Dreaming of saying “I do” with a view? Hey, who isn’t? Then, why not go for a nautically-themed wedding! Nautical weddings are popular for their trendy aesthetic, and great sense of symbolism, whether you’re navigating both the calm and choppy seas of marriage together, your love flows infinitely, or your bond is as pure as fresh water from a deep ravine. Anyways, you get the picture!
But what makes nautical weddings even more popular, perhaps, is their huge range and versatility in terms of styling options and themes. You can hold the event on the beach, at a yacht club, and in other unexpected and unique venues — by the water or even on board a cruiser, allowing the happy-couple-to-be to get their creative juices flowing (if that’s their thing, of course).
The nautical theme evokes a chic and relaxed atmosphere, a subtle nod to the wild and free spirit of the ocean and the outdoors. You can lift inspiration from plenty of sources — colours of the ocean, marine life, the beach, and even nautical vessels.
If you’re thinking of taking the plunge to forever with a nautical wedding theme, we have rounded up some creative wedding ideas and tips you can incorporate into your big day to ensure it goes swimmingly. Let’s dive in…
Nautical Wedding Venue: Say ‘’I Do’’ On Board
One of the most unique ways you can celebrate a nautical wedding theme is by holding it onboard a yacht or a ship. It’s an exciting way to tie the knot (or should that be the ‘sailor’s hitch’?), with the majestic view of the vast ocean serving as your backdrop, and the gently lapping waves lulling any troublesome babies into a slumber during your service.
Read: 10 IDEAL destinations for a yachting holiday in 2023
You can make everything extra spectacular by making it a whole day affair, cruising around beaches and islands during the daytime part of the wedding, sunset watching as the day ends, and partying under the stars during the night. It’s a double win – you get to enjoy a unique experience with friends and family while simultaneously sealing your happily-ever-after. And what could be better than that?
If you want to keep your guests’ adrenaline pumping, add some water activities like jet skiing, snorkelling, and even water sliding into the mix. It’ll definitely be a wedding no one will forget – just remember to instruct guests to bring their swimming costumes on the invitation!
Speaking of invitations…
Nautical Wedding Invitation: She Sells Sea Shells
As we mentioned earlier, there are a lot of creative ways you can play with your nautically-themed wedding. One of those is through your wedding invitations, which help you set the tone from the get-go about what kind of day it will be. And water day it will be!
One way you can execute your wedding invite theme in style and succinctly is by using the serene shades of the ocean as your colour palette – blues, seafoam green, turquoise and white, all in a watercolour style, of course.
You can also add other aspects of nautically-inspired visual intrigue like coral, sea shells, and marine life, whether that’s simply an image of those items, or the real thing, held together by tying a string with a seashell hanging on it. Sure, this might make the wedding invites a little cumbersome, but no one will be able to deny your singular vision.
Do be aware that sending out such decorative cards may cost a fair bit in terms of posting and packaging.
And if you’re not a fan of attaching sea creatures to your invites, you can also use other nautical symbols and icons like an anchor, sailor’s knot, lighthouse, and compass, among other things, all of which boast glorious symbolism in terms of love, marriage and happily-ever-afters.
Nautical Wedding Tablescape: Sea-Inspired Chic
Of course, your table settings are another great way to show off your creative side in terms of your theme. Driftwood, candles, sea glass, sailor hats, fishbowls with sand, and seashells, are just some of the elements you can incorporate into your nautical table setting. Go for textured plates, goblets, and printed linens in complementing colours like blues and greys to make the styling cohesive. Finish off the look with some wildflowers or pampas grass reminiscent of the beach!
In terms of the wedding breakfast menu, we think it rather writes itself! Grilled whole fish, seafood platters, fish and chips… You get the picture. And for the veggies, there are plenty of ‘vegan fish’ recipes that are remarkably close to the real thing. Check out a lovely round-up of 14 of the best from Vegan Food & Living here.
Nautical Wedding Attire: Ocean fashion
There are a lot of different directions you can head in terms of nautically-themed wedding day fashion. Firstly, you could dress everyone in whimsical and flowy numbers, evoking mermaids, and sea gods and goddesses. Or, if you’re feeling bold and adventurous, forgo the white and opt for a blue-tinged bridal gown, dressing your bridesmaids in seafoam green, grey, or dusty blue to complement. You could take it further by wearing mermaid-inspired headbands and hair accessories.
If you want to go in a totally different direction, your whole entourage can dress in colours inspired by sailing and ocean navigation. That means traditional white gowns for you, royal blue bridesmaid dresses for the ladies, and dark blue or grey suits for the gents.
Should you be going all-in, then a fancy dress theme of sailors, pirates, or even sea creatures, could be a super playful approach!
Nautical Wedding Décor: Smooth Styling
Aside from your tablescape, you can also play around with other decorations for your wedding venue. Instead of the typical flower arch, have a boat serve as your ceremony backdrop. It’s a statement piece that will wow your guests. In place of a regular table, you could use a separate boat to serve drinks, refreshments, and desserts. Lastly, you might want to use a fisherman’s net as an accent where you can tie in hanging decors or clip in cards and seat assignments.
And with that, we think your nautically-themed wedding sounds like oceans of fun!
Before you go, you might find our guide on how to keep your beach wedding cool useful. Now, when can we expect our invite in the post?
