Mediterranean weddings have something magical indeed. Indian wedding come with royalty like features and details. Caribbean weddings, on the other hand, give you a slice of heaven. Pristine white beaches with crystal waters comprise a most romantic scenery. You can choose to reserve a private beach on a tropical island in the Caribbean or have English-style manors and enjoy their comfort. Basically, you can plan the wedding of your dreams, whatever t he dream. Your most magical day can truly be magical in more ways than one. There are locations that offer a secluded setting and 1800s buildings that make an impressive backdrop for a wedding held in the afternoon hours with cocktails at hand on a verandah! Nothing stops you from walking out on the sandbar, drifted away by magnificent sea views to exchange vows. And, before the sun sends the final beans to lighten and warm the earth, you will know that the wedding following wedding reception will be just as heart-warming as the ceremony has been.
The Caribbean is All About…
But, what makes a Caribbean wedding so special? How can you incorporate elements into your wedding if you can’t fly to a Caribbean island? A tropical theme wedding is relatively easy to plan. Just list your thoughts when you hear about exotic islands scattered in the Caribbean. Lush surroundings, opulent luxury, sun-soaked beaches, picturesque locations overlooking the sea, gardens with colorful bougainvilleas, steel drums, notes of Bob Marley, Reggae, and Calypso dancing in the air, relaxed atmosphere, and lots of smiles, among others, are some of the things that pop up in everybody’s minds just with the thought of it.
Now, imagine tiki torches burning, the bird of paradise adorning the tables, set for the wedding reception, and potted palms giving a special touch to the place as they wave in the turquoise-scarlet colored hibiscus!
Colors? Centerpieces?
The colors that match beautifully with your Caribbean theme wedding are lime green, orange, bright red, and, of course, yellow. And if you want to get the Caribbean flair shrunk and then rolled out in your area, why not hang a tropical parrot (doesn’t matter if it is fake or real) in a cage? That should be an excellent touch to your wedding décor!
For centerpieces, I’d suggest round or square glass containers. If they are clear, then you hit the jackpot! Fill them with lemons, oranges, and limes, add some water and leave bear grass just sprouting from the center of your tables. To avoid monotony, it’s best to alternate colors among the tables. Also, you may want to consider adding colorful napkins or table clothes for, you know, the full effect!
Food Buffet Decorations?
A great idea is to use palm fronds. You can either have someone make a pineapple tree for you to use as a food buffet centerpiece or make one on your own (there is plenty of DIYs online). Take fresh fruit kabobs and skewer them. Then add to the pineapple tree and serve with refreshing dips (i.e. yogurt) and appetizing hors d’oeuvre for everyone to enjoy.
That aside, you can carve fruits, such as papaya, melons, pineapples, and mangoes and use as a garnish while coconuts cut in halves make excellent dip and sauce containers. Finally, you can decorate the edges of the food tables with tropical greenery (the larger, the better). Just make sure it goes all the way along with raffia skirting.
Table Decorations?
No one can argue that Hawaii is one of the most preferred destinations for a wedding. It enchants with the rustic charm and the incredible culture alongside the bright blue waters and lovely tropical flowers that inspire the more creative minds to create masterpieces. For a Hawaiian-themed table, you need to include and highlight the rustic elements of the island and combine stones and woods with smooth textures and bright colors to avoid going over the top.
A really neat way to incorporate interesting elements for your wedding is to get a hold of a cool fabric for the napkins or runners; something that you fancy and can bring with you. It is unbelievable how a couple of custom things can make such a dramatic impact on the overall décor! My personal favorite for the instance would be a fabric with tropical flowers (screen-printed) for the runners or napkins or pops of greens and whites to pair with wood candle pillars and a wood vase, nicely placed on a wood table. Or you could go for more neutral colors for the chair cushions and table runners and make an eye-popping contrast with vivid tonalities here and there on the rest of the table!
Tip: It is much appreciable to embrace foods and traditions of the local culture and try to use some of them in the wedding ceremony, menu, and décor. Besides interesting, learning about different cuisines and customs allows you to think of that something special that you can give your guests as a lovely takeaway gift (i.e. small jars of local spoon sweets or a handmade pot-potpourri with local scents and aromas).
Additional Ideas:
1. The combination of breath-taking stones and local tropical flowers can create inspiring things. However, you do have to think outside of the box and become inventive. Who would have thought that stones are such superb place-card holders!
2. Speaking of flowers, lotus pods, pincushion protea, and tropical leaves comprise a splendid bouquet. Always go for ingenious flowers!
3. Look around carefully. What are the things about your setting that you find beautiful? Pick a couple of those and play off of them. Be creative. Be fun. After all, the reception table in a Caribbean wedding doesn’t have to be formal to stand out!
4. Pair a retro floral pattern with linen napkins. Bright tones are always better. Finish off the table with tropical pods, leaves, and flowers scattered all over the tables. Now, if you really want to impress, use bowls and plates that match the bold color scheme in the runners or napkins!