Of course you want your ceremony and reception to be every bit as perfect as the beach setting you selected. Your friends and family will be there to share your happiness, so you want your wedding to be as beautiful and memorable as you can possibly make it.

You want to choose the right centerpieces because they will be the focal point of the tables at your wedding. Beach centerpieces should blend in seamlessly with your wedding theme and have a natural yet eye-catching appearance.

There are four primary materials typically used for wedding beach centerpieces: glass, sand, flowers and sea shells. These can be interchanged and can provide an almost endless number of beautiful designs that are also practical.

Here are some tips for creating attention-grabbing centerpieces.

Candles in Vases: This is the easiest design to make. Your starting point is a small transparent glass vase of the type sometimes used to protect candles from the wind. Fill the vase about one-third full with white sand, then put a candle on top of the sand. Put flower leis and sea shells around the vase and light the candle. The result is an easy but classic centerpiece for the tables at your wedding. Beach centerpieces of this type are inexpensive and fun to create, and they\’re pleasing to the eye.

Tropical Flowers in Vases: Centerpieces made with tropical flowers will perfectly complement your beach theme. Begin with a heavily textured larger vase which has a sandy or pebbly surface. Balance the subdued colors of the vase by filling it with vibrant red antherium, bird of paradise and hibiscus flowers. Surround the flowers with banana leaves or palm fronds. Add a few large sea shells and you will have an elegant centerpiece for your reception tables.

Beach Buckets: for a Playful Touch For a less formal, more playful centerpiece, find some small, brightly colored sand buckets of the kind that are designed for toddlers to play with. Arrange a small amount of sand on a table and place one of the buckets into the sand. Fill it about one-quarter of the way up with sand. Set a small votive candle into the sand in the bucket. Arrange starfish, sea shells, sand dollars and seahorses around the outside of the bucket. Light the candle and you will have a stunning beach wedding centerpiece that was easy to make. You can even add a further playful little touch by placing a few miniature rakes on the table. Your guests can then have their own serene little Zen garden.

Dos and Don\’ts: Here are a few extra tips to keep in mind if guests will remain outdoors for the reception as well as the wedding: Beach sun can quickly wilt flowers on a hot summer day and gentle trade winds can sometimes become wild gusts that can extinguish your candles at the most inopportune moment.

Luckily, these hazards can be easily avoided with a little forethought. If you decide to use candles as part of the centerpiece arrangements, make sure they are shielded well. Something as simple as a glass can serve this purpose capably.

Pick flowers that are able to withstand direct sunlight and high heat. Antherium, ginger, bird of paradise and calla lilies are good choices. An experienced florist should be able to assist you in achieving the perfect balance between longevity and beauty.

Before you buy, tell the florist that you plan to use the flowers at an outdoor beach wedding. Ask them to give you one flower to test. Put the flower in a vase and place it in the general area where the reception will take place. Keep an eye on the flower for a few hours to see how well it holds up.

By using sand, glass, and sea shells with the best flowers, you will be able to create beautiful and expressive table decorations for your wedding. Beach centerpieces should be both fun and economical.

Sunny Austen helps soon-to-be-married couples create their own magical on beach wedding. Visit BeachWeddingMagic.com for suggestions and how tos on wedding beach centerpieces, flowers, decorations, wedding planners and much more.