You and your fiancé just announced your engagement and you are ready to start the planning process. If you choose to have a beach wedding, you are making a wonderful decision because the beautiful views and wonders that nature provides is beyond compare. Now nature will provide the glorious backdrop to your wedding ceremony, but how will you decorate the chairs, aisle, alter, and reception? Here are a few ideas that will inspire you in regards to your beach wedding decor.
One of the most important things when considering the decorations for any wedding is the focal point. Where will the guest focus their attention? You typically want their eyes to be focused on the altar, or where you will be saying your vows. To help focus their attention, use a large sized structure such as an arbor, canopy, or other such framework. Depending on your budget and taste, you have the option of making your arbor either elaborate or simple. If you are looking for a simple beach ceremony then imagine this. The bride will wear a chiffon dress with simple white and badge jewelry that blends with the surroundings. The dress can be short or long, halter, or spaghetti straps, and she can even go barefoot. The groom has the option of also going barefoot in khaki pants that are rolled up and a white button down shirt. To complete the relaxed simple look, use a bamboo frame that is decorated with sheer white drapes. This will be a wonderful focal point for your ceremony.
If you want a slightly more elaborate ceremony then choose wedding decor that will blend with the theme yet add yet another touch to the ceremony. You can decorate you arbor with shells, sea grass, sand dollars, starfish, and pearls and so on. This can be placed over the alter or even over the beginning of the aisle where the bride will enter. If you want to add a bit of color to your wedding, do not be afraid to add wild tropical flowers with bright colors such as orange, red, green, fuchsia, and yellow. The bridesmaids can wear beach wedding jewelry with bright colored dresses that can coordinate with the bridal bouquet as well as the flowers on the arbor.
Now that you have decided how to define the focal point of the ceremony, you must think about how to decorate the aisle. Of course you will need chairs, typically white ones. You will also need to add some decor to the path to spruce it up a little. Take ideas from your alter design so that it all ties together. If you decided to go with the simple bamboo frame with white drapes then use hurricane lanterns with pillar candles on the inside to line your aisles. If you used shells on your arbor, then line the aisle with the same assortment of sea shells. If you wanted to add color; use sea glass, blues and greens, in addition to sea shells. If your arbor will be adorned with tropical flowers and bright colors; line your aisle with flower petals of the same colors as your arbor. One of the main reasons for decorating the aisle is that it helps draw the eyes of the guests, which is good considering that is where the bride will be walking.
If you choose to decorate your wedding chairs, it may add a little something extra to the occasion; just be sure not to go overboard. To decorate the sides of the aisle, drape a floral pomander on the sides of the each chair that is on the aisle. To suit your taste, make it a single color all the way down the aisle or mix it up. You can also hang galvanize tin pails using raffia on each side of the chairs. Fill each with flowers that match your wedding colors. To play up your beach location theme, try to have a “bouquet” of shells, starfish, sea grass, and sea stars to hang on the chairs. For a more expensive budget, and to be even more elaborate, try hanging a flower garland and a shell to each chair.
Of course these are only suggestions; this is your wedding after all so feel free to make your own adjustments in accordance to your taste and budget. After you have decided your main decor then you can have a good time coming up with little extras. Extras can be anything from a bunch of brightly colored flowers placed on the alter table, or even hang strands of round shells on monofliliment wire right behind the alter, or arbor; just like a curtain. Whatever you decide a wedding ceremony on a beach will provide you with a beautiful backdrop beyond compare.