Tropical Wedding Ideas

The key to pulling off a coordinated event: Evoke your theme throughout the affair. Whether that theme is as general as a season or a feeling, or as specific as a special flower, it should be the subtle thread that ties everything together. Your location, invitations, flowers, menu, cake, and favors should all cleverly reflect one common concept. Then, get as creative as you can!

When you think romantic, do you picture a tropical beach with palm trees swaying in the breeze. If so maybe a tropical inspired wedding would be the perfect theme for you. Or maybe you just love the beach and the outdoors and would like to have a little of that in your wedding to reflect who you and your groom are. Even if you're not getting married near a great tropical location you can bring that feel to your wedding & reception. All you need is the right ideas, decorations, and creativity.

First you will need to decide if your wedding will be formal, semi formal or informal. That will dictate the time of day for the wedding, the type of decor, the flowers and even the attire for the wedding.

The Location:

Beach, Poolside, Yacht, Botanical Garden, Reception Hall, Ballroom or even your own Backyard.

The Invitations:

In our Invitation Shop we have Tropical Wedding Invitations by Carlson Craft. There are many designs to choose from such as Tropical Fantasy, Warm Breezes, Heavenly Hibiscus, Tropical Love, Palm Royale, Island Adventure, and many more. The bridal accessories section has many items such as: place cards, napkins, and favor bags, that can be imprinted with a Palm trees design, Lily design and many other designs. You will also find cake tops, seals, favors, severs, garters, & decorating items.

The Attire:

For a daytime wedding or informal wedding choose a wedding gown that is more of a summer style (i.e. A-line, Sheath, or Mermaid with a summer style neckline {i.e. Halter, Sleeveless, Spaghetti Strap, or Strapless}) no train or beading. You could also wear a white floral Hawaiian muu muu designed for Island Weddings. No tuxes for daytime or informal weddings, have the Groom and Groomsmen wear Hawaiian shirts and light colored slacks, or business suits (light in summer).

For an afternoon semi-formal wedding you can still use the Halter, Sleeveless, Spaghetti Strap, or Strapless style with a detachable train or without a train. Minimal beading on the gown. Tuxes can be worn, but no tails.

For a formal evening wedding you can now choose a similar gown with lots of beading and tuxes and tails can be worn.

Don't forget the Wedding Leis (real or silk).

The rules are this:

* If you’re a guest, and you’re invited to a wedding in the middle of the day, the men should wear business suits, dark in winter, light in summer. The women should wear beautiful suits or dresses, cut to the knee or below, with very little glitz. If the wedding is held in temple or church, the attire should not be flashy or provocative.

* If a formal or semi-formal reception is held hours after the wedding ceremony, guests (if able) are required to change into flashier evening attire, which may include cocktail or long dresses for the women and tuxes for the men, if the occasion warrants it.

These rules also hold true for the family members of the bride and groom!

Tips

Start tanning weeks if not months before the wedding and avoid the sun just before the wedding. A sunburn is the last thing you want to see at your wedding. Also advise your Bridesmaids to do the same.
No Tan lines. Make sure months ahead of time that the dress you and your Bridesmaids wear don't and won't show any tan lines.
Before purchasing shoes, consider what type of ground you'll be walking on. (i.e. Beach-Sandals w/o heel would be better. Grass- The thicker the heel the better.)
Don't go out and get a massage right before the wedding or you might be sore for your wedding.

The Flowers:

There are many different tropical flowers and plants. Use a lot of different Exotic flowers such as, Orchids, Oriental Lilies, Asiatic Lilies (shown left), Anthuriums, & ginger. Mix with exotic greens like Ferns, Palms, & Cycads and other luxuriant foliage. Bamboo is also an excellent addition to floral arrangements.

If your budget is tight, Asiatic Lilies are less expensive than Oriental Lilies and other tropical flowers and come in red, orange, yellow, pink, peach and white. You could also use mainly exotic greens with just a few blooms here and there. Small tropical palms can be easily made from leather fern (inexpensive) and make great centerpieces on tables or can be placed on top of columns to form taller palms. We wrap the columns in brown craft paper, flat paper or brown gossamer to form the trunk of the trees.

Silk Ferns, Palm Trees and Hanging Palm Spray can be rented from your local party rental company.

The Reception:

Table Linens:

At some point during the planning stages of your event the subject of linens will arise. When it does stop and think of all the possibilities available to you. Remember the tops of the tables provide you with a very large surface area and covering them with a themed tablecloth is the easiest way to change the feel of a room.. It is also the most cost effective way to decorate. Ten tables covered with tropical tablecloths will transform your event location into a party paradise.

Don't be afraid to use a different color tablecloth on each table, this creates a dazzling effect. Add eye-catching butterfly accents that coordinate with each tablecloth. Place bright colored stemware alternating at each place setting, this will complement each table's colorful "canvas.

Raffia Table Skirts will add a festive look to your buffet tables. Trim with real leis or silk flower leis for an elegant look.

Add a tropical look to your tables with one of these popular tropical party ware designs.

Centerpiece Ideas:

Usage of small trees, such as the 5ft. Banana Tree or a 3ft. plant (Heliconia or Bird of Paradise) have been very popular as centerpieces for a buffet table or salad bar.

Centerpieces utilizing real fruits are very popular. A pineapple placed in the center of a real or silk flower lei with Cocktail Umbrellas stuck into the pineapple is a simple arrangement. Add a coconut next to the pineapple for an additional accent.

Bamboo Torch Candlesticks trimmed with real or silk tropical flowers sit beautifully on tables.

Try adding light up ice cubes to glass vases and create fabulous light up centerpieces.

Some other ideas might include: a tall glass vase lighted from below with an LED light base. Fill vases with Orchids or lemons & limes floating in water. Set a 3" cylinder vase on an E Light Coaster, watch the lights change.

For upscale events:

If you are using 6ft or 8 ft banquet tables place five or six 4 inch square glass vases down the center of a table covered in a pale blue linen. Add tap water colored blue with food coloring (the color of the water should be a deeper shade of blue than the table cloth. Float round white floating candles in the bowls (two candle in one bowl, one candle in the next, repeat). Scatter handfuls of tumbled glass stones or sea glass at different points down the row of vases. In addition to candles you could also float stephanotis or water hyacinth blossoms. Use dark blue napkins and glassware with white square china.

Place an 18 inch square copper tray (available at garden supply centers) in the center of your table, add one inch of sand to the tray to create a beach scene. Nest about 12 tea lights into the sand. Scatter a few shells around the tealights (optional). You will also need 4 stems of Yoko Ono Pom (lime green) chrysanthemums (yields about 30 blooms). Clip flower heads from the stems. Insert blooms faceup in the sand (these are long-lasting blooms and will hold up easily without water for a day). Place one bloom on top of each napkin for an additional accent. If your tray is watertight you could also combine stones and floating flowers to create a calming miniature pool.

Lighted centerpieces are very popular.

Mini spandex towers with palm leaves on top is an elegant and sophisticated look. Taller 6' or 8' towers can also be used around the room for added decor.

Other Table decorations:

Tropical Bandanas make a great napkin for your tropical theme event. Use a colorful Silk Flower Bracelets for a beautiful napkin ring or place a single exotic bloom on top of a solid colored cloth napkin. Tuck a napkin inside a pair of sunglasses for a cute accent.

Light up your Drinks! Add to the party decor by serving your favorite drinks in flashing margarita cups, fun way to light up your drinks or desserts. Use for fruit cups, shrimp cocktail or an ice cream sundae. Colorful Neon Coconut Cups will add a festive flair to your poolside drinks.

Accent your tropical drink with an apple, pineapple, lemon or orange with these Fruit Straws or use assorted Tropical Flower Straws . Another great accent for drinks and platters are Cocktail Umbrellas .

Room Decorations:

If your budget is low, but your dreams are grand, consider the depth of a giant Tropical Wall Mural or a Tropical Scene Setter. They fill an entire wall, and better yet, they provide guests with the most realistic setting imaginable. When else will your guests have the opportunity to relax beneath a tropical sunset, or soak in the beauty of a island beach in the company of friends? They also make an excellent photo background too. Here are a few suggest:

Tropical Scene Setters are used to fill in gaps and round out areas. These might include a Tropical Wall Mural , Tropical Cruise Scene, Tropical Scene Setter, Bamboo Scene Setter , Beach Scene Setter , Sunset Scene Setter , Ocean Blue Scene Setter , Ocean View Scene Setter , or Palm Tree Scene Setter . Mix and Match with all of our great tropical decorations.

Cover white wedding columns with brown craft paper to form the trunk for a palm tree. Place a fern plant on top.

Cover the top of a buffet table with twinkle lights, cover the lights with tulle. Scatter flower blooms on top.

Tropical Lighting:

Lighting is one of the important elements of any design. For pool parties or informal events tiki torches can be used to line walkways and party areas. Accent other party areas with Party lights in the shape of palm trees, flamingos, flowers & etc. Party lights also make great accents for tables.

Gobos can be used to project photo-realistic images (pictures, line drawings, logos) of just about anything onto walls, ceilings or a stage areas. Imagine parrots in flight illuminating the sky of your event room. Used alone, or in combination with other gobos, stunning results can be achieved. Contact your local event lighting company for ideas.

Click Here for more decorating ideas.

Special Touches:

Flowered shirts, Wedding Leis, grass skirts , flowered or brightly colored shorts/skirts, sandals etc. Bamboo torches, fish netting, palm trees and other foliage, boat oars, canoes. For that special Conga Line at your luau reception add these Brightly Colored Neon Beachcomber Hats to your list and have your DJ give them out between sets of music. This fine weave Beachcomber Hat is also very popular for the Hot, Hot, Hot music at your reception..

Bring Vitality To Your Theme Concept

While decor still reigns supreme when invoking theme, an interactive element brings vitality to your theme concept.

Besides the tropical flowers, native plants and tiki torches to evoke your theme — bring in traditional native dancers to perform at your Hawaiian Event, combine with a hilarious audience participation segment where guests can interact and be part of the event, rather than just spectators.

When you choose to go with a themed event, it should be a complete commitment. Even your catering should reflect the theme. That might mean supplying action stations that combine food flavor, presentation and decor for a total guest experience. If you're going to do a themed event, it needs to be done legitimately and to completion. It can't be a partial attempt.

Links to Tropical Decorations for the Upscale Luau Event

Note: These sites are intended for use by businesses of the trade, they are not retailers. Contact your wedding or event planner to obtain these items.

Tropical Foliage:

The Canvas Nursery - Artificial Trees, Plants and Foliage in tropical styles to suit any décor. Our products are handcrafted using cotton canvas. Uniquely different than other ‘greenery’ on the market today. So if your looking for that alternative to ‘silk’ trees or silk plants.

Lighted Centerpieces:

Spandex Towers:

The Gifts:

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Napkins

Show your guests just how much you care by offering Personalized Napkins that complement your wedding colors or theme.

Napkins can be laid out on a buffet table, or can be displayed at each place setting.

Place napkins in the center of each place setting at an angle, or unfold them and place them in glasses for a tall dramatic look.

The napkins can also be tied (and bundled with plastic cutlery) with a multitude of items to match your colors or theme. Try Curling Ribbon, Gossamer Streamers, ric-rac or ribbon.

You can imprint your napkins with a special design. Personalized Napkins are available in the Bridal Accessories Section on our Carlson Craft site.

Tropical Bandanas make great napkins for a Luau or Beach theme party.

Use a colorful silk flower slap bracelets for a beautiful napkin ring or place a exotic flower bloom on top of a solid colored cloth napkin.

For a beach theme, tuck a napkin inside a pair of sunglasses, a cute accent.

Tropical Wedding Cakes

Wedding cakes with square layers rather than the traditional round cakes are gaining in popularity. Asiatic Lilies are a favorite flower for tropical weddings. They come in red, orange, yellow, pink, peach and white and are less expensive than Oriental Lilies. Have your cake designer form a cascade of Asiatic Lilies down the cake or place a bouquet of flowers at the top and arrange with greenery around the base of the cake. Ask your designer to show you pictures of alternative ways to decorate your tropical cake. Note that the layers on this cake are angled to add more excitement to this design.

Tropical Wedding Cake Links: