Simple beach wedding ideas and easy low-cost beach decorations.

Simple Beach Wedding Ideas

Before selecting from our simple beach wedding ideas listed below, take time to decide what style of beach wedding you want to create.

Do you want a casual, elegant, whimisical or romatic beach wedding style?

After you've made your decision, you can begin browsing through some of the low-cost, simple beach wedding ideas below to create your dream beach wedding!

Need help with your wedding style? Click Here for a simple guide.

Simple Beach Wedding Ideas - Invitations

Select your favorite beach design and carry this design throughout all aspects of your beach themed wedding.

Use your design on save-the-date cards, invitations, napkins, decorations, etc. to unify your beach theme throughout your entire wedding. Here are some beach wedding designs to inspire you.

Star Fish, Sand Dollar, Sand Castle, Treasure Chest,Sail Boat, Cruise Ship, Sunset, Palm Tree, Tropical Drink with Umbrella, Flip Flops, Orchid or other Tropical Flower, Hammock & Palm Trees, Anchor, Light House.

Save-the-Date Cards Couples can create save-the-date post cards with a picture of themselves standing on the beach and have their wedding date written in the sand.

A fun and simple beach wedding idea is to send your save-the-date cards in envelopes, and include a tiny bit of sand in each envelope for a fun reminder that your wedding will take place in a tropical beach location.

Be sure to include a printed message on each card with a short message “Please save-the-date 5/23/09, we would love you to join us as we tie the knot” in Cancun, Mexico. Warmest Regards, Rick & Janice.

Simple Beach Wedding Ideas - Tropical Colors

Incorporate "tropical colors" that reflect the beach, ocean, palm trees, sand, etc. Using these colors in your beach wedding decorations, will help set the mood for your wedding.

Cool Blues – remind everyone that your wedding will take place near a beautiful beach

White or Beige – reflects the water as it rushes over the sand as well as sea shells.

Exotic Reds or pinks – stir up thoughts of an exotic and tropical wedding theme. Consider wearing an exotic flower in your hair instead of a tiara or veil, or have your bridesmaids wear a simple flower in their hair for a simple island wedding look.

Moss Green – bring to mind the lush landscape. Your reception centerpieces are a great way to utilize moss, palm leaves or bamboo with your floral arrangements to incorporate a tropical beach feeling.

Tan or Brown – conjure up a feeling of walking on the sandy beach. Tie a wide brown ribbon or raffia around centerpiece vases, bouqet or chairs to add touches of color.

Simple Beach Wedding Ideas - Bridal Shower

Incorporate simple beach wedding ideas and decorations into all pre-wedding events, such as a luau engagement party or bridal shower.

Continue more simple beach wedding ideas throughout the party by providing Hawiian lei's to all the men and beautiful flowers for the women to wear in their hair.

Serve bar-b-que and tropical drinks with colorful umbrellas, play Hawaiian music, have a hula dancing contest and give the winner a basket filled with tanning lotion, sun glasses, sun sreen, flip flops, beach towel, and other fun items.

Simple Beach Wedding Ideas - Ceremony

Time of Day for a perfect beach wedding ceremony

Couples should avoid having their beach ceremony in the middle of the day.

If warm weather is an issue, crreate a wedding program that can double as a fan, by printing them on heavy cardstock and cutting them into fan shapes. Display them neatly on a table or inside of a basket so that guests can take one just before they take their seats.

Providing a beverage station for your guests is a another great beach wedding idea. Serve plenty of cold bottled water, lemonade, iced tea or other cool drinks for your guest while they wait for your entrance.

Make your sunset wedding ceremony even more romantic, by placing candles inside hurricane lamps, vases or jars, to line the aisle and the altar for a romantic glow. Sea shells can be placed in the sand around each candle to create a washed up look.

You will certainly want to take advantage of the beautiful tropical location and beach sunset. A wedding scheduled 1 - 2 hours prior to sunset, allows your guests to enjoy your ceremony, followed by a beach side cocktail hour while enjoying the spectacular sunset.

During the cocktail hour, you and your groom can also take advantage of the sunset by having your bridal portraits and other wedding photography done at this time. Photography Tip: The hour before sunset provides the best natural lighting for any photography, making you look your best!

Create a beautiful aisle, placed in the center of some simple white chairs or benches. Begin by placing driftwood in the sand on each side of the aisle. Continue by joining the pieces of wood together with a swag of thick rope, or white gauze. Flowers can be added to each piece of drift wood or candles can be placed at the base of each piece of wood.

Incorporate a beautiful sand ceremony into your beach wedding theme. Using sand from the very beach where your wedding will take place, as well as some colored sand to pour into a simple glass vase as you exchange vows on this special day. This vase of sand will become a treasured keepsake for years to come.

A simple beach wedding idea is an arch; a garland of tropical white flowers can be used to decorate the arch. Blue ribbons (3 ft. to 5 ft. long depending on the height of the arch) can also be tied along the top of the arch, or on nearby palm trees. When the breeze blows the ribbons will move in the wind. Be sure not to place them too low, or else the ribbons will blow into the faces of the bride and groom during the ceremony.

During a late evening wedding, a beach side wedding altar can be created by building two campfires just beyond the area where you will be exchanging vows. Be sure to place them far enough, so that your guest will not be bothered by the smoke or so they will not have to walk too close to the fire.

Use several tiki lamps placed around the area to light up your beach side ceremony site.

Two large galvanized buckets placed on each side of your beach wedding altar filled with simple baby's breath will create a beautiful focal point for your beach altar.

Always have a (rainy weather) back-up plan when planning your beach wedding. Consider reserving a tent in case of inclement weather.

Tents are great for creating a more intimate feel for your reception. Your wedding cake and food will be well protected as well. Incorporate your beach wedding decorations by adding strands of white twinkle lights to the pillars and roof of the tent for added ambiance.

A whimsical beach wedding idea is the use of colorful beach towels draped on the back of chairs or use them as table runners to accent tables.

An elegant simple beach wedding idea is to incorporate sheer white fabric to create a cabana style altar or reception area. Tie sheer fabric to the backs of chairs, or swag sheer fabric around the cake table and accent with tropical flowers.

Lighting always adds a dramatic statement to any venue. Up lights can add a great deal of drama when placed properly on pillars, walls or the ceiling of your reception venue.

Create a gobo (short for go between). It is simply a design that has been cut out of a sheet of paper and placed in front of a spotlight. Use your initials, hearts, palm trees and your design will highlight a feature wall at your reception venue or dance floor.

Create a loungy club ambiance with wicker lounge chairs or sofas, with lots of comfortable pillows.

Beach themed napkin rings can be easliy made out of raffia and sand dollars or other sea sells, to add a creative beach decoration to your reception tables.

Shop for wedding decorations in the shape of light houses to place on each of your reception tables. You can also paint the number of each table to direct your guests to their assigned table.

Place cards can be glued or tied to sand dollars or star fish with colorful ribbon that matches your beach wedding theme. Display them in a shallow tray filled with sand, and placed in neat rows at the entrance of your reception venue. Each guest will pick up their place card, proceed to their designated table and cherish this unique beach wedding keepsake of your special day.

Place cards can also be created out of simple photo frames shaped like star fish or other sea shell. Sea shells or stones can also be used as beach wedding decorations by simply writing guests name directly onto the smooth side of each sea shell or stone. A unique word can also be placed on the other side, such as Aloha, Thank You, Love, or your wedding date. Place each stone or shell on top of each napkin and place each napkin on top of each dinner plate.

Incorporate candles into your beach wedding decorations and centerpieces to create a romantic dinner setting. Glass vases or wide mouth mason jars can be used by filling each with sand and sea shells. A candle place in each will create a warm glow. Raffia or rope can also be tied around each vase or jar.

Turn a fish bowl or shallow glass container into a simple beach wedding decoration by filling it with water and adding floating candles in various sea shell shapes, or real shells, sand, stones or fresh floating flower.

If your reception will take place outdoors, you can use tropical scented candles such as mango, pineapple or coconut.

Use purchases sea shells to hold mints.

Incorporate fruit into your simple beach wedding decorations and centerpieces. Use tall cylinder shaped vases, place lemons, limes or other colorful fruit, & add water. Top each cylinder with tropical flowers to complete each arrangement. Place small votive candles around the base of each arrangement, to create a romnatic glow.

Serve drinks in coconut glasses & don't forget the umbrellas!

Flip-flops can be placed in a large basket for guest favors; guest can pick them up as they arrive to the wedding reception.

Simple Beach Wedding Ideas - Bridal Bouquet

Beach Bridal Bouquets can include colorful exotic flowers such as Hibiscus, Bird of Paradise, or Calla Lily. Large banana tree leaves can be used to wrap the stems of each bouquet. Cool blue ribbon can also be used to wrap the stems of a white bridal bouquet.

Simple Beach Wedding Ideas - Shoes

The best type of shoe for a beach bride to wear is a wedge heel, simple flats, or go barefoot. Any other type of heel will sink into the sand and get stuck. This may ruin your brand new pair of wedding shoes.

Be careful not to go barefoot if your beach wedding ceremony will take place during the hottest part of the day, naturally the sand will be too hot to walk on, in bare feet.

For an evening beach ceremony you may choose to wear simple beaded foot jewelry made out of sea shells to add a tropical feel to your attire.

Beach Wedding Idea - Cakes

A fun and simple beach wedding idea for your cake table is to use a grass skirt it may also be used for your guest sign in table. Use the raffia type for an authentic, look or use a fisherman's net on the table or on the wall directly behind the table.

Your beach wedding cake and cake toppers can also reflect your beach wedding theme by incorporating sea shells, coral, treasure chests or a light house.

Don't forget to add simple beach wedding decorations to your cake table. Create a tropical look by sprinkling brown sugar around the base of your wedding cake. The brown sugar will resemble sand; all that is left to do is to add some sea shells, votive candles and stones to finish the look.

If your beach wedding theme will include an outdoor reception, be sure and let your wedding cake baker know. The temperature at your wedding reception location will affect the type of cake, as well as the icing.

A whimsical beach wedding idea to hold all your wedding gifts is the use of a canoe or row boat placed at the reception. Guest can place all wedding gifts into the canoe as they arrive to the wedding.

Use a beach themed wedding decoration such as a treasure chest shaped container, to place all cards or monetary gifts. This container should be placed at the head table or near the bride and groom's table.

Purchase the largest wine shaped bottle you can find and place it in a prominent location. Place a unique label on the bottle instructing your guests to drop "a message in the bottle". Your guests will provide you with many good wishes and marital advice. After your wedding you can place all messages in a scrap book. Be sure to provide enough small pieces of paper and pens for your guests.

A simple beach wedding idea for the children that will be attending your wedding. Present each child with inexpensive plastic pails and shovel. The children can entertain themselves during your reception, or during their stay at your tropical location.

Hire someone to build a beautiful sandcastle, or encourage your guests to build one.

If your celebration will continue into the night, near the beach, you can build one or two camp fires surrounded by chairs (if permitted) so guests can enjoy a special moment on the beach.

Be sure to provide your guests with useful information about your wedding location. This information should be provided a few months before your wedding, so guests can plan a fun trip. Your guests will feel like they are on a mini-vacation and will probably arrive a few days before your wedding day or stay for a few days after your celebration. Get great tips on how to provide useful travel, hotel and excursion information to your guests by reading "Long Distance Planning Tips".

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