Beach altar setup -- i need opinions!

I love the lanterns!!!! The ocean and sand are the backdrop and an arch is no match to that beauty. Do the lanterns girl. You got this!

I am also having a beach wedding and hadn't thought of the set up.. I don't like the plain look but I do like the one with the pink and the first one you posted

I'm all for natural looks if you're outside. And a beach view is stunning (love the lantern idea. Then you can have them at the reception to tie in). I don't think it's too plain at all!

I don't like the look of arches that much either, especially with a gorgeous view like yours!

I don't think it'll look empty at all. The focus will be on you and FH as you two say your vows, not on the arch. I think the lanterns look gorgeous and they'd be MUCH less of a hassle for you situation, too.

You don't have to assemble the arch then transport it to the wedding. You find or buy the poles and use zipstraps to put it together the day of, or the day before. You can tie the uprights and the top cross pieces together then turn it right side up.

You can just stick the poles in the sand (take a shovel in case you have to dig holes first). Then add your draping and flowers. The florals can even be made ahead of time with silk flowers and floral foam. Again, you use zipstraps to attach them.

I like the lanterns too, and you can get double duty out of them at the reception, but lanterns large enough for an altar may be too large to use again in your home. They can also be pricey.

I love the lantern idea with palm leaves. One thing I really like in the example you posted is the pop of color they added they putting ribbons on the chair. I think the benefit of having the arch with flowers is that you can add in a little more color and detail. If you decide to do the lanterns, is there a way you could incorporate a pop of color? Doesn't have to be much.

I like the palms if you are unable to do the arch due to shipping and handling would you consider having two columns to show guest a focal point?

what about this with the lanterns

I love arches but it’s perhaps not work the hassle. Lanterns I think are very expensive- but lovely as well. I would think in most pictures of everything you can’t see the lanterns so it will look empty. So I would lean towards figuring out the arch, but that’s just my opinion and taste! This is a hard one lol- either way I love the palm leaves down the aisle!

Have you looked into hiring a company that has all the items and you pick what you want and everything- they set up and take down. We are planning a wedding in FL on the beach and we found a company we pick everything we want from arch, to what is down aisle. Not sure if something you looked into but just a option maybe?

I looove the laterns though! those are my favorite

Big Lots has several outdoor lanterns for $20 or less. That's where we bought ours for the ceremony (pic). I've seen posts here about Michaels and Target as options too, if it'll cost too much to rent them.

I love the simplicity and ease of using lanterns. Are you having a florist provide the floral decor? Perhaps they have lanterns you can use? Mine did. She had a few very big lanterns as well as smaller ones that she let me use.

Wow you guys are seriously awesome, thanks for all the opinions! Going to reply to a few individually.

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Yes! This has been my opinion all along. I really dislike the overdone beach setups that take away from the natural beauty, I'm just trying to find the right balance.

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Thanks for this advice. The thing is, I don't want my stepdad, and especially not FH, to be working the day of the wedding. So I was thinking they could put it together the day before, then once the DOCs get there, they can set it up and decorate it (decorating/setup is part of what we're paying for). It would just be a matter of storing it somewhere on Friday, and figuring out what to do with it after (I'd honestly just donate it to my event company if they wanted it).

Oh, I should add that my wedding is at the hotel where we're staying, so it wouldn't have to go in a car or anything. I guess as long as my hotel has a place to store it, overnight, it wouldn't be that much of a hassle.

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This is a good point, thanks! We weren't planning on it, but maybe with money saved from the arch, we could pay for chair sashes. Not a bad idea. Or at least tie fabric at the end of the aisles or something.

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Thanks for this! I think columns can be lovely, they just don't really match the style of our wedding.

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Yeah, we have an event company that works with our venue. They do event design, but all their rentals are so expensive. For instance, they quoted me $30 per lantern, and doing it myself will only cost about $16 and I plan to sell them after. I'm just doing candles with sand and a few large shells, so they won't be time consuming to put together either.

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Whew. Looks like you have plenty of support here for your idea. There will be a stunning view, gorgeous couple. What more do you need?

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Thanks! I actually ordered my aisle/centerpiece lanterns from Pier 1. They're all on sale now and the prices aren't to bad to just get 4 or 5 more. I'll definitely check out Big Lots though, I totally forgot to look there.