For the love of ecology and life, going green is the hottest trend even in weddings. A beach wedding has this natural tone due to the setting and involvement of several natural resources like the sea, the sand, and the wind. Aside from being environmentally responsible, this wedding theme can be done effortlessly.

In decorating a wedding though, you can’t help but have trouble with some environmental policies like gathering too much flowers and using them just for the day then throwing them away. There are also indirect harms like using a lot of paper that adds to the problem of deforestation. Here are several tips and reminders in going green with your beach wedding decorations:

• In making the invitations, thank you notes, and save-the-date cards, you can use recycled paper or other recycled materials. Lots of fancy colored papers are actually recycled. If you want to actually skip using paper, you can just send online invitations and have a few copies of the actual invitation printed for purposes like scrapbooking or for special guests.
• For eco-friendly favors that would fit your beach wedding, there are also a lot of ideas to choose from. Using bonsai plants as favors for island beach weddings is a great idea. You can also use the plants as centerpieces before giving them away to the guests. Choosing favors that are made from recycled material is also a great option for going green. Giving away of organic soap is not only economical but is also exotic and good for the body.
• When it comes to using flowers, they do not actually have to be plastic so that you can avoid cutting and throwing them away. You have the option of using potted plants so you do not have to throw the flowers after using them. For a tropical theme, you can find friends or connections that grow tropical plants in their garden like orchids attached to drift wood. You can just borrow them for the occasion. The key is to use everything natural and organic. Flowers should be grown naturally and without pesticide. If you are going to use flowers like birds of paradise or hibiscus, they can be used as wedding favors at the same time.
• If you want to minimize the use of flowers, you can alter the bouquets of the bridesmaids with a clutch bags or baskets made from straws and decorated with seashells and ribbons. You can also use small ocean rocks and seashells to adorn the aisle instead of rose petals.
• If you want your buffet table and plates to go green as well, you can look for caterers who offer menus that are completely organic. The package will automatically include an eco-friendly set-up. Often this would cost you more but it will surely improve the taste of the food and guest satisfaction. Some caterers use native plates that are covered with banana leaves instead of heavy ceramic plates. They also offer fresh coconut or pineapple juice served in their own shells or skin which fits the beach wedding theme perfectly.
• Choose neutral and soft colors like white everywhere. Tie ribbons in chairs and use clustered seashell and starfish pins to follow the theme. Use sea weeds and vines to decorate posts instead of cloth and paper. Use big ocean rocks with different shapes, seashells, and sand to decorate the altar and couple’s table so that they would stand out. Tiki torches may be used to light up the place instead of using electric light bulbs. If the reception is in an open area, huge bonfires are a big hit as it brings the guests in a circle and is somehow romantic for the newlyweds and other couples present.

The last and most important thing if you really want your beach wedding to be eco-friendly, make the cleaning a significant part of the plan. If the wedding is held in a resort and there are people to do the cleaning, make sure that they are aware of the reuse, reduce, and recycle campaign. If it is held in a private or family owned beach, ask the one who will be in-charge of the cleaning to make sure they will follow the three Rs slogan.

The eco-friendly beach wedding usually ends up costing more than the typical wedding so be sure that you are committed in helping the environment and that you are fully responsible for everything. You will not only make your union special, you will also celebrate a green day and help open the eyes of people who will be part of your event.

When planning the decoration of a beach wedding, you will not only be concerned with what is beautiful or with what looks good. You will have various other things in mind like the windy condition, heat, sand, and the weather, as all of these factors can have a big impact on how your beach decoration set-up turns out.

Here are some clever ways on how to decorate a beach wedding while keeping in mind the mentioned factors above.

• Use shells to mark down the aisle on the sand where the bride will walk down to the altar. Add some flowers but be sure to push the stems down on the sand to avoid having them blown away.
• If the couple chooses to hold the event at night, you can liven up the place with beautiful flaming tiki torches. See to it that these torches are located away from anything that can start a fire. You can also decorate the tables of the guests with lanterns or candles surrounded with little seashells. This is a beautiful and cost-effective way to enlighten up the area.

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• Using beach umbrella shades or covering the area with a wedding tent is definitely great idea if there is a possibility of rain during the event. With the ever-changing weather today, you can never be too sure. You surely would not want the guests soaking wet in the middle of the wedding.
• Hire a sand sculptor to recreate a sculpture of the bride or groom or any memento that relates to their love story. This can serve as the focal point of the whole beach decoration set-up.
• If it s a bit windy, you can use a huge tarp to block the direction from where the wind is coming. This will ensure that the guests will not have sand on their meals or on their eyes. Of course, you should not just get any tarp you can get your hands on. Make sure you find something that at least complements the color and style of the wedding. If possible, you can have the photo of the couple printed on the tarp so that it will serve double purpose as decoration and as a wind blocker.

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• Driftwoods are nice to place along the perimeters of the reception area. Just place them on the side so nobody will trip over them. Decorate these with shells, starfishes, and sand to create wonderful pieces of art that will wow the guests.
• Hang anchors, surfboard, or boogie boards on the walls. You can also lean them against the corners.
• If you are going to use flowers to decorate the event, consult with an expert florist first as there are some flowers that will not be able to stand the extreme heat of the sun.
• As for the centerpieces, the choices are endless. You can have lantern centerpieces, crystal bowls filled with sand, glass marbles, pearls and shells, floating candles on a wide clear water vase, or a mini sand sculpture.

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• Play some nice beach tunes. Decoration is not all about what the eyes can see but also what the ears hear. Aside from visually appealing design elements, be sure to throw in wonderful beach music to add to the nice ambiance of the place. Play some sunny Caribbean music from the Baha Men, old favorites from Beach Boys, soothing tunes from Café Del Mar, or fun reggae beat from Bob Marley.

Even though there are many factors to consider, decorating a beach wedding is not that difficult. With so many resources available around the beach that you can use as decorative elements, it will not consume much of your time or the couple’s wedding budget.

This how-to video by Angela Fiebelkorn will help you to understand your flower needs and to get expert advice. It’s part of the 20 free wedding planning series.

There are several wedding flower types you should know before making a buying decision. Also, always remember that your flower expert for your perfect wedding might just be the people who run your local flower shop.

http://www.thebridalcoach.ca/videos – Wedding Colour Schemes explained by the Wedding Expert. This is part of a free wedding planning video series about questions that brides most frequently ask.

Your wedding ceremony is finally over and now it is time for you and your spouse together with all the guests to proceed to the reception hall to begin a wonderful evening of dining and dancing. As each and every guest goes through the reception line you and your spouse will have your first chance to greet your guests as a newly wedded couple. Everything is so perfect and in place until your guests starts wondering about inside the hall trying to decide where and with whom they want to sit with. Looking at what is happening, you finally realize that you should not have skipped on a minute yet very important detail of the reception, that is, the use of place cards for seating arrangements.

Place cards or also known as table markers had long been used and incorporated into wedding receptions as being a vital feature when it comes to arranging the seats for your guests. They can be considered old-fashioned, but without the use of place cards the reception may look rather unorganized and unstructured or can even put strain to the guests especially when you have a large crowd of strangers who may not know each other. Even according to a survey conducted, more than 80% of wedding guests prefer the host to prior assign them with the seats. Not only it offers a more organized and welcoming touch, it is also very much comforting for the guests knowing that the host has taken considerable amount of time to designate a special spot for them to sit. The wedding place card holders should also be used to your advantage by placing people with similar interests together or moving away guests who you think may dominate conversations.

Almost everyone you know will probably mention that they dream of getting married by the beach. And why not? With the sound of the waves splashing on the shore, smell of saltwater in the air, breeze blowing in your hair and skin and soft sand at your feet, it is the kind of ambience that arouses just about every sense in your body. Not to mention the fact that a beach wedding makes for a pretty picture.

Just as your beach wedding is a unique event, your beach wedding favors can be equally different. Some ideas for beach wedding favors could be edible chocolates, velveteen photo frames, wooden place card holders, tealight holders, silver sea shells, miniature wedding candles in gift boxes and personalized mirrors and tin boxes. The beauty of having a beach wedding is that you may not even need to wrap your favors in conventional wedding wraps. Having such lovely souvenirs in their "outdoor" skins is more than enough.

As with every other gift you give, you want to make sure your beach wedding favor is appreciated and what better way to ensure this than to give a present that is not just lovely to behold but useful in everyday living.

Fall wedding decorations celebrate the alluring autumn season of romance.  Although summer love is a popular theme, the autumn is an ideal season to express your eternal love through rich colors and designs.

In the fall, you often have great weather without the heat of summer.  The fall leaves are a colorful backdrop for your wedding day.  Best of all, many reception locations offer deals in the fall after the hectic summer season ends.

Fall colors are eye-catching with hues such as deep yellow, burnt orange, chocolate brown and bronze.  These colors capture the spectacular scenery of autumn when used for your fall wedding decorations. Fall flowers include chrysanthemums, sunflowers and roses in antique colors.  Put water pearls in the vases of your floral arrangements for added color and flair.  Choose round, square or bud vases and display different sizes for visual interest.

Bring fall wedding decorations into every aspect of your day.  The wedding party should wear autumn hues.  Decorate the aisles or pews with fall-colored ribbons and bows.  The ring bearer and flower girl should carry themed accessories.  Add natural elements wherever you go including dried fall leaves.  Another element of autumn is maple syrup, which can be given as favors in small bottles to all your guests. 

Other favors for your guests are fall leaf candles.  These vibrant candles are lovely fall wedding decorations at your reception tables and perfect gifts for your guests.  Another dynamic fall favor is displaying a themed place card in a small vase filled with a silk fall flower.  Your guests will find their seats easily and have a lasting keepsake of your wedding day.

Infuse every element of your special day with fall wedding decorations.  Autumn splendor may be reflected in your toasting set, cake cutting set and guest book.  These delightful fall wedding decorations are functional and bring the autumn theme to all your photos and videos.  Bronze embellishments are ideal metallic accents for fall weddings because of the burnished tone.  Wear a bridal garter in a bronze hue to surprise the groom and your guests during the garter tossing ceremony.

Make sure to place disposable camera at all tables for impromptu photographs of unique moments during your picturesque fall wedding.  Fall wedding decorations create a fall fantasy feeling throughout every aspect of your big day.

The serenity of the beach and the vastness of its beauty are just one of the many reasons why couples, or most brides, dream of a wedding on the beach. The gush of wind playfully caressing your hair and the rhythmical dancing of the waves in the ocean make the wedding all the more an intimate and magical experience. Since you are planning a beach themed wedding or a seaside or lakeside nuptial, you want everything to be picture perfect—from the dress, cake, down to the beach wedding favor that you will give your guests.

Wedding favors are essentially keepsake gifts that you give your guests and everyone who will join your celebration as a token of appreciation.  They may be simple, decorative, or personalized wedding favors that will make guests remember your very special day.

Speaking of personalized wedding favors, you want to add a personal touch to the souvenirs that you will give your guests. You can do this by adding a tag, a note, or an etching that spells out your names, the wedding date, and even a romantic quote and a thank-you message.
   
Then again, before you can actually know what favor you will give your guests, it is important to explore ideas on the color and specific theme. Since the theme of the wedding is the beach, the colors can range from sandy bronze, turquoise, to aqua azure hues.  If you already have a clear idea of the color schemes that you want, then it will be easier to incorporate everything in making or purchasing a beach wedding favor. 

Beach wedding favors come in various designs, styles, and sizes. Since different people have different preferences, it is wise to choose between two approaches regarding favors. One is for those who are creative and wants to make their own favors by letting their imagination flow freely. The other approach is for those who want to purchase ready-made favors and add customization or personalization.

Creative and Crafty

One advantage of making your own keepsake for the guests is that you will have a wedding favor that is extraordinary and very unique. Since the creation of the favor is all up to you, you can be as innovative as you’d want to be. However, you must be careful not to go overboard with your designs and color choices, (talk about getting way too creative!)  because you might end up making a wedding favor with an entirely different theme. Now, you don’t want that, do you?

If you have the luxury of living near the beach location of your choice, then you’re in luck! Go out there and gather sand, sea shells, and twigs. Also, take images of the sea, and use these snapshots in making your wedding favor. For example, you can make shell decorated photo albums or shell portrait frames. You can also use empty bottles and fill these with ocean sand and sea shells. In this way, the guests will feel like even after they leave your beach wedding, they still have the ocean with them. 
   
However, if you don’t live near the beach, you can just opt to go to a craft store and look for the things that you will need. Search the internet, ask your friends and read magazines.

Buy Me, I’m Well-Done!

Choosing to get ready-made favors doesn’t mean that you can’t be as creative. There is a wide selection of beach wedding favors that you can purchase and then personalize for your own distinctive taste.
   
There are starfish tea lights, shell cardholders, luminous coasters, and even candles and candle holders. Candles and candle holders are popular choices among couples, because they add sensuality and a more romantic feel.  A flip-flop sandal photo frame stand is also nice gift to your guests, because of its uniqueness. You can also give colorful beach bags to your female guests and leather or sea shell key chains to your male guests.

Yummy treats can also be made as wedding favors.  Cookies, chocolates, and candy bars that are shaped into starfishes or any beach themed item will surely delight kids and adults with a penchant for sweets. Personalize these edible gifts with your names and the wedding date.

Make your wedding memorable not only for you, but also for everyone else that will share your celebration.  Whether you decide to get crafty or buy ready-made beach wedding favors, make sure that you enjoy the experience.

Picture this in your mind: you are about to get married in a grand and lavish manner one Sunday afternoon.  This is a church wedding and the place is lined with exquisitely designed floral ornaments and decorations of myriad colors.  All your friends and relatives are there and in full attention.  The lighting is toned down just a little bit to highlight the serenity and solemnity of the event.  While an orchestra is playing “Close to You” in the background whose members are formally dressed in tuxedo. 

People sat in the church pews in silence as they await you and your partner say your “I Dos!”.  This is just the church you still have a sumptuous reception elsewhere where overflowing wine and delectable foods are served, expensive wedding favors fill the guest’s tables …..Stop.  Before we need to proceed elsewhere we need refocus on our topic – cheap wedding favors.

But a little bit of reminder, cheap does not necessarily mean literally cheap as in very low quality.  These wedding favors are just priced below their regular retail price.  And discounted does not mean cheap either.  The above described scenario is ideal.  Who wouldn’t want to be married in such a grand fashion especially if you know the person you’re marrying is truly special, the one destined for you. 

You have prepared for this event and naturally you want the best.  But the truth is, most of us are not financially endowed to spend money just like that.  Our savings are not enough to cover such a grand occasion.  Most of us need to budget and be aware of certain cost considerations when it comes to our wedding choices and decisions.  If we are part of this majority who does not have a lot of resources to spend with in our wedding or wedding favors then read on.

One way to save money is to make your own wedding favors.  Wedding favors are those little things given as a gesture or appreciation to all your guests.  If you have an abundance of raw materials needed to create something in your backyard then go on with it.  Anything that can be acquired for low cost or even for free is a candidate for this purpose.  Remember that money saved can then be spent on flowers, food or your honeymoon.  Do-it-yourself favors give you that opportunity to present your hobby or special interest.  You must remember that creating or making your own favors is a unique way to personally thank your guests for coming to your wedding.

Below are some reminders as you make your do-it-yourself wedding favors:

• These items must showcase your favorite hobby or past time.
• The favors should be consistent with the general theme of your wedding.
• Make the favors as simple as possible and must also be easy to assemble.  The idea here is to lessen the pressure and stress in making the items which allows you to utilize the rest of your energy and attention on equally important aspects of the wedding.
• You and your partner must enjoy doing these favors together.  Being happy and joyful while making your favors will improve the favor’s overall quality and appearance.  This will make it really a gift worth giving.

Cheap wedding favors normally costs around $1.00 to $2.00 each.  An example would be a buri hat, placecard holder, boxes filled with homemade cookies, personalized CD’s of your favorite songs. Candy tins with thank you tags or ribbons.  You can also give candles because these items symbolize romance and will warm the hearts of your guests.  Another idea are bookmarks with personalized inscriptions or quotations. 

You can think of any other objects that suit your fancy and likings.  You just have to do some leg work and some researches.  Nowadays, with the advance in technology and the advent of the internet our researches maybe a lot easier compared to say, fifteen years ago.  Your creativity and dedication to search for the right priced favors are the only factors that will limit your choice of inexpensive wedding favors.  Having a wedding and being married need not be that expensive.  We still have a choice.

Ever wanted to walk down the aisle with warm, soft sand beneath your feet, and waves hitting against the shore for music? We’ve all dreamt, at least once, of getting married on an exotic island surrounded by the resplendent turquoise ocean. Beach weddings are quite sought after because of the scenic and picturesque nature of the location. Wherever you decide to conduct your beach wedding – whether it’s at your family’s seaside residence or going off to the Caribbean islands – you’ll definitely want  it to be the most unique and memorable experience of your life.

After deciding on how you want your wedding layout to look like, you could make use of elements found around the beach, like sand, seashells and even the wildlife, to help you achieve that look. Your beach wedding decorations should also reflect your personal style. If you are not too sure of what to do with the decorations, the following tips might just provide you with the inspiration you’ve been looking for:

1. You could opt to go for an enchanting ocean-themed wedding. Decorate your reception and ceremony area with sand, seashells (like conch), glass marbles, strings of pearls, and sea creatures. Anything you can get from the beach would give your wedding a much more authentic feel; other than that, you could get replicas from any supply store or even wedding retailers near you.

Use sand to adorn everything, from your invitation cards to the reception tables. Shells are absolutely gorgeous embellishments because they come in an assortment of colours, shapes and sizes. You could paste them to the hems of table cloths, press them into candles and you could even use the bigger ones to serve fruits or dessert, once they’re washed. Experiment with your shells and see what you can use them for. String pearls and glass marbles along the tables, on the shells and anywhere you can think of! Place glass bowls with ocean water, sand, seashells, pearls, marbles and live fishes, in the middle of tables. It’ll be an interesting and lively centerpiece for the guests to gaze at! 

2. What  about a tropical-styled wedding at the beach? To create a tropical atmosphere, all you need are palm trees, tropical flowers (such as verbena, hibiscus and bougainvillea), tiki torches and coconuts! Because beaches are already naturally surrounded by palm trees, you really don’t need to do much with it. You could twine an arch with the tropical flowers or use them to decorate the reception tables and chairs. Fill empty coconut husks with sand and glue the tropical flowers all around the husk. Once that’s done, put a tea-light candle in the coconut. Tiki torches could be placed along pathways or to create a border around the reception area.

3. You could choose to go with a nautical theme. Anchors, nets, ropes, bottles, buoys, boats and oars are the things you’ll need to correspond with the theme. Rent boats from renting parlours which can be found about the island, and have them replace chairs at the wedding ceremony, instead of just using them as décors. Flip the boat facing down and have cushions secured onto the boat so that guests can sit comfortably. Swathe the dining place with nets and ropes; hang buoys and anchors from the nets to give it that unique touch. Slip little messages or beautiful quotes into clear, empty bottles to create a ‘message in a bottle’ effect.  

4. If you like the sand and love to party, then you could arrange a few surf boards, colourful beach umbrellas, beach balls, pails and towels to create a ‘Beach Party’ theme for your wedding.  Place the towels all around the beach for guests to sit on and set up the beach umbrellas for shelter. It may not be as formal, but it is a load of fun and guests can rip the waves and have a beach volleyball match while waiting for the barbeque to start up. You don’t have to fork out a fortune for your beach wedding decorations either!

Play around with your decorations before deciding on how you want your wedding arrangements to look and let your creativity run wild. Remember to incorporate every element of the beach to make your wedding every bit as fascinating and unforgettable for you and your guests.