A couple of my friends are getting married this summer and I’m totally excited about creating a fantastic wedding set on our beloved Avila Beach.  They are on a budget, and of course, they are dear friends so I want them to have a fantastic wedding, so I’m inspired to get creative with high visual impact and smart design elements.

Although it is going to be at the beach, we don’t want to get too carried away with beach kitsch, we want to have the view itself play a dynamic roll as the back drop, but play off of elements of nature and water, while having it be romantic AND cost effective.  Flowers … are expensive.  So, every bloom has to count in terms of impact, so we will carefully choose, big showy blooms, but use less of them.  In this case, we will focus more on hardscaping rather than fresh elements.

One of the best ways I know to stretch a décor budget, is through candles.  Sorry if you’ve heard me say this 1001 times, but – people feel good in candlelight, they look great in candlelight and it is inviting and sets the tone for warmth and conversation.  Often when there is little budget for centerpieces, I suggest a fabulous candle element on the guest tables because it is high impact and provides great ambiance.  So… candle elements we shall have, but in addition, I want it to feel light, luminescent yet swank.  Completely pulled together, clean and finished.

Outside in the sand, we will construct a simple bamboo structure (Groom’s request), add some soft fabric and let the mighty Pacific do the rest.  To carry the concept of water and color back onto the sand, I will embed simple cylinder vases in varying heights down both sides of the aisle.  We’ll fill them with water that is slightly aqua colored to provide interest and create just a bit of drama.  We’ll float candles well below the rim to avoid the wind catching them.  Intermingled with the boarders of floating candles will be several vases of a single stems of white antherium.  White starfish will be randomly tucked into the sand around the cylinder vases, completing the aisle.

Inside the Ballroom at Avila Lighthouse Suites, the candle aspect and cylinder vases continue on the tables,  though using a custom aqua hued silk overlay on the tables will bring some mileage in terms of color.  Again, some very tall cylinders with larger scale tropical leaves will provide visual structure to the space.  A level lower, floating candles will provide glow at eye level, and further down, a pop of bright green dendrobium orchids (bride’s favorite color is green) and lily grass for texture.  Silver mercury glass votive candles in an eclectic combination of shapes will provide the luminescence on the table.  A couple of scattered white star fish and we’re set.  White square plates with a natural colored napkin will complete the tablescape.

Our white leather lounge furniture will complete the vibe with accents of silver mod side tables and accents of over-sized vases featuring real fish (Groom’s request), but we’ll light them from below.  Of course, lighting is going to play a huge roll for the reception.  Our favorite lighting guys over at Kramer Entertainment DJs & Event Lighting are going to work their magic by warming up the room with glow, spotting the tables with light and bringing some serious fun to the dance floor. Ok, so how crazy fun was that?!!