Beach Wedding Theme: A Sandcastle Wedding

Here's a unique beach wedding theme idea: if you've been to the beach, then you've probably tried your hand at building a sandcastle. What delightful fun that was as a child... and still is even as an adult. So, let's turn this favorite past-time into a wedding celebration that sure to bring back fond memories to your guests.

Building a House of Sand:

As a child, building sandcastles using a child's bucket and pail was a great thing to do to while away the time. For others though, this became a passionate hobby and eventually a profession. Drop by the beach when there's a professional sandcastle competition going on and you'll see some amazing, sculptural works of art in the making by master sand sculptors.

For an interesting table place card setting for your sand castle beach wedding theme, and to get guests talking and sharing with one another, print photos of elaborate sand sculptures on postcard size white cardstock. Write the guest's name along the bottom of the card using liquid glue, and then sprinkle colored sand over the glue. Another option is to use puffed sparkle pens for writing.

Sculpting the Invitations:

Choose beach wedding theme invitations featuring sandcastles or sand in some way (like drawings on a wet beach). These will help set the tone of this theme for your guests. Here are a couple of ideas for making your own sand castle wedding invitations that were quickly put together using a computer graphic's program (these can also be handcrafted as well.)

For those that would prefer to buy their invitations or are just looking for more ideas, here are several links that should help you out:

• Build a castle out of cardboard or use a pre-formed castle (children's toy castles, ceramic, foam, etc.) Cover in a glue paste and roll in sand to coat. Voila, a sandcastle centerpiece. Spray with a clear matte varnish to set the sand in place. Don't forget to add some miniature flags to the battlements! You can find instructions here on how to build your own sandcastle centerpiece that will be perfect to put on display for this beach wedding theme.
  
  
• Fill children's plastic pails with sand. Add some shells and a plastic shovel to the top of the sand. Tie helium filled balloons to the handle and set on tables.
  
  
• Using cardboard cutouts create a sandcastle "front" to place around the reception doorway. To make the cardboard look like sand, use the spray paints found in hardware stores that create a rough textured "sand" look.
  
  
• Blow up beach balls and hang from the ceiling.
  
  
• Use cheap, colorful children's sunglasses to hold place cards.
  
  
• Hang some beachcomber's hats on the walls and place on serving tables. In fact, turn a couple upside down, line with napkins and use them to hold breads, rolls, etc.
  
  
• Use children's plastic beach shovels as serving utensils for a fun and very casual buffet style dinner.
  
  
• Pick up some clear, tall glass bottles of varying heights and shapes. Also buy a variety of colored sand (available at craft stores). Create unique designs by pouring different colored sand into the bottles. Create an arrangement on each guest table using 3 different size/shapes of bottles. For added embellishment, place 3 to 5 votive candles or tealights between or circling the bottles.
  
  
• Use sand candles as centerpieces and for lighting in various areas of the room.
  
  
• Don't forget to place a few beach umbrellas and lawn chairs here and there as well. After all, you're at the beach!
  
  
• If your wedding and/or reception is actually taking place on a beach, hire someone to build a beautiful sandcastle. There are actually people out there that do this for a living!
  
  

• Fill a child's pail with colorful shredded paper. Place lifesavers, candies, candles, chocolates, etc. on top and cover with clear cellophane tied with colorful ribbon.
  
  
• Present your guests with chocolate bars wrapped in custom candy wrappers with a sandcastle graphic on it.
  
  
• Buy small personalized champagne bottles and put your own labels on each.
  
  
• Fill small clear bottles with different colored sand, creating a unique pattern for each. Seal with a cork.
  
  
• Mix up the recipe for "Sand Art" Brownies in a clean, clear bottle. Seal with cap and tie several colorful ribbons around the neck of the jar. Attach a recipe card to the bottle on how to bake them. Recipe available from: http://www.cookingcache.com/dessert/sandartbrownies.shtml
  
  

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