Anything Goes For Beach Theme Wedding Reception Decorations

How much more romantic can you get than a barefoot wedding on the beach? If your permit for the wedding includes the ceremony only, then you'll want to carry over the beach theme to your reception location. Whether your wedding is black tie formal (yes, on the beach!) or khaki casual, there are beach wedding reception decorations that can extend your style and keep your guests in a seaside mood throughout your party.

Decorating for a beach theme wedding reception can be as simple as incorporating lovely white seashells in your decor. Since the ocean and seaside are such popular wedding themes, you can find a wide variety of wedding accessories imprinted and embossed with pearly white nautilus and scallop shells. Guest books, cake server, even the napkins and linens can be interwoven with a subtle white-on-white seashell patterns.

If you want to take it a little further, create a beach ambience with unusual wedding reception centerpieces. A trio of beach pails in different sizes, each overflowing with fresh wildflowers are an adorable accent for the center of your wedding reception tables. For a little more unusual elegance, have sand castles sculpted of wax, and coated in sparkling white sand. For added drama, set tea lights or votives inside the castles to cast a shimmering glow.

The wedding favors you choose can be an integral part of the beach wedding reception decorations as well. Use sculpted shells as place card holders - and of course, choose place cards imprinted with seashells or starfish in the corner. Try this idea for a simple and elegant beach themed wedding favor.

For each favor, you'll need:

1 seashell - conch, nautilus or hinged scallop shells are perfect.
1 circle of tulle in your wedding colors
A small handful of starfish and shell shaped molded candies
Curling ribbon in the wedding colors
A personalized ribbon or gift tag.

Simply place a few molded candies in the center of the tulle circle. Gather and tie at the neck with curling ribbons, slipping on a personalized wedding favor tag. Tuck the candy package into the shell, and secure with two long ends of curling ribbon.

For a more whimsical, lighthearted feel, fashion your beach wedding reception decorations from children's toys. Toss a few beach balls in the corner. Take wedding reception table centerpiece ideas from the toy aisle at your local store. Pastel pails - save the shovels to make favors - filled with sand into which you've stuck flower picks are unusual and clever.

For a different slant, use plastic sailboats instead of flower pails, or cast a net in the center of the table. Entangle colored glass balls, seashells and glittery starfish in the strands of the net, then sprinkle the entire arrangement with a light handful of play sand.

Your beach wedding reception decorations can be as formal or whimsical as you choose. White silk and seashells will add a touch of elegance. Children's toys and beach balls will give a more lighthearted touch to the day. It's your choice - it's your beach wedding, and anything goes, as long as you're having fun!