Florida Beach Weddings By Jules Want a Beach Wedding in Florida? Look no further than "Beach Weddings By Jules"

There are many ways to give a warm welcome to your guests depending on your destination spot.

One that fits all areas, is include a map of the near by area, showing attractions and restaurants.   You can also include a few restaurant choices with menu’s, maybe tying them together and a small note saying “Local Favorites”.      

If holding a winter wedding,  think off hot chocolate and sweet treat to be placed in hotel room at arrival and if a summer, warmer month, have a fruity cocktail, lemonade, maybe the hotel has a specialty drink. Leave with a note welcoming your guests and thanking them for making the trip.

You can fill baskets or if you want to be more creative, you can make  tote bags.  If up north find fabrics that fit the wedding them, moose or deer pattern perhaps or  maybe material that is a map pattern with note ( “Glad you could travel our way”).   If down south, look for fruit type prints, or seashells and fish designs.  There are many to choose from and most fabric stores will have simple, easy to make pattern to buy.    I always like the idea of recycling and going to thrift or antique shops where they usually have older fabrics, curtains, table clothes etc that can be cut and made into totes.  I have used old dresses and shirts.  They all do not need to match making them one of a kind.  Again this will depend on the theme of your wedding.  If your wedding happens to be a “Green” wedding, that would fit perfectly.

Items to place in your basket or tote bags,  homemade  jellies and honeys from local area,  hot sauces if out west, really anything that represents area  that you are visiting.   If  it happens to be a beach wedding  always add sunscreen, towels, bottles of water and some local trinkets.  Don’t forget the map and menus.   You can even add the itinerary of the wedding day if you think it will help inform your  guests.

Tie a special note on whatever you decide to do with  a warm welcome and so glad you came.

If  looking for something simple and you want to keep in the beach wedding theme and  stay green, here is a great centerpiece arrangement. 

Arrange white amaryllis and palm leaves in a clear vase with recycled-glass bulbs.  You can also add to the table a few candles in glass jars  wrapped in fabric strips and make your your own runners from left over fabrics.

Idea from Coastal Living Magazine on Beach inspired looks.

If your are holding a beach theme/type wedding and you are looking  for something green, homemade and easy to make for a bridal gift;

Try sewing  a simple canvas or linen tote bag and sewing on shells.  Shells like the limpet or scalloped shells are easy to sew on or find any shells that strike your fancy.   Just use a drill with a small drill  bit to make holes if needed.   Make a pattern that you like and sew on tight to keep secure.   The totes will be unique and from the heart.   Joann Fabric’s and Hobby Lobby’s both have easy to follow patterns for extra assistance and ideas.

Wedding Blogger, Meg Keene, has this to say about cutting out expensive wedding party favors:

Give each girl a framed photo of the two of you together, along with a letter explaining how much she means to you.

It does remind me of one of my good friends, for a birthday gift,  put together a small scrap book 4X6, ribbon tied together, on just her and I over the years with little quotes in it and I absolutely loved it better than all the gifts she has ever bought me.  She spent her time making it and taking time to personalize to fit just her and I.  This would also be a nice wedding gift.

Brides,

You should always have a wedding emergency bag for your big day.  You will know what is best based on your type of wedding but the usual items are sewing kit,  breath mints, tissues, spare pair of hose if wearing some, emery board and your color nail polish for touch up, extra lipstick, extra safety pins, super glue, bobby pins, small bottle hair spray and if having a beach wedding and it  is a summer time event, a clean dry wash cloth to bring to ceremony for dabbing sweat before pictures.

I am always asked if it is a problem if there are more on one side than the other for the bridal party.  The answer is no.  You can always have some of the side that has a few more on it to pair up and walk with one  person from other side ( 2 bridesmaids with one groomsmen in middle or reverse).  Then the rest are just in two’s.    It will looks great either way and is very acceptable.

Depending on where your location is, it is nice to add directions (map) in with your invitations for guests to feel more comfortable at finding your destination.  Be creative and fun and maybe make your own map, adding in drawings of certain landmarks and  maybe a car with a few people in it driving to the end spot.

If you are holding a beach ceremony,  you can add fun signs driving in to  the beach with maybe hanging shells or  drift wood like signs with arrows pointing in different directions, one of course being your names, Jane and John’s Wedding, toward the beach with other fun ones heading elsewhere like Key West arrow heading south or you can put your home town heading ?)

Also if holding at a park, maybe try a 2X4 with a slice of a tree trunk, arrows pointing to destination.  This does not mean to go a cut down a tree,  you can check with tree trimming companies in your area for left over pieces before they mulch or take to dispose.     Just let them know what you are planning to do and most are very helpful.

Have you thought of using wedding bells to give to your guests to ring as the 2 of you come back down the isle as husband and wife instead of the bubbles or candied rice?  They have a wonderful sound and your guests will love it.   This works especially well for out door wedding ceremonies where the wind may be an issue.    

Also something fun if holding a beach wedding ceremony: beach balls for all to throw up as the 2 of you walk out.  Kids especially love them.

There are many ways to get wedding vendor referrals.

You can always call the local hotels or catering companies for a vendor list in the area you are using.   These will be reputable businesses that they trust and have worked with.

From there, you can also get referrals from those vendors. No company will put there reputation on the line and refer others they do not trust.

Last, ask your friends or family that have been married who they used and how they liked them if thier wedding was in the same area you are thinking.

Instead of table place cards set out in rows on the reception entrance, try a charming designed cardboard frame to use with decorative push pins.   Go to www.mioculture.com