Ideas for beach weddings
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Couples often decide to exchange vows on the sandy beach because the natural setting aids in providing a romantic atmosphere for the ceremony. With sparkling waters, white sand beaches and historic light houses, the background provides plenty of photo opportunities. Couples may accent the site's natural beauty by adding beach-inspired decorations and serving casual, seafood dishes for the reception. They may wish to don more casual apparel, such as a lightweight lace gown or a khaki linen suit.
Wedding Fashions and Hair
With a beach wedding, you want to avoid overdone gowns and long trains. Stick with simpler dresses that breathe easily and that are shorter, yet still make you feel like the princess you dreamed of being.
The bridesmaids also need to be cautious with their dresses as they do not want to choose anything that may wrinkle during the plane ride. Alfred Angelo designs several destination dresses for both brides and bridesmaids, including his new Jersey knit collection, which travels well and comes in a variety of colors.
The groom may decide to wear a white shirt and tan pants, or he may opt to buy a tailored linen suit for the occasion. Grooms can spend anywhere from $100 to upwards of $1000 on his clothes.
Brides should curl their hair in waves and comb it through and pin back the sides for a natural, tousled look that blows gracefully in the wind. They do not want anything elaborate because either the wind or the humidity may destroy it.
Decorations and Favors
Arrange an open-air canopy tent on the beach to minimize sun exposure and still allow guests access to the ocean's soft breeze. Setting up round tables avoids sharp corners, and you can layer those with colored linens that symbolize the beach, like pale blue tablecloths with gold napkins. For place cards, fill tiny bottles with sand and affix each guest's table number and seat number, like a "message in a bottle."
For centerpieces, get creative and use various ideas. Fill tall vases with flowers, and place votives in beach-themed candle holders around them. For a different approach, use a carved out pineapple as a flower vase. If you stick to a total beach theme, gather beach pails, and stuff them with decorative beach towels, sunscreen and flip-flops for a lucky winner to take home.
Continue the beach theme with your favors. Buy chocolate-shaped shells and package them in pretty boxes, or order mini flip-flop candles for your guests to enjoy later. Fill miniature colored sand pails with personalized M&Ms.
Food and Cake
Keep with the beach-inspired theme, and start the celebration by serving a fruit platter complete with pineapples, strawberries and grapes, and serve it with caramel dip. Offer your guests a variety of summer drinks, including raspberry lemonade, mint iced tea and pina coladas, remembering to serve the drinks with a mini-umbrella. If you serve seafood, consider a traditional fish fry on the beach with French fries, cole slaw and rolls.
For the cake, consult with your baker, and see if he/she can create a sandcastle cake. Have the baker use some butter cream frosting and layer it with fondant to prevent it from melting. Then have it decorated it in graham cracker crumbs and shells to mimic a real sand castle.
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