Beautiful seashells make wonderful decorations for a summer wedding. They are marvelous for a nautical wedding, a beach wedding, or anytime that you want to bring the flavor the ocean to your wedding. Take a look at the myriad of ways to use seashell wedding decorations for your own special day.

Certainly any wedding motif begins with the invitations. While not exactly a decoration, they are the perfect way to set the stage for your event. For a very classic ceremony, a white heavy cotton invitation embossed with a pearlized white seashell is the perfect invitation. Choose a coordinating envelope lining pattered with classic illustrations of shells in either a blue and white palette or in neutral sand tones. For a less formal wedding by the water, select an ivory invitation with shells painted in a watercolor style. They look great as a design in one corner of the paper as a great little accent and dash of personality.

When your guests arrive at your wedding reception, there are a few cute ways to welcome them with decorative shells. A beautiful shell can be glued to each escort card. Use a variety of different shells, and lay them all out flat in nice rows. The effect is very pretty, and as a bonus, the weight of the shells will keep your escort cards anchored should a breeze come along. Another idea is to use place card holders with a silver shell motif for a formal wedding. They would work equally well for the escort cards or the place cards.

On the dinner tables, there are lots of great ways to wow your guests with shells. Martha Stewart has a wonderfully unique craft project for using large clean shells as salt and pepper caddies on the tables. Then of course, there are the centerpieces. You can opt for a traditional floral arrangement, and add a scattering of seashells among the blooms. Another idea is to design a shell based centerpiece. Take a number of large shells in different forms and combine with red faux coral, large pillar candles, and a bit of sand on a tray. This is a fun diy project that also looks fantastic.

Let’s not forget about decorating the bride. Try beach theme wedding jewelry made from stunning Swarovski crystals in the shape of seashells. Or choose wedding jewelry which is created from genuine shells for your beach wedding, such as a monogrammed pendant made from a flat piece of shell. So pretty and so unique. The bouquet can be decorated just like the centerpieces, with small seashells wired into the flowers. For a bold accent, create a cuff of large translucent capiz shell discs around your flowers. It is very offbeat and perfect for an oceanside ceremony.

Certainly, your wedding cake should also be adorned with your chosen motif. You can have the baker decorate with real clean shells (be sure to remove before serving!) or create them from sugar or fondant. A dusting of pearlescent shimmer powder will give the faux shells a natural luminosity. This is one cake that might end up too pretty to cut!

From napkin rings to cocktail picks, there is almost no limit to the ways you can use a shell motif to decorate your wedding. It is a timeless
summer motif with a classic elegance that will never go out of style. Whether your wedding will be at ocean’s edge or in a landlocked location, you cannot go wrong with this wonderful summer motif.

Choosing Formal Attire

Many people tend to dress less formal at beach weddings . Its best to wear lighter fabrics so that you are comfortable at your wedding and keep it short enough so it doesn’t drag in the sand.

Choosing the Location

You want to make sure you look into legal considerations such as permits and restrictions. Make sure you find out how much parking is available and also keep in mind the number of guests you have invited. You want to make sure your location is secure and safe as well.

You’ll want to decide if your going to tie the knot at a public beach or private. Private may be more expensive, so your going to have to look at your budget and go from there.

Time of Day

Saying your vows at sunset may create the most romantic atmosphere for the wedding albums. You’ll have to keep updates on the weather so that you prepare yourself incase something changes.

Comfort level

You’ll have to set up chairs for your guests so they don’t have to stand in the sand. Make sure there are accessible bathrooms nearby as well. And keep the ceremony a fair distance away from the water incase of the tide. Incase of unexpected weather you’ll also want to have a tent set up.

Sugar Beach Weddings will travel to your beach side location to perform your marriage ceremony, setup at one of our beautiful pavillions on the beach like: Gulf State Park, Ft. Pickens State Park, Big Lagoon State Park, Pensacola State Park, Navarre State Park, Beasley State Park, James Lee State Park, Henderson State Park, St. Andrews State Park. There are wonderful facilities for a reception under one of the pavillions. Simply use one of many wonderful caterers in the area. Receptions and marriages on a Cruiser Yacht in Destin are also available. Full Dinner and Open Bar available.

Sugar Beach Weddings offers you a choice of Officiants to perform your beach wedding. You can choose a Male or Female Notary Officiant or an Ordained Minister. If you are energetic and love the beach, please contact them for information on owning your own Beach Weddings Business in any State that has a Beach.