The wedding planning experts at FeroGuide have made a great list of beach wedding ideas, including color themes and important planning tips.
Dreaming of a beach wedding? We are too! It’s easy to see why: beautiful views, great photo spots, warm weather, a relaxed feeling, and fun decorating ideas.
If you can travel for your wedding or have a beach close by, there are so many beach wedding ideas to explore.
Wondering how to make it all come together? We have some great tips to help you plan your beach wedding.
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How to Plan a Beach Wedding: Simple Tips and Important Things to Remember
Before You Start Planning: Important Things to Think About for a Beach Wedding
Before diving into all the fun beach wedding ideas, it’s important to take care of a few practical details. Beach weddings are beautiful, but they do come with some special challenges.
Here are a few key things to keep in mind:
1. Weather:
Beach weather can change quickly. It might be sunny one minute and stormy the next.
Check the weather for your chosen beach and have a backup plan just in case. Also, make sure your decorations are windproof so they don’t fly away before guests can enjoy them.
2. Guest Comfort:
If you’re getting married on a public beach, think about your guests’ needs. Where is the closest bathroom?
Will older guests be able to walk on the sand? Is there shade if it gets too hot? (Don’t worry—we’ll share some cool shade ideas later!)
3. Location Details:
Having your wedding right on the sand sounds amazing, but it can bring some issues. For example, the sound of waves can make it hard to hear your ceremony, so a good sound system is a must.
Also, most beaches in the U.S. are public, so check how crowded the area is at the time you plan to get married.
If these things seem tricky, you might want to have your wedding at a beachside resort instead. That way, you still get the ocean view without all the hassle.
Small Beach Wedding Ideas
1. Beach Resort
A hotel, club, or restaurant by the beach gives you beautiful ocean views and easy access to the water, plus all the benefits of a full-service event space.
These places usually have their own catering and event staff, which can make planning much easier, though it may cost more.
Because everything is included, this type of venue is a great choice for couples with a lot of guests.
2. Public Beach
If you want to get married at your local beach, start planning early. Beaches run by the city or parks department are usually affordable but popular, so they book up fast. Make sure to check if you need any permits.
Since public beaches are open to everyone, don’t be surprised if a few people stop to watch your wedding.
If you go this route, ask someone to help you save your spot early on the big day, and give yourself plenty of time to set up and clean up your decorations.
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3. Private Beach
If you or a family friend owns a beachfront home, you can save a lot of money on venue costs.
Just be sure to check if there are any rules about noise, permits, or alcohol.
Parking might be limited, so you may need to arrange a shuttle for your guests or keep the wedding small and simple.
4. Beach Overlook
Your beach wedding doesn’t have to be right on the sand. A cliffside venue with ocean views is a great choice if you want an easier setup for your guests.
Whether it’s a public park, private home, or resort, there are plenty of beach overlook options to fit different budgets.
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The ocean makes a stunning backdrop, but adding an arch to your ceremony space helps keep the focus on you and your partner.
You can choose a fancy look with lots of flowers or keep it simple with an arch made of palm leaves and tropical plants.
6. Decking
If you’re having your ceremony on the sand, ask your venue if they can set up an aisle and altar area using boardwalk-style decking or beach mats.
This helps mark the space clearly, makes it easier for guests to walk—especially older ones—and gives everyone more freedom with their choice of shoes.
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7. Keep Guests Cool
Set up a drink station at your ceremony with cold beverages to help guests stay cool in the sun. Fresh coconuts on ice are a fun idea for a tropical wedding.
You can also hand out fans with your wedding programs and offer extras like sunglasses, sunscreen, or parasols to keep everyone comfortable.
8. Accessorize with Seashells
Decorate the aisle with loose seashells or use large glass vases filled with sand, coral, seashells, and beach grasses for a coastal look.
For a fun twist, your ring bearer can carry the rings in a seashell instead of using a regular pillow.
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9. Decorate with Palms and Grasses
Pampas grass and palm leaves are now common in boho beach weddings. You can use them to make a half arch, place pots, vases, or baskets of grass along the aisle, and add them to table centerpieces.
10. Provide a Shoe Valet Station
If your ceremony is on the sand, set up a “shoe valet” where guests can leave their shoes and offer flip-flops for them to wear as they walk to their seats.
11. Organic Florals
Choosing flowing, natural flowers is a great way to create a dreamy under-the-sea feel for your wedding decorations. It looks especially nice when combined with light, sheer fabrics on an altar or chuppah.
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12. Tropical Fruit Centerpieces
One fun and tasty wedding flower trend in recent years is adding cut or whole fruit to centerpieces.
For a tropical beach wedding, mix bright flowers with fruits like papayas, dragonfruit, and pineapples. For a wedding inspired by the Italian Riviera, use citrus fruits and lots of lemons.
13. Swap Vases for Oversized Shells
If you want a natural, relaxed look for your flowers, try using large seashells instead of regular vases.
Wildflowers flowing out of big clam or conch shells can make beautiful centerpieces. They also work well on the bar or guest book table if you’re trying to save money.
14. Hanging Lanterns
Decorate a tent or give an indoor reception a beachy feel by hanging boho-style lanterns over the tables and dance floor.
Wicker basket lanterns add a nice rustic touch, but paper lanterns can look lovely too.
15. Woven Accessories
Add natural grass and rope textures with woven items like boho lanterns, baskets filled with blankets for when it gets cold, and centerpieces that have knotted designs.
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16. Bonfire Seating Vignettes
Keep the party going after the sun goes down by letting guests sit around a beach bonfire.
Make sure bonfires are allowed where you’re having the wedding, and provide lots of comfy seats and soft lights so people have a nice place to hang out.
17. Aquatic Accents
The secret to a modern beach wedding is not to use too many obvious beach decorations. But you can still add some ocean touches.
Use real dried coral, starfish, and seashells as aisle markers, along the tables, or grouped in decorations at the bar or bathroom.
18. Tropical Bouquets
Almost any flowers look nice on the beach, but you can make your bouquet special by asking your florist to include some unique tropical flowers.
King proteas are a bold choice if you want mostly neutral colors, or you can pick orchids, lilies, and birds of paradise.
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19. Palm-Leaf Table Markers
For a beach wedding with strong tropical vibes, skip paper or acrylic table numbers and use something more natural.
Paint table numbers on big palm leaves and add them to your centerpieces. This is a fun way to make your tables taller and keep the beach theme going even inside.
20. Driftwood Signs & Centerpieces
Adding some driftwood to your decor is always a good idea, especially if your beach wedding is on a northern coast.
You can paint driftwood with your last name or “Mr.” and “Mrs.” for an easy DIY. Or, make driftwood the main part of your reception decor by using driftwood centerpieces with simple,e tall candles.
21. Canopy of Lights
For any outdoor venue, you need to be creative with lighting after dark.
We like the idea of using string lights to make a sparkling canopy by hanging them close together over the dance floor or across the whole reception space.
