A while ago, I helped a friend set up for her wedding by the beach. Nothing big—just family, close friends, and a few simple decorations. But honestly? It felt more real than any “perfect” wedding I’ve seen in magazines.
What stood out? The shells. Cleaned oyster shells with names written in gold ink. Scallop shells tucked into bowls of sand. No glitter, no plastic—just honest, lovely things from nature. I hadn’t really noticed how beautiful shells could be until then.
Here you can see the shells we used at our latest events.
Shells as Name Cards? Actually… yes.
I’ll admit, I was skeptical at first. Shells? For place cards? But once I saw them all laid out—soft white paint, simple handwriting—I got it. They didn’t just show people where to sit. They became part of the story.
Guests took them home. One even said she put hers on the fridge with a magnet. That kind of thing stays with you.
🛒 View oyster shells ready to customize
Little Favors That Don’t Get Tossed
Let’s be real: most wedding favors don’t make it past the parking lot. But one of the guests gave me a tiny shell with lavender inside—wrapped in cloth and tied with twine. I still have it.
Turns out, when favors feel thoughtful (and smell amazing), people hang onto them. A couple I know made shell magnets as a weekend project before the wedding. Easy, sweet, and way better than something generic.
Centerpieces Without the Pressure
Forget tall glass towers and overly trimmed roses. If you’re into that, no judgment—but for beachy weddings, simple feels better.
We used a wooden tray, filled it with soft white sand, added some scallop shells and a candle. That was it. At night, the way the shell edges caught the light? Kind of magical.
Better for the Planet, Too
This part matters to me. A lot of weddings leave behind more waste than we think. So using natural stuff—like shells you can actually reuse or repurpose—makes sense.
Ours were cleaned, no chemicals, just ready to go. Afterward, some guests brought theirs home. One turned hers into a soap dish. Another used it to hold rings. I love that.
Just a Thought
You don’t have to do everything perfectly. Your wedding doesn’t need to look like a Pinterest board. But if the sea means something to you—if you want your decor to feel grounded—start with something small. A shell. A candle. Something quiet.
That’s where the magic begins, I think.
👉 Shop our cleaned shells and start creating your perfect wedding