A Few Beach Wedding Decorating Ideas

A beach wedding can be as casual or as formal as you please, depending on your tastes, your budget and the rules and regulations of use at the venue you've chosen. There are a number of decisions you'll have to make while deciding which beach wedding decorating ideas to employ.

Will you have the ceremony on the beach and retire to a hall or restaurant for the reception? If you do have the wedding reception on the beach, will you have a cabana, beach pavilions, or some sort of sheltered tent? Or will you set up in the open?

If you choose to have your wedding ceremony on the beach, try this decorating idea to create an 'altar substitute'. Stand four slim garden poles in the sand at the four corners of a square. Wrap picture wire or other sturdy string/wire around each post, using it to connect the tops about a foot below the tip of the post.

Another of the possible beach wedding decoration ideas is to twine a garland of flowers and ivy along each wire, allowing the swag ends to drape against the poles. Add a flourish of bows with dangling ribbons to each pole. The open canopy should be large enough to comfortably fit at least the bride, groom and minister, though you can make it large enough for the entire wedding party.

Rented chairs for the occasion? Instead of pew markers, decorate the end of each row with a flourish of tulle and flowers attached to a three foot garden stake. Push the stake deep into the sand to secure it, and add ribbons to flutter in the sea breeze.

Continue with the beach wedding decoration ideas by decorating the entrance to a beach pavilion with bunches of blue and white balloons gathered in fine meshed fishing nets. Tie the bottom of the net with blue and white ribbons and decorate with cowry shells for good luck.

While you're at it, drape a necklace of cowry shells around the necks of each guest for good luck and prosperity. Add a little personalized ribbon tag with the date of your wedding on it so that the shells become a keepsake of your celebration.

If you've decided to go completely casual, make it a clambake. Instead of chairs, provide plenty of seating on driftwood and benches, and turn beach shovels into wedding favors with tulle-wrapped candies and ribbons.

Finally,check around with florists and wedding planners for unusual beach wedding decorating ideas that you can adapt to your own wedding to make it a special and meaningful day for you.

About the Author

Abe Gardea is a full-time freelance writer