Tropical Wedding Ideas For The Perfect Ceremony At The Beach
Wedding favors are a wonderful way to show the marrying couple’s gratitude for the presence and support shared by the guests on their special day. These small, symbolic gifts are given as tokens of sincere appreciation from the bride and groom to those who are attending the joyous occasion of uniting two people in love.
As you can imagine, wedding planning involves making a lot of decisions and selecting wedding party souvenirs is only one of them. It can be both exciting and challenging to find the keepsake that reflects your personalities, your big day, the event style, and the destination where you are tying the knot. Plus, you may want to give something meaningful that will have a long-lasting impression.
If you are planning a beach-themed wedding or tropical destination wedding and you are looking for the favor that will really impress those receiving it, we have some great ideas for you below. This list of unique beach-themed wedding favors is sure to inspire you to find the perfect one your guests will adore. From stylish and luxurious to practical and locally made, you can find something that matches your unique preferences.
Our list includes things like edible favors, cocktail glasses, seashells, and personalized options. We hope to help you find the perfect wedding favor and to create memories everyone will remember!
Locally Made Wedding Favors
The best way to celebrate and show your love for the tropical destination where you are getting married is to gift souvenirs which are inspired by the area’s geography, culture, traditions, and history. From beautifully crafted artisan glassware to wood carvings and even seashells, these items will evoke a sense of unique charm and cultural appreciation. Handing out small, destination-inspired gifts pays homage to the history and traditions which are native to the region. If you are able to find some awesome wedding favors locally and can have them ready for your big day, that would obviously be amazing. But in the event you are not able to find them there or you simply would prefer to bring your own, that is fine too! Here are a few ideas which we hope will inspire you.
Barware & Drinkware
These square cocktail glasses which are in a cool and relaxed shade of blue make wonderful gifts and will be the perfect addition to any home. They are upcycled from bottles and are diamond-cut and then polished which makes them ideal for serving tropical cocktails. Just imagine your loved ones remembering your special day every time they raise this glass to sip on a refreshing drink.
Photo Credit: Cerulean Bay Shop
Personalized drinkware which is made from wine bottles is also a wonderful idea for creating long-lasting memories. These too will let loved ones remember your special day each time they have their favorite drink. Contact us for more information about sizes, pricing, color choices and engraving styles!
Photo Credit: Cerulean Bay Shop
Real Seashells
What better way is there to bring beach vibes home after attending a beach-themed wedding than real seashells? Your wedding will definitely be remembered with these shells that can be used as holders for small items, decorative elements, or as bowl fillers. They can further be customized by incorporating them into home décor with other items like picture frames, books, or floral arrangements. You can rest assured your guests will be more than happy to bring this memento home.
Note: Be sure to buy your shells from a reputable retailer to ensure that they are ethically sourced.
Photo Credit: Albino Seashells by Beach Combing Magazine
Starfish Magnets
Here is another idea for locally sourced gifts. See if a local vendor carries these or something similar. Or you can order them from this seller on Etsy which also does customizations. The unique and natural style of these magnets will fit perfectly into your beach wedding theme and your guests will love them!
Photo Credit: Love Design Gift (Etsy)
Edible Wedding Treats
Another way to thank your guests is to offer them edible delicacies, such as gourmet chocolates or locally made delicacies. These gastronomic treats will provide wonderful memories as guests enjoy mouthwatering flavors after the special event and remember the joyous day with each tasty bite. Wrapped in elegant packaging or rustic-looking boxes, these edible favors will make the event even more memorable.
Beach-Themed Sugar Cookies
Consider having sugar cookies as a delicious addition to your ceremony. These fun and unique treats can be shaped to match your beach theme and are a wonderful way to thank your guests for coming to your celebration. The good thing about sugar cookies is that they can be customized any way you want. Just be sure to confirm how much advance notice your baker will need and then reconfirm all details before your order is made.
Photo Credit: Southern Sugar Bakery
Popcorn Favors
These fun-filled bags are super popular for weddings and will delight your guests' taste buds with playful flavors like sea salted caramel sea, Madagascar vanilla, strawberry, among many others. You can also match the color with your theme (white, gold, silver, blues, greens, etc). These are a fantastic way to sprinkle some laughter and tastiness into your big day.
Photo Credit: Pop Central Popcorn
Practical Keepsakes
More and more couples are choosing to gift something that guests can actually keep and use at home. This way, your tokens of appreciation can be put to good use instead of being just a temporary reminder of that special day. Practical gifts are also less likely to be left behind and tend to be more appreciated. Here are a few ideas that are sure to delight your guests!
Coconut Shell Tealight Holders
Thank your guests for coming with this candle holder made from coconut shells! They are the perfect for tropical tabletop displays and gifts your guests can treasure for years to come. You can personalize them by adding tags with your names and your special date. Voila! Your love has been illuminated with personalized items.
Photo Credit: Amazon
Hand Fan
Whether you have a destination wedding or beach theme wedding where you live, your attendees will appreciate this charming hand fan. The fan will help the guests cool off during the ceremony and prevent them from sweating and ruining their make up or hair style. Plus, they will be able to use it long after the wedding day. You can choose colors and designs to match your party’s color scheme. It is cute and practical keepsake that can further be personalized by adding a tag with couples’ names and wedding date.
Photo Credit: Forever Favors
Can Coolers
Another practical item which will help your invitees cool off during a hot sunny day is a can cooler (or “koozie” as we call them here in Texas!) These coolers can be customized per your instructions to include names, dates, locations, and other info. Plus you can choose from a variety of different colors to align with your color palette. Contact us for more information!
Photo Credit: Cerulean Bay
Destination Souvenirs
Regardless of your theme, destination-related souvenirs can be incorporated into both casual and formal wedding styles. They can either be purchased or handmade and can include things like sunglasses, bottle openers, personalized chocolates, candles, soap bars, and so much more. Take a look below at current trending ideas.
Luggage Tags
Custom luggage tags with your guest's names or your wedding details are perfect wedding souvenirs. They represent a thoughtful way to express gratitude to your loved ones for being present at your celebration. What’s even better, luggage tags can be reused for future trips. If you have the budget, choose durable materials like leather which will last for a very long time.
Photo Credit: Beau-Coup
Crab Figurine
These beautifully crafted glass crabs are so cute! They are perfect for decorating each place setting with true tropical flair and will surely bring smiles to all of your guests, especially as they discover that they get to take them home!
Photo Credit: Cerulean Bay Shop
Engraved Wooden Coasters
These coasters are made from California Pine and are laser engraved with wonderful tropical palm trees. We can also have them made with many other images and can also engrave them with your names and your special date! Contact us for more information about pricing and ordering timeframes!
Photo Credits: Cerulean Bay Shop
Luxury Welcome Bags
Welcome bags are popular items at destination wedding where guests must travel in order to attend the big event. While these bags are a true wedding favor, they are different from traditional favors because they are filled with essentials that guests can use during their stay. Depending on what you plan to fill them with, they do not have to be taken back home. Guests usually receive their bags either upon checking in at their hotel, during the welcome party, or during the rehearsal dinner. This is different than traditional favors which are typically provided during the event. These bags are a fun way to give helpful items which will make your guests feel truly welcome and will be very much appreciated, especially after arriving from a long flight. You can either choose to purchase premade welcome bags or you can assemble them yourself. When deciding what to include in your welcome bags, be creative! Here are a few examples:
Beach Welcome Bag
- Sunglasses
- Customized flip flops
- Lip balm
- Sunscreen
- Bottled water
- Personalized tumbler with straw
Photo Credit: MedinaHeritage101 via Etsy
After Party” Kit
- Advil / Ibuprofen
- Energy bars
- Sleep masks
- Mints
- Under eye patches
- Bottled water
Photo Credit: Mike Cassimatis via Martha Stewart
Goodies Tote
- A bottle of wine
- Good quality snacks
- Local magazines with visitor information
- A personalized note
- Bottled wateer
Photo Credit: Jane Kershner Photography via Brides
How To Choose The Perfect Tropical Beach Wedding Favors
Plan early! Although these are small gifts, don’t leave them until the last minute. Planning your favors way ahead of time will ensure that you have one less deadline to worry about and that you will have reasonably priced gifts just in time for your big day.
To incorporate your wedding destination theme into your wedding favors, consider gifting items that are from or are about the location. Here are a few great tips and the vendors you choose will thank you!
- Check the local shops in the area. There are always local vendors who carry merchandise that can be used as gifts at wedding parties.
- Discover what the location is famous for and try to incorporate that into the keepsakes. It can even be a framed photograph of the venue.
- For favors that are to be wrapped and open by guests later on, capture the essence of the destination but using attractive packaging that is reminiscent of the area.
- Think of what your guests’ daily routines might be and include items that can be helpful. For instance, provide small useful things that people would normally take for a day at the beach. Hats and sunglasses among other items placed in a locally made tote bag would be awesome.
Final Thoughts About Costal Wedding Favors
One of the simplest ways to show your gratitude to your guests is by giving them small but thoughtful favors which will remind them of you as a couple. When it comes to these keepsakes, your options are truly limitless. You can choose anything from candies and popcorn to flip flops, bottle openers, personalized beach towels and more. There are no rules. If you choose to provide wedding favors, just be creative and let your personality shine through. Go as big or as small as you would like. It is our hope that the ideas presented in this blog post will get you excited and inspired about your big day at the beach or in the tropics and that your special day will be that much more perfect. Have fun!
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