Unique Ideas For Your Beach Wedding - Planning Your Own: Beach Wedding Brides

Showing posts with label Beach Wedding Brides. Show all posts

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Unique Beach Wedding Cakes

First thing that comes to our mind when talking about BEACH WEDDING CAKES - should be unique, interesting, different from the normal cake, and putting something that shows anything you could find on the beach, is the main thing here. Mostly, SHELLS in addition to this traditional ribbons to accentuate your motif. When it comes to wedding cakes, long gone are the days of following tradition. Since you are considering a beach wedding cake, you are obviously not a slave to those traditions. so... let's stray from the 'norm' and be adventurous then! One thing to remember....there are no rules! If there are, well, rules are made to be broken.

Photo below was my wedding cake. We didn't ask for a big one though, since we were only a total of at least 30 people! I'm sure next you would have in mind is, are they real shells Madz? NO! They were all hardened icing, molded and shaped with different shell types. Clever huh!

Beach wedding cakes can be anything you want them to be! At the end of the day, it's your day. You can have whatever you want to have, make the most of every resources you've got in terms of ideas. Be creative and adventurous, make yours as distinctive than the rest.

What Size?

How many guests are you planning to have? If you have your beach wedding cakes made professionally it can range in price anywhere from $2.00 to $15.00 per slice. A "slice" is normally considered to be 2 ounces or, approximately 4" x 2". The range in price will depend on how much intricate detail you want on it. If the cake you choose is very labor intensive, you can expect higher prices. If you are on a tight budget, keep it simple!

What Shape?

Beach wedding cakes can be any size, shape or description. Be creative. If you have an idea for your cake, sketch it out on paper and take it to that talented friend, relative or your chosen bakery. If you can imagine it, someone can make it!

Do not limit your thinking to a two or three tier cake. It can be round, square, a sheet cake, a sculpted cake, individual mini cakes, cupcakes or even cookies! Some brides even choose a one or two layer, individual wedding cake on each guest table rather than the traditional large cake at the head table. This is a nice idea because it also serves as the table centerpiece. This eliminates the added expense associated with having a wedding centerpiece at each table! A couple of things to keep in mind though...

Thursday, January 8, 2009

7 Ways Of Using Flowers At Your Beach Wedding

Based on my own experience of my own wedding by the beach, FLOWERS rather play a huge part of my beach theme wedding, and for normal beach weddings anywhere. I didn't concentrate much on working on the flowers to put on the aisle or at the venue, my only worry was my BOUQUET and for BRIDESMAIDS too.

During my early 20's, I used to see beach weddings which were very simple. Not many brides opt to have a beach theme wedding so they can save money, but because they wanted to have a very unique wedding to treasure for a lifetime, or because they’d rather not have a huge chapel ceremony. Fortunately, with beach theme weddings, the ocean serves as a backdrop, minimizing the need for decorations. With a few simple arrangements, you can make your beach wedding ceremony and reception stand out from the crowd.

Photo below was an example of how we decorated our beach wedding, we exchanged our vows surrounded with fresh flowers....

1. Living Plants
So many brides use cut flowers for beach wedding reception centerpieces that it has become the tradition. You can actually use living plants, however, as your reception centerpieces and even allow the guests to take them home after the festivities. This is a greener and cheaper way to create the look you want for your beach theme wedding!

2. Table Arrangements

Centerpieces on the beach wedding reception tables are very traditional, but depending on your table set up, you might be able to attach table arrangements to the edge of your table. This is a great way to display floral sprays! If you can’t use them for every table, you can really make an impression by using floral sprays on the edge of the cake table and the bride and groom’s table.

3. Incorporate Flower Balls

Flower balls are a unique way to use flowers at your wedding, whether you choose to use silk flowers or fresh ones. They’re easy to make – you can even make them yourself – and they look great at your wedding. You can use them as bridesmaid bouquets or hanging arrangements and they’re versatile enough to go anywhere.

4. Hanging Arrangements

Hanging arrangements add vertical depth to your wedding ceremony and reception, drawing the eye upwards and making your décor appear fuller, even if the décor is quite simple. This is a great way to fill out a simple beach wedding. Use plant hanging stands or other types of hanging stands to line the aisles with floral arrangements that sway above the guests, or do something similar at the altar for a more unique look.

5. Flank Arrangements

You can use pedestals or other types of stands to create floral flank arrangements that normally stand where bridesmaids and groomsmen stand. This is a great way to add depth to your ceremony if you don’t have bridesmaids or groomsmen or if your wedding is small.

6. Aisle Flowers

Consider using more than just rose petals to sprinkle down the sandy aisle. You can create your aisle with rows of small bouquets, or you can simply use a lush carpet of flower petals. This will draw attention to you as you walk down the aisle.

7. Pedestal Flowers

Skip the traditional wedding arch and instead use a pedestal with a lovely flower arrangement on top. The height of a pedestal should come up to your knees or thighs, but no higher than your waist. This puts the focus on you and your groom rather than your ceremony flowers, yet still gives you that special touch that ties everything together.

Make yours as distinctive as possible. This may be one of the major expenses you have to consider, but it is worth paying much money after looking at your photographs.

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Helpful Articles for your Beach Wedding Planning:
10 Unique Ideas For Beach Wedding
Beach Wedding Ceremony Ideas
Beach Wedding Brides
Flower Guide For Your Beach Wedding
The Wedding Flower Guide For Every Bride
My Wedding Day - Part IV: Reception By The Beach
My Tips To Have A Very Unique Beach Wedding
Choosing Your Beach Wedding Gown
My Wedding Day - Part II: Ceremony By the Beach
My Wedding Day - Part I: Procession Going To The Beach

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

10 Unique Ideas For Beach Wedding Reception

When I was still planning my own wedding, after we have had decided to have a beach wedding, I WAS EXTREMELY EXCITED EVERY MOMENT IN MY PLANNING PERIOD! I remember I used to imagine what was gonna be like when we get to Mauritius. In fact, I even fantasized and envisioned for tens of sleeping nights, it was like my eyes were closed but my mind and spirit were flying. Thanks God it was finally over, this was my very first feelings the moment everybody had flown back to their respective countries!

My BEACH WEDDING RECEPTION was the finale of all of my hard work and the celebration of the union between my husband and myself. Of course, we wanted or you want it to be perfect in every way possible! Here are 10 unique ways to decorate your

beach theme wedding, without overstretching your wedding budget. These are all based on my own experience, though our reception area was all organized by the resort personnel, which really turned out to be ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!

Please click here to read the story of my Wedding Reception by the Beach of Le Canonnier in Mauritius....Enjoy reading...

1. Remember to have fun at your beach theme wedding reception! Your wedding is about you - plan ahead so there are people around to take care of the details and you can relax and enjoy your new husband and your celebration.

2. Consider having your beach wedding reception much later in the evening, when the sun is well on its way to setting. It's important to keep your guests cool and comfortable and outdoor temperatures are at their highest in the afternoon and early evening.

3. Serve a variety of fresh fruits and light fare, such as salads. Beach wedding receptions tend to be warmer and most guests won't want to dine on heavy foods like steaks and chicken.

4. You should also skip the confetti. Like balloons, confetti is dangerous to the local environment and wildlife and is more difficult to clean up. Unless you're having an indoor beach wedding reception, you're better off without confetti altogether.

5. Unless you're going with a whimsical theme, for a beach theme wedding reception you're better off going without balloons. Not only are these dangerous for the environment and wildlife should they get loose and pop, they don't do an elegant beach wedding justice.

6. For an elegant look, keep your beach wedding reception décor to a minimum. Overwhelming the area with dozens of trinkets and lots of colors will only serve to make your décor look to busy or thrown together.

7. Use real, natural sea finds for your beach wedding reception table decoration instead of purchasing bags of seashells, dried starfish or even sand dollars. Go out on the beach in the early morning and see what you can find - spend some time cleaning them and letting them dry. They'll make incredibly inexpensive yet beautiful decorations!

8. Try incorporating lanterns instead of candles. Candles can be blown out easily, even by just a simple gust of wind. Lanterns offer protection for the flame and many of them even last longer than candles, so your reception will be elegantly lit well into the night.

9. Consider a pool side beach reception. Bear in mind that a reception right on the sand can be quite messy - sand is going to go everywhere. Many resorts and destinations offer pools and areas that are right next to the beach - offering you incredible beach views while keeping your reception perfect.

10. Use white! White is the most traditional and popular wedding colors, and it works beautifully for beach theme wedding receptions. Use white table linens, napkins, china and even flowers. To jazz up an all white beach theme reception, try employing a number of different textures, such as lace and satin.

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Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Peach-Orange-Cream Wedding Theme Of My Beach Wedding

These are the color combination I decided for my own wedding, PEACH-ORANGE-CREAM Wedding Theme for my beach wedding. From my unique beach wedding invitation, to my personalized wedding program that I personally made myself, my bridesmaids' dresses, my wedding bouquet and the personalized beach towels and beach bags were given away to my guests, plus my personalized luggage tags with all our guests' names and home address.

As what I have previously posted regarding the collection of wedding themes to choose from, as your guide, you can also think of any color combination you may like. What made me decide to have chosen these colors in the end was, the thought of having a bright sunny afternoon wedding, to accentuate the beauty of having a beach wedding.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Beach Wedding Dresses

Indeed, beach weddings are becoming so popular these days, and why not?,, with the beautiful backdrop of mother nature as your nuptials, it's easy to see why. Beach weddings are not only naturally romantic, but beaches provide a more relaxed and comfortable atmosphere for that important day without costing an arm and a leg. The rising cost of formal settings, coupled with the natural beauty and romance of sand and surf, makes the beach a perfect place to exchange vows. But finding the perfect beach wedding dress can pose some challenges. Most "informal wedding dresses" are still way too formal and poofy and do not match the casual, natural, laid-back setting of the beach.
You will probably have to give up the notion of a Cinderella dress. A beach wedding calls for a more casual look. Natural elements, while providing atmosphere, can wreak havoc with your appearance.

Sweet and Simple at the Beach

The classic beach wedding dress is cool, casual, and relaxed, yet sexy and beautiful. A heavy, elaborate gown with a long train may appear out of place on the beach, so consider a simpler design. For example: a short or tea-length white satin strapless dress; an elegant rayon sarong; or a long sundress. Consider airy, lightweight fabrics, such as georgette, chiffon, crepe, organza, charmeuse, or even cotton (avoid silk, which can make you perspire). If you do want a train, consider a shorter one with a finger hold so you're not dragging it through the sand.

Check for Bridesmaids' Dresses
Since many wedding dresses are too formal for the beach, you might want to consider looking at bridesmaid dresses in ivory, cream, light pink, etc. These are generally more casual. So are prom dresses, and it won't be difficult to find a white prom dress. Another option is to have something made exactly how you want it.

Watch the Wind
Keep in mind that the beach, whether you are on the sand or in a waterfront gazebo, is likely to be windy. Consider the cut of your dress. A slip dress or other straight-line design will behave a lot better than an A-line or fuller skirt. If you really want a full, flowing dress, then go with a long one. A simple white strapless dress with a flared skirt is one possibility. Add a blue sash to match the ocean and give you something blue for luck.

If you're wearing a veil, make sure it's weighted at the bottom so it doesn't flap continuously or catch the wind and go airborne. Think of the wedding pictures! Since part of the reason for getting married on the beach might be to keep your wedding casual, you might want to drop the veil entirely.

A Flower in Your Hair
For the complete beach look, consider a flower in your hair or a wide-brimmed hat. Be sure they're pinned down good though or you may lose them to the ocean wind. Also, keep your comfort in mind so you can enjoy this special day. Remember, nylons and the beach don't mix. Same with high heels. Go barefoot, or wear dressy or barefoot sandals.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Beach Wedding Brides

Congratulations and good luck of having decided on a wonderful destination wedding or a wedding at your local beach. So, I'm sure you may have started of looking for different wedding dresses for the beach, for your dream wedding. I did exactly what I just said, the moment we have decided to have ours on a beach, first thing that tickled my mind was to search for my gown. There is one thing in common with most wedding gowns for a beach wedding, and that is that they usually are a shorter dress so that there is not a train dragging in the sand the whole time. However, as soon as I have seen all those beach wedding websites, which doesn't necessarily mean to have a short dress, at the end of the day it is your big day and you can have whatever you like. The entire decision is yours, so take the most of it.

Finding beach wedding dresses can be quite challenging, and if it is not common for weddings in your home area to occur on a beach, chances are the local wedding gown shop will have a very limited selection when you are looking for a beach wedding dress. You may have to consider purchasing a white dress that is designed for a graduation or other event in order to find a dress that will work as beach bridal gowns. Many beach style wedding dresses can be found by looking on the internet. One of the biggest selling beach dresses are the fall beach wedding dresses.

Informal beach wedding dresses can be found online quite easily, and is often your best bet for ideas as the wedding shops in your city will most likely showcase the more formal wedding dresses. There are, however some beach wedding gowns that can be very formal and elaborate. This will often consist of a wedding gown that has been tailored to make it shorter, which will prevent you from tripping over a wedding dress train in the sand that is hard enough to walk in as it is. If you are wearing a beach wedding gown, it is also more important to wear some sort of sandal or other footwear to go with it. You do not want to take away from the elegance of a formal wedding dress by going bare footed.