Your wedding reception can have the look and feel of a tropical island.
Your tropical-themed wedding reception should be vibrant, beautiful and relaxing. Touches such as a sandcastle wedding cake, live hula dancers and fruit carvings can make the reception memorable. When it all comes together, it can feel as though everyone is on vacation in a tropical oasis.
Decorations
Whether the wedding reception is outside or in, put paper bag luminaries that have flameless candles inside of them around the area. For outside receptions, create paths by putting them on the ground along the outer edges of walkways. Inside, you can put them anywhere you want some extra light. Hang up large netting sections that have shells stuck onto them, and put out large artificial palm trees. You can also hang up strings of white lights.
Food and Drinks
Some tropical drinks to consider serving are mojitos, piña coladas, sangria and margaritas. Many taste great with or without alcohol, so there can be virgin versions for underage guests. Fruit carvings, done either by you or someone else, will add flair to a tropical wedding reception food table. You can use several types of fruit as a base, including pineapples or melons, and can add other types of fruit such as strawberries, as accents. They will be works of art for the reception that you can snack on later. Other foods to serve include chicken, pork and various seafood.
Wedding Sandcastle Cake
Instead of a typical style wedding cake, opt for a sandcastle cake. The decorations can make it appear as though it came straight off a tropical beach. The baker can scatter small, edible seashells around the base of the cake as well.
Party Favors
Have raffia fans as party favors, especially if the reception is outside. To add an extra tropical touch, attach a real or artificial tropical flower, such as a hibiscus, to the base of the fan.
Attire
The tropical environment is relaxed so consider allowing the wedding reception dress to be the same. Allow Hawaiian shirts, khaki pants, sandals and, in the case of outside receptions, even bare feet. Make a note in the invitation that vibrant outfits are welcomed and encouraged.
Table Decor
Use a brightly colored tablecloth on each table, and top it off with netting. Small plastic palm trees can serve as centerpieces. As a decorative touch, scatter brown-foil-wrapped chocolate balls around the base of the palm tree and on the table to resemble fallen coconuts.
Music
For half of the reception, ask the band or disk jockey to play island music. Designate the last half of the reception to music that guests may be more familiar with. Consider hiring hula dancers for part of the night to do a small show and teach guests some traditional dancing. If you are not having any live entertainment, several island music stations are free to listen to via Internet radio.
Tags: wedding reception, around base, half reception, hula dancers, island music, outside receptions, palm trees