The water, the sand, the breeze. What’s not to love about a beach wedding?

A beach needs little adornment, which makes it perfect for couples who want to give Mother Nature a starring role.

Here are eight tips for creating a fabulous beach wedding:

• Since going shoeless on the beach is the norm, have a shoe valet for your guests so they don’t have to worry about getting sand in their shoes. With a shoe valet, guests can check in their shoes and receive tags to reclaim their shoes after the wedding. Offer guests a pre-moistened towel to wash their feet before putting their shoes back on.

•  Speaking of shoes, flip-flops are ideal for beach brides. The kind with a wedge heel are great for outdoor weddings because they make it easier to walk around (they are as comfortable as slippers). Flip flops come in ivory, satin and white and are dressed up with beads and sequins.
•  Rent a sound system. For any outdoor wedding with more than 40 people, you need amplification – especially on the water. Make sure you have a microphone and generators to run the power and make sure musicians who are outdoors have amplification.
•  For your wedding gown, choose a fabric like chiffon and silk taffeta because they are lighter than many other fabrics and don’t require as much “babysitting” throughout the day.
•  Offer a water station for your wedding guests. Place several containers with ice and bottled water throughout the ceremony entrance to keep your guests hydrated.
•  If your ceremony is in a hot, sunny area, offer parasols or fans for your wedding guests.

• Although some couples choose to have their guests stand during the ceremony,  chairs are a nice touch. Be careful about using Chiavari chairs; they which will sink into the sand and possibly break.  Instead, use white Samsonite folding chairs, white wooden chairs or benches.

•  Have a back-up plan. Mother Nature is as unpredictable as she is beautiful. And the last thing you want is rain to extinguish your wedding day bliss.

Thanks to Wedding Planner Kathy Piech-Lukas, owner of Your Dream Day, a special events planning company in Cincinnati, Ohio for these helpful tips!

Photo One:  Ashley Stelzer, AE Stelzer Photography; Photo Two: Visit South Walton; Photo Three:Four Seasons Magazine; Photo Four: Elizabeth Messina

Being the sea glass fanatic that I am, I’m always dreaming up ways to use my beach gems in DIY projects. I came up with the idea for these name cards when I was messing around with my watercolor paints. (Sadly, a rare occasion these days!)

These  sea glass name cards would be perfect for a beach themed wedding, don’t you think?

Serving spirits at your wedding reception? Why not consider a signature cocktail that shows off your creativity and style?

Guests might be expecting standard bar fare at your reception like red and white wine, champagne and beer, but they’ll love an extra special touch and a drink made especially for them.

A signature cocktail can reflect your theme, colors, décor or it can simply be your favorite drink that you like to mix at home. Give it a creative name, create a sign or station for it, dress it up with fun accessories like garnishes and straws – and toast to your special day!

If you are looking for inspiration, Dailys Cocktails has an amazing recipe section that shows you how to make every drink imaginable! Want to match your drink to your wedding colors? Sort drink recipes by color. Love a specific flavor? Sort by flavor. You can even sort recipes by spirit, glass type, occasion or season.

If you are having a summer wedding, create a frozen drink that is fun and refreshing, like the Pomegranate Margarita:

Another option for a summer wedding is the Mojito Julep with fresh mint. Wouldn’t this be perfect for a garden wedding?

I don’t know about you, but this Raspberry Margarita is calling my name right about now! Alas, five o’clock is still three hours away:)

Whatever flavor combination you choose, have fun with it and let it reflect your personality!

Want even more tips on creating the perfect signature drink? Become a fan of Dailys Cocktails Facebook page, where you will receive inspiration galore as well as promotions.

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For a wild blueberry kind of gal like me, any excuse to use blueberries in a recipe is a good thing. Not only does this recipe appeal to the blueberry lover, anyone who has a plethora of big, beautiful zucchinis in their garden will love this recipe too.

If you are making these as DIY wedding favors, simply wrap in parchment, then add a  piece of burlap for a rustic look.