3 Inspiring Wedding Themes

Beach Bash

A wedding on the beach brings to mind the vivid blues of sky and sea, a tropical breeze and toes-in-the-sand informality. In fact, a beach wedding comes in many styles. So, whether you yearn for a pretty, preppy day on the East Coast, a destination celebration or something sleek and chic under the Malibu stars, Sausalito planner Laurie Arons has tips.

Party Planning

The color scheme of turquoise and aqua always works for a beach bash, but if bright island blues aren't your thing, Arons suggests glowing oranges, fuchsias and flamingo pinks inspired by another beach favorite—the sunset. Linens in either color scheme might be in patterns featuring lush botanicals. If your beach dreams lean more toward Cape Cod summers, Arons suggests bold nautical colors, such as red paired with crisp white or navy with ivory. And for a pattern? Jaunty beach-umbrella stripes!

Play up that day-at-the-beach feeling with seashells, whether pink, coral, blue or bridal white. Use shells as place-card holders, tuck them in around your centerpieces, or even use extra-large ones to serve soup. Arons also likes to place shells instead of pebbles in centerpiece arrangements. "It's really beautiful to look through the glass and the water and see shells that are the same color as the flowers."

Beach breezes feel nice, but they can be tough on your tables, so be sure to secure your linens. Another option is to skip the linens and rent wooden tables that don't need to be covered. And forgo the delicate stemware for chunky sea-glass goblets.

Gleaming mother-of-pearl is seaworthy and gorgeous for beach weddings, says Arons. She suggests writing guests' names on mother-of-pearl squares as place cards, and using flatware with mother-of-pearl handles. Another nice touch is to organize a cute "valet" for guests to leave their shoes, so they can get into the right mind-set for the sandy event; you might even welcome them with colorful flip-flops in breezy mesh bags that they can take home with them later. Get a beach groove going with reggae or a steel-drum band. But if you're not up for dancing to Bob Marley tunes into the wee hours, switch to a DJ to spin dance music.

Flowers

Tropical beaches call for sexy hothouse flowers, such as cattleya orchids and Hawaiian exotics. For a beachy touch that's unexpected, use wild beach grasses in your centerpieces instead of traditional greens. Look to the jungle for beach-wedding inspiration: Long containers of deep, rich Koa wood make great centerpiece containers, and bright green bamboo is ideal for making archways or entrances. And play up the stunning natural setting by shining lights up into nearby palm trees.

Menu

A hot day at the beach calls for cool, sexy drinks. Go for fruity tropical cocktails garnished with mini beach umbrellas in your wedding colors; for something more sophisticated, float a single orchid bloom in your martinis.

Want to really wow your guests? Serve chilled soup in individually carved ice bowls. "You can even have the bowl made so you can put a battery-powered light underneath it. The bowls come out glowing!" Arons says. She also suggests going for a ceviche or sashimi station, an oyster bar, a fish course or even that perennial favorite: prawns and cocktail sauce.

And don't forget to consider a clambake. For rehearsal dinners or an ultracasual event, have picnic tables fitted with butcher paper and mini metal buckets of utensils. "You put big steaming pots of lobsters and corn on the cob right down on the table. It makes for a great party—even the fanciest people start to loosen up and have a lot of fun!" she says. The beach lends itself well to barbecue: Think grilled fish, steaks or even oysters, she says. "They're fresh and really delicious and not as expensive."

Tips from the Pros

• In case of rain or fog, you must have a backup plan. Either rent a tent or reserve an indoor location, and be sure to keep wraps on hand in case the night gets chilly.
• Most beaches are public property. This means you'll need permits, and you may not be allowed to rope off the area for your event. Be prepared for people walking down the beach in the middle of your ceremony.
• Beach-wedding rentals add up! In addition to tables and chairs, you'll probably need generators, lighting, portable kitchens, a catering tent and extra spots for parking.
• Want a bonfire? First, make sure it's legal! Consider using metal fire pits to make sure to keep your blaze contained. Cut down on smelly smoke by burning Duraflame logs instead of real wood. Tiki torches add great ambience for not a lot of money. The sweetest complement to your bonfire? A s'mores bar, with skewers available so guests can toast their own. —Laurie Arons