Tropical Beach Wedding and Reception
Sun, Sand and Sea Provide the Perfect Outdoor Wedding Venue
Oct 6, 2009
Wedding guests will enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and warm ambiance of a beach wedding and reception. Have fun playing with the elements of sea, sand and sun while decorating, choosing music and deciding on favors.
Beach Themed Invitations
Use off-white invitations with embossed seashells for a hint of what the wedding guests have to look forward to. If the wedding and reception are on a real beach, send the invitations out early enough so they can plan an extended vacation by the sea.
Beach Wedding Decorations
Build an arch out of PVC and loosely wrap it with tulle. Add silk tropical flowers, and sprinkle a few shiny shells to bring out the beach theme even more. Guests can sit on chairs covered in white with ribbons or organza bows that match the bridesmaids’ dresses. Ideal colors for bridesmaid dresses are blue, green, turquoise, teal or coral.
Beach Themed Lighting
Paint metal buckets in the bridal colors and glue shells to the sides. Fill the buckets with sand and stick a candle in the center. Strategically place the buckets for the best effect with lighting, making sure they’re not where they’ll ignite fabric or endanger children.
Flower Decorations
Tropical flowers make beautiful wedding reception centerpieces. Use a mix of hibiscus, orchids, anthuriums and plumeria. Add palm fronds and other tropical foliage for contrast.
Beach Themed Wedding Cake
The wedding cake can be in the shape of a large shell, or if a more traditional shape is desired, accented with tone-on-tone shell icing. Surround the cake with flower leis in the bridal party colors.
Beach Reception Food
Offer guests a luau buffet with fish, shrimp and a variety of salads, steamed vegetables and fresh fruit. For more Hawaiian authenticity, add lomi lomi salmon and pulled pork. Hors d’oeuvres may include fresh vegetables with dip, fish spread on crackers and calamari with cocktail sauce.
Drinks
Tropical drinks are festive, colorful and fun. If mixed drinks are served, offer a choice of tropical drinks without alcohol, and don’t forget the tiny paper umbrellas. For the less adventurous, also serve iced tea with plenty of lemon wedges.
Beach Music
Nothing brings out the party in your guests like beach music. Whether it’s calypso, Polynesian or summertime fun music by the Beach Boys, everyone will have a good time. A steel drum band provides authentic sound. If Polynesian music is played, hire hula dancers to teach guests how to sway and shake their hips.
Reception Activities
Dancing should keep the guests busy, but for those who like competition, bring out the limbo stick. Have separate contests for adults and children. If a lot of children are present, provide them with buckets and shovels for a sandcastle contest.
Beach Wedding Favors
To show appreciation to family and friends for sharing the special day, send them home with a beach tote filled with beach themed items, such as sunglasses, beach towel, flip flops, sunscreen and shell decorations.
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