Jen and Dan’s Nautical Themed Wedding

Prepare to be swept away… this beautiful wedding is awash with utterly lovable details.

Preppy Jen and Dan so thoughtfully brought together every element of their wedding with the nautical theme… check out the name place holders depicting nearby lighthouses (painted by a local artist!), the sailors’ knots on the name cards, and the compass symbol on the menu cards. Simply adorable!

The bride and groom also added lots of touches to make the ceremony really personal and individual. The bagpipers, a nod to the couple’s Scottish ancestry, played the favorite songs of relatives who were no longer present to witness the wedding. Jen’s dad, who passed away just a few months before the wedding, was honored through the choice of wedding favors. Jen also wore her grandmother’s veil, which had been worn by three other brides in the family.

But it wasn’t all teary sentimentality! Believe it or not, the crazy trousers are a family tradition too! Did you catch the tiny blue whales on them? They might be outrageous, but they’re certainly appropriate for the nautical theme!

Want to sail off into the sunset after your very own nautical themed wedding? Take some tips from us…

Use traditional nautical colors like navy and white, and add pops of bright color like green, red or yellow. Jen and Dan had loads of sunflowers at their wedding, which added masses of sunny cheerfulness.

Pick out some sea-inspired symbols or motifs – compasses, waves, boats, fish, or even lighthouses – and use them for the invitations, place cards, menus, and wedding favors. You can probably design them yourself if you have an artistic bent, or rope in the skills of a local artist like Jen did, who may be able to provide you with quality work at a discount.

Finally, don’t be afraid to get a little creative - or kooky! Dan and his groomsmen totally rocked the crazy trousers, and it makes a funny, fantastic story to tell the grandkids one day…

Remember, you don’t have to break the bank to create this kind of water-inspired wonderfulness. What makes this event so beautiful is the personal touches this couple worked so hard to incorporate into their big day. And you can do the same!

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