Getting married on the beach? Make yours stand out with these creative beach decor ideas! Couples are opting for beach weddings to exchange nuptials, but many don’t know how to decorate for it… until now!
In this blog post, we’ll show you sure fire ways to glam up your space, incorporate colors, and inspire you with unique and creative ideas for decor. We’ll cover all the essentials of choosing a color palette, how to bring the beach into the ceremony, table centerpieces, and more.
So… grab your bride beach hat (this one is super cute) and let’s get started!
Choosing a Color Palette
Before you choose decorations, decide on a color palette. Find one that suits your style, while incorporating the natural beauty of the beach. Some suggestions include a seaside set of hues, like aqua blue, sea-foam white, and hints of gold, emulating the sunset or rich golden sands.
Opt for a motif with seashells, coral, and a deep blue underwater color palette:
You can choose a nautical style and utilize a navy blue and white. Some even include a contrasting shade of yellow, green, orange, or hot pink to add depth and texture.
Once you have a beach wedding color palette nailed down that emphasizes your personal style, you’re ready to pick out decor.
First: choose a welcome sign. The beach is a unique space, and you want guests to know they’ve found the right place! This elegant welcome sign is a perfect choice, handmade by IDecor4You.
Now you’re ready to tie in additional details to your ceremony. Let’s talk about how to add the beach into your ceremony.
Incorporate the Beach Into Your Ceremony
From ceremony to reception, there are numerous ways to bring the beach in! Use beach elements throughout your space: think driftwood, seashells, and sea glass, natural raffia ribbon, starfish, and coral to emphasize your underlying seaside theme. Pick a few of your favorite elements, but don’t overdo it: keeping the decor simple and natural is the key to letting the beach style shine through.
You can get driftwood branches in bulk from Koyal Wholesale.
A birch bark arch adds a nice touch to your ceremony without overwhelming the space. It is wide enough to showcase the beach, but still provides a nice focal point for your vows and photographs. You can get one for an affordable price at EFavorMart.
Add soft fabric draping in colors of your choice – or opt for natural white.
If you prefer something a bit different, consider a copper backdrop like this, which is stylish and can be embellished with your choice of flower swag. Or go with a dark brown wooden arch kit, which is surprisingly affordable, and makes a nice focal point. By Fomcet Store.
During your ceremony, include a space of time for a sand ceremony, a twist on the traditional unity ceremony. Use this sand ceremony set as a decoration that will make a lasting gift, too.
Rather than traditional books, use beach-themed vow books! It will make for a nice memento after the wedding.
Instead of a ring pillow, use a ring dish instead! This personalized sea turtle ring dish will hold the rings down the aisle and look beautiful as a keepsake memento. By ArtMindedShop.
Carry a lightweight silk floral bouquet in white and blue, which you can affordably rent at Something Borrowed Blooms. For hot beach weddings, the humidity won’t make your flowers wilt – a huge bonus!
Creative Centerpieces
Whether you’re planning an outdoor reception on the beach or indoor at a nautical or waterfront venue, choose tropical elements for centerpieces. You can use DIY ideas like budget-friendly mason jars filled with sand and candles to make miniature lanterns. I recommend using bright blue mason jars, if possible, to emulate the sea. These rope-covered lanterns are perfect for centerpieces or for displaying around your space with candles inside to add lighting. By Sabary Store. I want these for the patio this summer!
These elegant vases are handmade with love by Wendy’s Shell Designs. Fill yours with pampas grass for a one-of-a-kind beach centerpiece.
Prefer a smaller height? She also offers this beach candle holder bowl. I love this style! Get it at Wendy’s Shell Designs.
Or get painted mason jars with starfish and seashell motifs hanging around them from Nefilabata Store.
If you’re making your own mason jar centerpieces, add seashells or sea glass inside the jar as a filler, surrounding a candle. You can get sea glass like this available in bulk for a great price.
Prefer a different style? Get these handmade rope-wrapped candles by FragrantCandlesUS for your centerpieces.
Other ways to make budget-friendly decor is to utilize small flower arrangements, small seashell votive candle holders, starfish, and tropical fruits. These will add a personal touch to your centerpieces.
You can even utilize your wedding favors as a part of your beach decor, like these miniature lantern favors by Kate Aspen. Cute!
Go big with these blue lanterns in the middle of your tables from Kate Aspen:
Or use these unique driftwood candle holders in your centerpiece design from Koyal Wholesale.
You can also buy these unique starfish-wrapped candles here, which I absolutely adore! The knotted rope adds a nautical twist.
Romantic Lighting
Lighting is everything when decorating for a wedding, beach or otherwise. Make sure to include one important element: candles! And lots of them.
These votive candles are battery-operated and I use them regularly at weddings I coordinate; the batteries last a long time and the flickering is as realistic as you can get.
Real candles are not as practical as LED, and the wind at a beach wedding frequently makes the candle go out – which adds unnecessary chaos to your relaxing seaside celebration.
Place them in crystal votive holders, like these, for an elegant touch.
Include candles in your decor for nighttime to set the tone for a romantic seaside celebration. Taper candles, votive candles, or floating candles in bowls of water are nice ways to include soft lighting. Consider lanterns, whether lantern favors or giant pillar-candle lanterns as centerpieces, to light up the night. If you have a beach space where guests can walk out on sand and wade in the water, consider adding string lights to the space to add a romantic ambiance. I highly recommend using these battery-operated LED string lights, since it’ll be hard to find outlets in your sand-filled space. :)
Lighting? Check! Next, let’s talk seating and table decor for your beach wedding.
Seating / Table Decor
At a beach wedding, there’s a nice and casual, low-key vibe in the air. Make sure you have comfortable seating that is functional, with enough space to allow your guests to move around freely. Consider having a shoe valet, where guests can kick off their heels and go barefoot for the evening – or offer bulk flip flops like these for guests to dance the night away.
Decorate your tablescapes with beach-inspired finds, nautical-themed place cards, seashell table numbers, or other beach-inspired elements. Here are a few suggestions including matching table numbers, programs, and menus by Nicoletta Savod.
Be sure to include favors as a part of your table decor. These mini bottles are filled with sand and tiny seashells for an ultra-special take home party favor for guests. By KseniaRveta.
You can also give out lip balms or sunglasses to guests, made with affordably-priced and customizable options, by ModParty.
Or this popular bottle-opener wedding favor magnet by MagnetShopTrr.
And you can’t help but admire these anchors away candle favors by Kate Aspen. The perfect addition to your beach-inspired wedding tables.
Cake Decorations
Last but not least, make sure you top the cake with a beach-inspired design! This cake topper by MorganTheCreator is one of my top picks.
They also offer kissing seahorses, outfitted starfish, and other beach inspired designs. See them all here! (Sooo cute!)
For a modern acrylic design, get a custom beach cake topper by Andaz Press that is easy to add to any cake or dessert.
This cute kissing couple figurine looks like they’re on a seaside resort. Top your cake with this find by WeddingCollectibles.
Go with a vintage-inspired look and choose this figurine cake topper with a giant shell on the back! By WeddingCollectibles.
And I also found these edible seashells that are made of hard candy. They’ll look lovely on tiers of your wedding cake. Just an idea!
Go wild with creativity and explore more beach elements on Minted for stationery and Etsy for wedding decor.
Hope it helps!
xo
Emma
beachdecor
Emma Arendoski
Emma is the CEO of Emmaline Bride, The Handmade Wedding Blog, published author, leading wedding expert, and wedding planner. Read her latest book: The Inspired Wedding. Wife, mother, coffee lover. Follow on Instagram and at Emmaline Baby for baby + kids inspiration.
