiger lily do you? would youmind telling me what kind of vision you see for your personalities that way i might be able to find something perfect! smile. i am not really sure what your formality is and what is the color you would like your bm wear? if i had a few more details on what your personalities were like.
*inspiration board:: katie + luke
*Bari and Mandell’s Fresh Spring Wedding( of course choose your own colors)
*Sunset Photo Inspires Color Palette
*Board #222: Southern California Beach Wedding( i thought this might be pretty close to what you might want?!? its so dreamy and on a budget!! love it!! it tells everything you need start to finish, details use touches of pink in place of yellow and change aqua to powder blue, and add a little more greenery for the green) if you want a 2 color scheme go with blue and white. because you can use a monochromatic color scheme( using many shades of blue from light to dark, its very gorgeous when you do that!!)
example:
*Board #218: New England Beach Wedding
*Board #86: A Maine Coast Wedding
for more ideas go to snippetandink.com type in beach wedding then beach wedding board. also can type in budget friendly wedding board
julia, omg!! didnt realize i wrote so much!
here are some pics though.
Ok, wow! that was alot of help. I totally love that style of the BM’s dress (the dark brown one) last pic u gave. As far as our personalities….. it’s hard to pin down……. Crazy, but not “over the top”. Let’s put it this way when he proposed to me it was on an afternoon that we had spent laying around my house playing board games. long story short, I spit Mountain Dew in his face,
he proceeded to tackle me and pin me to the ground and TELL me (not ask me) that he was going to marry me. When I got up, I had a ring on my finger. 
Apparently he had it all planned that he was going to take me out to a fancy dinner at Tucker’s (”A Fine Italian Dining” place) and do the whole down on one knee bit, but he saw an “opportunity” (as he tells it) and took it. For dinner we went to Burger King. 
Does that tell you anything?
P.s. The pics are us.
julia, i love that story!!! ya’ll make a great couple. okay got it!! whimsical,laid back, relaxed with a elegant twist?!? my main question should have been do you like alot of details or could you have just a few?
did you like anything from my previous post? here are some more links, remember the colors can be changed to suit you.
*tiffanyblue affair
*Mexico in the Spring ( this could be done is pastels and will show a fun side)
*amanda and eric( this is a great wedding with the pastels you love, just put bm in brown( if guys are casual simple white shirts and khaki would look good or brown suits and no ties)
*blair and roth wedding
*brittney and wilson( there a true sense of love and fun here)
*kate and pete( this wedding is great and simple which i love, nothing fancy just shows true meaning of a wedding)
*alison and rick(wow!! look at those colors and decor! )
*brooke and tim
*beach weddings
julia, i just feel like i am not helping you find what you love. i made a mood board, hope you like it. let me know what color scheme you have chosen, that way i will know what to find that would be perfect!!
this is what i am thinking….can do a basic white and brown palette and add pastels. have white table linens, brown napkins, pastel centerpiece. or vice versa. if youwant to use 1 flower use the tiger lilies in white and pink with the brown and white, keep simple, put in great glass containers. bring your color in paper lanterns. have girls in brown, guys in khaki or brown. no boutonnieres. keep it simple. pull more color in bottled water with colored labels. and have favors in white and brown. this palette should be easy to work with and go with everything. brown and white cake. dont 4get lots of greenery and fern.
Ok, No YOU ARE BEING A VERY BIG HELP!!!!!!
Everyone is so busy with Pamela’s wedding I haven’t had any discussions with anyone regarding my wedding. so feel free to give or not give as much as you want EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS. I mean hey, even if I decide against something then I’m at least deciding what I don’t want. 
As far as a color scheme, I’m teetering btween white and pale pink or white and pale blue. I had a think the other day and have decided Beach - NO SHOES!! on anyone in the wedding party, I mean maybe flip flops after for the reception. AND for a favor (tell me if this is tacky PLEASE) why not have like flip flops for the guests to wear cuz I mean if your going to a wedding your going to dress up. but idk ……heels+beach sand= not good in my book. The only challenge is Ryan was going to wear his dress uniform for the wedding but I really REALLY like the casual look on the groomsmen. (my dad will be relieved, he hates Tuxes) from the pics you gave me I SOOOOOOOO LOVE the ones I reposted, and the chinese paper lanterns!!!! Check off one decorations, I’m so totally doing that. I’ve all but decided to go the casual route, I just have to check with Ryan because if he really wants to wear his dress uniform thats a no go. ( 
) which is good, because my sister is going really formal. so different, you know. funny how you can have the same ideas and go two completely different directions with them isnt it? OH! by the way I was also thinkin maybe like the parasols and chinese fans for decorations ………… 
OMG! why not just throw the whole asian twist into the entire wedding!!!!!!! RYAN LOVES EVERYING ASIAN!!!!!!!!!!!! 
ok ok ok ok, so if we do that then how would the bridesmaids dresses work cuz I was thinkin that we’d go T-length kindof dressy/casual in like pink or blue……. sorry for the rambling but I’m ADHD…. anyway your thoughts on the previous rambling of confusion interspersed with random acts of insanity?
P.S. Really, Seriously, Thank you for all your help and please be blatantly honest on my whole flip flop thing. thanks again.
Julia
4Th pic
heh julia, the pics you chose are just perfect!! i do love the asian twist to this. if he chooses his uniform, it doesnt have to change. just put the guys in casual beach friendly suits.(i saw a wedding pic the other day, if i find it i will post it) where groom was in military and guys in suits no tie and flipflops, it looked really good!! I LOVE THE FLIPFLOP IDEA! YEAH!! i am a flip flop fanatic, it just goes perfect with this entire scheme!! why not have the blue and white with pops of pink tiger lilies in the mix too? i google imaged them and they have pink, its so pretty. actually why not have the all white scheme, put flowers in wood or bamboo containers. have paper lanterns overhead. billowy white linens, girls in blue, carrying pink and white tiger lilies.
heh, look waht i just found!! in your colors would be fab!! could you imagine this with blue or pink paper lanterns above table!!!! white lilies dancing across the bamboo runner!! gorgeous!!! i do love the look of white and blue. i love incorporating the black rocks on the table. plus it just fits especially the on a beach, i figured you might love this table. It gives the billowy look like the other one with the asian accents, which is really a great look!! yeah i looked at it again, the blue paper lanterns would be fab!! i love the way your going with this!! jcrew.com has some great dresses for very reasonable! consider your bridesmaids carrying a single stem lily tied with ribbon. it looks wonderful on the beach!! lilies are large and elegant enough to hold their own in a single stem. and here are some blue paper lanterns in pic, that would add the color with your white and blue palette.
*Modern Zen Table Setting
*Meredith & Aaron in Hoboken, NJ
*Green Weddings on Portovert
julia, i forgot to say the dresses will work regardless. you are right on target with the length of the dress and color. cause a true asian wedding will include pink cherry blossoms, they are known for these pink or white blossoms. so pink is a BIG color in this type theme!! smile! you mean the brown dress i posted? just get one in blue. would be stunning!! your will be a beach wedding with asian touches instead of full asian theme. wow this wedding is gonna be gorgeous!!i love it already its just starting to take shape!! it has asian and beachy elements which are flowing beautifully!! dont you just love the blue paper lanterns!! for extra ooophm look for tassled lanterns in the blue and white.
Your Thoughts?
julia, that is fantastic!! i think the flip flop idea would be great but its true if noone will wear them then axe them. however! at some point the bridesmaids will probably want shoes. so why not get them a great pair of flipflops only and have them for the party after. that way you will still get the flipflops just not for everyone!! i dont think i would put that in the invite. though you COULD have a basket (the women will be totally thankful if they wear heels but i dont see anyone wearing heels to the beach wedding though i could be wrong) it might be best to axe them and just leave them to the bridal party. guys too. maybe that would be easier. plus it is an xtra expense. you could put those $$$ somewhere else. but it would be a thoughtful gift for the bridal party just add it among their gifts already. consider rhinestone or sequin flipflops, something they will be in awe over and trust me they will love it to have something to wear during the summer. i know i would!!
wow!! the dress sounds amazing and WHAT?!?! that is a fab price!! I am so happy you loved the ideas!! i think it will be fantastic please post pics after the wedding!!
Hey Stacey,
Yea, my sister and I went shopping for our gowns at David’s Bridal. You know the whole 99$ sale? well I found some that would do if they fit me, I dont really want to go all extravagant, but all the ones I tried on wouldn’t fit then I found that and it was perfect.
I love the idea of the flipflops for the wedding party during the reception. For the guys we could just get high quality black flipflops and for the bridesmaids something to match their respective dresses that they will like and want to wear again. I guess thats my main thing. I want to do gifts for the BM’S and GM’S and Guests that they will use, or maybe even like. ECSPECIALLY the outfits of the wedding party. Some fancy gown that is floor length and hideous will have no use after my wedding. A short pretty sundress type outfit, or balck slacks white shirt for the guys, they will want to wear again. Thats my main goal. Logical and useful.
julia, hear hear!! i completely agree with logical and useful!! great the idea of the flipflops;glad you loved it. for the guests gifts or favors. remember anything edible will be the most useful. so make sure its a fabulous edible treat. say….what is a to die for and famous treat locally? cookies, candy, taffy, etc. ? have them in very fun, mini beach bags. if budget allowed wouldnt men women and childrens shades be neat in their own little pouch!! but the $$$ would add up. check out orientaltrading.com for some ideas. if you want to make something homemade you can do the same. just add recipe card. it doesnt have to be fancy.
I am planning a beach themed bat mitzvah and am open to many ideas and need some new ones… I need help on centerpieces, place cards, and favors help me!
rachel,
google search beach theme bar mitzvah. you will see a ton of links that might help!!
Take beach balls blow them up attach 30″ and 40″ fishing line tie to helium balloon
Favors make seashell candy molds found at craft store, put in candy bags found at craft store add light brown sugar tie with raffeta found at craft store
centerpiece thake plastic kids pail fill with play sand for weight add seashells two play shovels and mylar fill sea life balloon write on pails like crab shanty (table marker)
Name cards at craft store seashell soap mold use plaster of parris when dry write names
Good Luck
hi Im new to this forum. But i have a wedding coming up in may and Id like my reception decoration to be tropical but also somewhat affordable…and I’d liek to make it myself…now all i need is some ideas. I wanted the centerpieces to have the tropical colors(orange, yellow, red) but also some seashells…I just dont really know how to arrange that…anybody have any ideas??
verena,
head over to walmart or your local craft store. buy up bags of seashells (so inexpensive and usually alot of them!)i think craft stores might have larger bags. now head to your local dollar tree or $ store. buy decent size wide glass vases and have your flowers. take the glass vases, set seashells in bottom (not perfectly) tip: find a vase that will work for your table so you dont have to buy/use so many items. fill with water and set your flower arrangements in vase and voila! another idea is you can also add sand to the bottom, add a few shells, water then flowers.
another idea is take your flowers and just arrange them in water, (clearor blue glass vases). then at each place setting haev a seashell. you could even do this with the idea above.
I actually found a lot of white sea shells at my local dollar store. So I got a bag of sea shells for a $1, so I would check once they start getting spring stuff in !
buy fish vase at walmart about $3.00 each fill about 3-4″ with play sand add candle and seashells.
Sprinkle table with colored rose petals like coral, ocean blue, yellow…
Ok, I’m having a beach wedding on March 14th 2009 :)
It’s going to be around noon because I want it in the heat of the day (So preferably not candles) I want UNIQUE Centerpeices that people will talk about and I don’t want to spend a lot on them, possible $20 and under per centerpeice.My colors are Sea Green and White.All help would be appreciated.
Torie, why not recreate “little oceans”. take simple clear glass containers, preferably rectangular, even round would work. take white or beige sand ( whatever you can find, it usually comes in a 20-50 lb sack ( usually be the pool section) and put into bottom of container, make it unlevel like the bottom of the ocean floor. at wal mart or any decor store they sell small shells ( even in a aquarium section) and place a few at bottom, add greenery, may be you can find some thin enough it would wave in the water( which will be tinted with blue food dye to an ocean color) can add pebbles if you wish. just make little scenes, maybe have treasure chest at bottom of some and sunken ship in others. it will make people look i promise. if you dont care for this. then do a message in the bottle scene by using simple wooden trays with the sides. take you bottle fill it partially with sand and lay in bed of sand have parchment paper scrolls laid beside the bottle(mix and match flea markets should have tons of bottles for super cheap) paper supply stores have parchment paper ( i have bought it in 200 sheets per pack for $8. i burnt the edges for my daughters wedding invites) take an old world font and diy on the computer have a saying thanking the guests for coming( they will want to read what it says). you can make this into a treasure find by adding jewels and fake coins if you wish. i bet your guests will love this. find a way to incorporate your favors into this centerpiece. be careful of edibles as sand may get into favor boxes. but other than that the wood tray walls should protect any spills. i hope you like these, if not, let me know and i will think of something else!!
Hi Torie,
I had a beach themed wedding this past August and for my centerpieces I simply criss-crossed two palm leaves (about 2 feet long by 6 inches wide) on the table, mixed in 3 tealights, a handful of sand, about 10 small shells and aqua and clear stones. It was very simple yet elegant. The palm leaves were really the focus and the others added to it- the shells and sand added a beachy feel and the stones looked like water droplets. You mentioned no candles but mine was outside during the day and it looked great- make sure to get clear tealights and not metal, the light shows through better and they look classier. Also, if you need favor ideas, we bought 3 inch sand dollars from Seashells.com, bought our color ribbon and tied the ribbon through the top holes, wrote our names and date on the front with a silver pen and put them in little silver organza bags. (You could find sea green online I am sure) Everyone is using them as ornaments! They were cheap and easy to make. Have fun and good luck :-)
This website is great ! I just got married Oct 24th in Riviera Maya and we are doing a reception back in the states in Dec.So for any of you needing ideas, I hope these help. We are doing a winter in paradise theme. We are using a bunch of white christmas trees and decorating them with different colored christmas lights but in tropical colors. Our favors for everyone to take home, is a sand dollar ornanment. We are hot gluing a bow to the sand dollar and tying riibon on it so you can hang it on your tree and then writing our name and wedding date on the back. We also ordered a bunch of smaller sand dollars and instead of people signing a guest book, then are going to write personal messages on the sand dollars and they we will put them in a glass bowl for home. For our centerpieces, we got these big vases and in some of them we are putting in sand, white seashells and star fishes and then in the others filling them with water and putting white flowers and a floating candle in.
My one piece of advice is go with whatever colors you want. It is your day. I had eight bridesmaids and so I put each girl in a different color and the pictures turned out awesome ! Don’t let anyone talk you out of the colors you want. So since I have a lot of colors we are keeping the table decorations white and then taking a piece of tool ( fish netting ) and making it into a table runner ( different color on each table ) and hooking starfishes through it. Thats also the reason why we are using just white flowers in the vases, so there isn’t an overload on color.
QualitySeaShells is where I ordered everything from. They are good priced and guarentee that everything comes in one piece otherwise you can return with no cost. As for a way to save on cost of flowers, all of my bridesmaids bouqets and my centerpiece flowers came from Hobby Lobby. They have all their flowers 50% off and they don’t look cheap.
I hope this helps .
I loved the pictures of your wedding! I am getting married June 13th in Florida (from Kentucky) and just wanted to know what brand your bridesmadis dresses were………… They are beautiful and I loved how they each wore a different color!!! I would appreciate it if you would let me know!
THanks
Jamie
OH thank you ! They are Landa Designs, here is the website and the dress is M 713. I had my girls cut off the straps to make it strapless, I didn’t like the halter look.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Well I found the dresses and a bridal shop where I can order them! I am going with Tangerine. But– the headbands, was that just from the material from the straps. I noticed online where the sash around the waist is long? Did you have your girls cut that shorter because I noticed it wasn’t tied in the front. Very classy look. THanks so much! These dresses will be perfect for my wedding.
Yes, the headband is from the straps on the dress. The tangerine is the orange color that one of my girls is in. Here is a picture of just her with it on. No, the girls didn’t cut the sashes , all they did was tie it in the back with a square not. I’ll show a pic of that too. Well congratulations and best of luck with everything. If you have any other questions feel free to ask !
I would like to know what kind of flowers that is in your bridesmaids bouquets. They look like big gerber daisies but I wanted to make sure, also did they dye them to make them match the dresses perfectly? Your wedding was absolutely GORGEOUS! You did an awesome job babe!
-Alicia
Also.. What were the names of the colors each of your bridesmaids are wearing??
Thank you so much.
Thank you !
The flowers I believe are bigger Gerber daisies. I got them at Hobby Lobby and we did not have to die them, I bought them exactly how they look, each individual and just did the arrangement ourselves. Plus they were half off, which is great ! If you don’t have a Hobby Lobby where you are from, it is just a big craft store.
The colors that girls are in are…
Caribean Blue
Lipstick Pink
Lime- Green
Lemon-Yellow
Iris- Purple
Coral
Turquoise
Tangerine- Orange
I went on the website and they dont have all the color swatches that they used to have. These dresses were stain material
Feel free to ask if you have any other questions
Where did you get those bridesmaid dresses? They are fabulous and I love the many colors!! Such a good idea!!
OH thank you ! I got them from a store called Bridal Elegance, in Bloomington and Ottawa, IL. They are Landa Designs, http://www.landadesigns.com and the dress is M 713 on page 4. I had my girls cut off the straps to make it strapless, I didn’t like the halter look. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thank you sooooo much for sharing your information!!! I’m planning a poolside wedding where I live instead of going to Jamaica so all of our family & friends can be there. When I saw you & your bridemaids I knew I found the look I want to have and colors. The wedding will be in July/2010. The theme will read Jamaica comes to Jeorgia (Georgia). We will be seving a jamaican buffet style menu and having a steel drummer to set the mood during the dinner portion of the reception.
Hi Kassandra, I LOVE your Bridesmaids dresses where did you find them??!!
Thank you ! Just look at the comment above yours and it says where I got them from !
I can’t wait to share your photos with my daughter and future son-in-law who are planning beach wedding next year! The casual, festive, colorful, simplicity speaks volumes. Thank you for sharing all your great ideas.
I love the sandcastle at the top of this page! Where can I find one? The only place I’ve seen these types of sandcastles is Carmel Curios but the tallest one is only about 15″ tall. And the one on this page is SO much cuter. Any help would be most appreciated!
lori, hi i google images sand castle centerpieces and found them…11″ high and 44.00 each.
* Sand Castle CP “Magic Castle”
Also a 15″ high one, different design for $72 each:
* Sand castle CPS “Dream Castle”
HTH!
Thanks Stacey!
Here’s a beach-theme wedding cake that I made for my nephew’s beach wedding. He’s a computer tech so the groom’s cake was made like a lap top computer. He loved it!
Looking for some aqua bridesmaid dresses. Something semi formal. Maybe strapless or halter. Defiantley shorter for the beach. I’ve checked out David’s bridal, but I am not crazy about any of the pool dresses. Let me know if you have any suggestions!
Here’s some of the aqua beach cakes that I like.
Hi Serene,
There are millions of aqua dresses online everywhere. Try doing a google search under “aqua bridesmaid dresses”, or “turquoise bridesmaid dresses”, and see what comes up. Also check out the comments section in the aqua wedding page on this site. There are hundreds of dress ideas, and bunches of pics.
Serene,
I used Alfred Angelo for my girls- the color was Pool. They have every dress in every color so there are tons of choices in length, style, etc. All 9 of by bridesmaids wore a different style in the same color and it looked great. Check out their website- Alfredangelo.com.
I am getting married in Hawaii in August. We are having a reception in September in Utah & carrying over the ocean theme. I have MANY seashells large & small. I would appreciate any ideas regarding centerpieces & display table decor. Thanks!!
Hi Karie, congrats! That should be a gorgeous wedding … and lots of fun after for your friends & family at home. You’ll have to put out some portrait-style pics of your wedding at the reception if you can, people will love them.
Some thoughts for you, with all those shells. I know you’ve seen a million sand-and-shell CPs, but I put a few here that seemed to have that little twist.
On the top, #1, I like the warm colors. Sand-and-shell CPs tend to have cool ones so it stands out when you have starfish, votives and loose blooms all color-coordinated in oranges and yellows. (from downing.amanda.)
#2, I really love the metallics. A lovely brassy ribbon and a gold charger makes this CP extra-glamorous and upscale. Even the pillar shimmers. (from Kyle Romero.)
#3, your shells might be on the small side and not these enormous chunky types, but I love how airy they look chunked into square clear vases like that, with all that space in between. Then surrounded with votives for light. This is such a clean, modern look. (from Meghann & Will, Brides).
Okay, the second row. If you have a lot of shells you can make them into a table runner or a table border as shown here.
Pic #2: this is a gorgeous CP with crisp white shells filling a clear glass cylinder and a white starfish hot-glued on the outside. She used silks on top, but you could use real flowers in water tubes. (from farfromtheshore.)
#3 is an inventive table setting by Crossroads Cottage. One of my local home design stores did a very similar display using transparent glass plates and chargers, it looked lovely. You could replace the riverstones with shells and the burlap with more formal fabrics. The netting is a terrific background for scattered shells, it makes them look more designed.
Now, let’s say you’re willing to put in some hours with a glue gun! Just a few things you could do with a LOT of shells: create candle rings or wreaths for pillars. (Check out Dow how-to for some pointers on making these.) Shell pomanders for flower girls or wired shell bouquet pics for bouquets. Get those wooden numbers and hot-glue or mosaic on shells for custom table numbers.
Below (the pic is bad, click through for a better view) is a wonderful low vase completely covered in shells. (from "Tropical Punch," Brides.) #2 is a ton of shells hot-glued into beautiful placecard holders. (from "Trendspotting," Brides.)
The last pic above is hard to see, but these are linens with an organza pocket filled with seashells. One of the most romantic beach-theme table dressings ever! (From "Wed on the Beach," Brides.) If you have a sewing friend or great linen supply, this would be so lovely for the cake table.
Just a few more ideas. You can make some really glamorous bare-branch centerpieces, you know, curly willow or manzanita tree types. Hang strings of crystal beads and bright white shells from the branches using microfilament. Maybe dust the shells with pearl dust for more glamour. I’d glue two shells together so they have no "backs". A wreath of simple white blooms at the base: hydrangea or carnations.
Another thing you can do: two-bowl CPs where you use a large bowl and a small one. You partly fill the large with shells and place the smaller one inside so the shells are tucked between the glass layers. Then you put whatever you want in the small bowl (tinted water, floating candles or flowers). I hope this helps a bit!
My wedding is 8/30/08 and my colors are turquoise, coral, green, yellow and chocolate brown, It’s beach themed and I need ideas for romantic centerpieces, flowers, and sand dollar favors.. any ideas?? I’ve chosen turquoise dresses and calla lillies, but other than that I’m stuck
Hmm, Meg, I’ll try to see what I can find …
You’ve probably made a lot of progress by now, though? Any finds?
Got some new beach centerpiece ideas … today’s “Best of” flickr!
If you like any of these ideas, here are the links to see more:
ROW 1
1) Cute lighthouse CPs for bridal shower. 2) High-end beach wedding menu display. 3) and 4) Enchanting centerpiece and whimsical snack holders (beach pails!) from Anne Ruthman photography.
ROW 2
Hot! 1) Custom mini-beach scenes from Little Landscapes. 2) Bright and modern aqua/pink tabletop design. 3) Table CP and adirondack chair favor from a gorgeous pink and pale yellow beach wedding. 4) Simple but lovely island centerpiece with orchids and limes.
ROW 3
1), 2) & 3) Three beautiful table designs from my event planning heroine, Mishka Designs. And 4), a beautiful potted orchid … a great, lasting choice for a CP.
Every so often it’s nice to take a break from centerpieces and check out cool placecard ideas, right? Here are some really beautiful ones, all of them pretty simple to pull off. Check the credits to see more from each of these weddings!
Credits, Row 1: Sand Dollars in Sand Tray, JenniFenniBoBenni. Shell Placecards, WilWheaton. Donn & Erin’s Wedding, PinkChick83. Row 2: Touch of Spring and Apples & Sand by the fabulous Mishka Designs. (Who thinks to put apples with sand? And how beautiful is that??) Shell Placecards by Leah_Nahmias. Row 3: Sand Dollar Placecards by Katdir. Adirondack Chair by Czarinalingdad. Palm Fan Placecard idea by Bliss!.
What kind of pen did you write with on the sand dollars that didn’t run or smear?
Carol, I didn’t make those myself but next time I go to a craft store I’ll pick up some sand dollars and try a Sharpie. I suspect it will work.
OK, so it’s not a centerpiece, but I thought the sugar-sand presentation on these gorgeous cakes was amazing! This from the very talented cake artist on flickr under mudcactus. If you drop by check out her oh-so-beautiful water lily / dragonfly handpainted cake.
Hey , website is awesome! i am getting married June 28th, 2008. i am having a beach theme wedding and was wondering if i could get some ideas for my centerpieces, my color is canary yellow. thanks again
Jenn: My color is canary yellow also I am getting married8/8/08, in Negril Jamaica and the resort we are getting married at their centerpieces start at $80 so I want to do my own, if you come up with any cute ideas please share and I’ll do the same. So far I’ve come up with a runner of flower petals in lime green, yellow and red, abstractly scattering sea shells, starfish and votive candles. I just face the dilemma now as getting all that stuff to Jamaica.
OK, I was going to just share this very cute centerpiece idea (plunk the lovely florals in a plastic beach bucket!!), but the whole wedding was SO cute, as was the couple in their adorable lobster bibs, I had to include a few more. How relaxed and fun is this wedding?
This site is great. Gave me some fab ideas. Thanks so much!
I’m getting married 8/3/08. My colors are coral and pool (aqua). For my wedding favor I did an ivory organza bag with aqua bath salts, I glued seashells to the outside of the organza bag and tied it with a natural kinda bamboo style tie. It came out wonderfully. I’m thinking about adapting one of these cool centerpieces to tie in the coral, this website is wonderful and I’m grateful for all the cool ideas. Thanks!
Hi Gail
My wedding is July 5th, 2008, and we have finally chosen our colors of Chocolate Brown, Ivory Cream with a very nice popping pink as the flowers, which we have chosen as calla llillies, and Hydrangeas-love them both, the stem of the bouquet will be chocolate brown. Although we are stuck as far as the favors and centerpieces. We want it simple and since we are on a budget, was thinking along the line of a vase with a mix of callallillies and hydrangeas with votives around it, and a mirrored center-it took me so long to decide on these colors, we loved them, but friends and familywere like, oh no, not for the summer. Anywho, the bridesmaid dresses will be chocolate brown with an ivory cream belt added to the high waist. can you help with colors and some more suggestions.
Hi Gail, there is a very pretty mood board at StyleMePretty that uses very similar colors; go here for the full graphic and some nice descriptive text about her choices … almost exactly halfway down the page.
StyleMePretty Chocolate/Ivory board
Personally, I LOVE the modern approach of taking a simple arrangement of flowers (cut OR live) and tucking them in short containers wrapped with sumptuous fabric (aka silk shantung) or wild, designer papers … which is one of the ideas this board shows. HTH!
PS, how can chocolate and ivory not be gorgeous for summer? Show them this board or one you’ve created yourself and I bet they’ll change their minds. In my mind, the popular combos (choc. brown and pink or aqua, or the newer ones like choc. brown plus orange, teal or purple) are more conceptual than seasonal. They look wonderful any time of year.
More Pics……
Do you know where the men’s pool color shirts came from? I really like them and am looking for something like that.
OMG I love the guys attire where did you find it?
ideas….
Sandra,
I love your ideas! Don’t let anyone else (even family) talk you out of what you really want for your wedding. It’s your day. If you want the colors to be cream, chocolate brown and bright pink-then go go girl! I made the mistake of letting my family sway me too easily in a lot of the decisions for my wedding, and ended up with some things that I really didn’t want. Now I’m helping my sister plan her wedding, and she gets all the say. It’s her time. Love the pics girls! Here are some attached pics that I found surfing on the net, and thought they were cool ideas. Hope this helps someone! (The hydrangea bouquets are from Costco.com-floral section very good prices and great package deals for flowers online there. This is what my sister has picked out for her flowers.)
Connie, I love your pics! There’s something so adorable about the roundness of that cake & the hydrangea bouquets, plus I
the colors.
Thanks Dawn! Wow! it’s overwhelming all the ideas out there. There are so many different ways that you could take your theme, and it’s very exciting! I love planning the decor! (Maybe because I was a design major in college)
Here are some more pics that I thought were cool. For the light-up vase details see my comments on the “Tiffany blue” wedding blog link on this same site. I explain there where you can get the vase and glowing crystals.
I am a bride to be. am also planning my wedding on my in laws b’day.any ideas on a theme of the wedding and party combined?
Josie, your wedding is wwwwaaaayy to important to combine it with your in-laws b’day !!!
hello there! this article is very interesting & helpful. i accidentally found it while looking for some different banquet themes,i’m currently working at hyatt regency saipan,we’re on an island so your beach wedding centerpiece ideas will work here. anyway,i’m hoping if you have other theme ideas like safari dinner theme or the likes. thanks alot.