Nautical Centerpiece Wedding Ideas

Public beaches can provide you with beautiful pieces of driftwood.

Share your love of the sea with your wedding guests by decorating the tables for your reception with nautical centerpieces. Combine common elements from the beach to craft beautiful arrangements for your celebration. Sand, candles, seashells and beach glass are refreshing accents for your nautical theme.

Sand With Candles

Create a miniature beach scene in a large, square, glass candle holder. Fill it about 1/3 full with fine natural sand and plant a clump of tall decorative grass towards one corner. Cluster three votive candles together and press them into the center of the sand until they are secure. Vary their heights slightly. Arrange several seashells around the candles. Place the container on top of a mirror centered on your table. Place about a dozen votive candles displayed in frosted glass holders around the base of the arrangement. Scatter polished natural pebbles or beach glass chips among the candles.

Driftwood

Create an artistic centerpiece using a piece of driftwood. Glue sheet moss onto sections of gnarled driftwood to resemble seaweed. Add a few seashells on top of the moss. Center a piece of white fishing net over a navy blue linen tablecloth and place the driftwood on top. Nestle a white ceramic pot containing a miniature palm tree or colorful orchids beside the wood. Add a generous amount of moss to cover the soil in the pot allowing some to trail over the rim. Drape a string of pearls over the wood and onto the table. Scatter seashells around the pot and driftwood. Arrange several votive candles in a random design among the shells.

Lanterns

Reproductions of old lighthouse lanterns are available.

Lanterns made from glass and polished brass are a reminder of old lighthouses. Top your linen tablecloth with a decorative table-runner made from fabric printed with a nautical design such as lighthouses, shells, anchors or sailboats. Cut a long rectangle to fit the length of the table or cut a large square to lay in the center. Hem the edges with fabric glue. Center a mirror on top of your fabric. Place a candle inside the lantern and set it on top of the mirror. Arrange several votive candles or tea lights around the lantern and scatter seashells, polished pebbles or beach glass chips among them.

Treasure Chest

A painted chest can be embellished with decorative paper and trims.

Your guests will enjoy a nautical table decorated with a small treasure chest. Spray paint the chest white and line it with decorative paper. Center it on your table. Prop the lid open. Drape a piece of white fishing net from the inside and over the front of the chest. Trail it onto the table. Attach starfish and sand dollars onto the net with glue. Set a potted miniature palm tree or an arrangement of tropical flowers inside the chest. Drape strands of pearls over its front and scatter a generous number of gold foil wrapped coins and seashells on the netting and the table. Add white votive candles among the coins.

References

• My Wedding Planning Guide: Tips for Beach Wedding Arrangements