For the couple who...decides to elope on a beach somewhere.
Salty water and sweet vows make this elopement the stuff of dreams. 😎
Overall Theme & Aesthetic
Mood
Think “sense of barefoot luxury with elevated styling”
Romantic and serene with a soft, neutral coastal ambiance
Refined escape
Sun-kissed sophistication
Photos from Tisa Studio Weddings
Colors
Think White Lotus season three but less monkeys ;)
Ivory / Soft White: seen in florals, linens, and décor
Sand / Beige – reflected in woven placemats, textures, and seaside surroundings,
Cream in the blooms and candles
Stone / Driftwood Gray: subtle undertones from coral accents and natural materials
Accent Colors
Pale Gold: flatware and natural light reflections give a sun-washed metallic warmth
Palm Green: from tropical foliage and palm fronds
Ocean Blue / Sea foam: lightly suggested in the beach view and glassware
Style
Think “understated luxury”
Minimalist yet organic clean table scapes with thoughtful detail
Natural materials : woven chargers, coral centerpieces, palm accents.
Elegant and airy: flowing fabrics, tall white florals, candlelight
This Moodboard is perfect for a couple who wants a chic destination wedding that still feels relaxed and intimate.
So if you are dreaming of vows in the sun or next to the sea, carry on your wedding looks in your Halfday Bag and hop on the plane. We’ve got the planning covered.
Already married? This budget and vision board can totally work for vow renewals or anniversary trips too. So read on!
Venue
- Beachfront Resort or Private Villa
$5,000–$15,000
This price estimate includes ceremony and reception setup fees, which is something to think about when choosing your venue. Many resorts offer packages and have experience with weddings, etc, so be sure to ask when reaching out to each one how they like to do things and what the total cost would be.
Venue we love for this: Hotel Le Toiny in St. Barths. (Ugh take us with you!!!)
Florals
$7,000–$12,000
With the florals, we recommend budgeting for lovely ceremony installations. Even more so than in a traditional venue like a church, ceremony installations are necessary to transform the beach into the perfect place for your vows.
In the design of this mood board, Lara uses white roses, orchids, and tropical greens mixed with rattan chargers, candles, and linens to create a beachy tablescape. Her addition of the coral-inspired centerpieces brings a nautical twist to the florals and is a detail not to be missed. Pottery Barn has a Coral Collection that is exactly the vibe; and it is on sale, so win win.
Florist we love for this look is: B Floral Events & Design.
***Want a more affordable option?***
1. Use the venue's beauty/surroundings and opt for candles enclosed in glass on tables
Rentals
-Tables, chairs, linens, tableware, lighting (if off-resort)
$2,000–$4,000
Some venues have their own rentals and packages when it comes to large events and weddings, so this cost is only relevant if it is not included in your venue total.
Stationary/Signage
- Invitations, menus, place cards, welcome signage
Estimated: $1,000–$2,000
***Want a more affordable option?***
1. Ask if the venue provides welcome signage and menu cards, so that those are two less things you have to print.
2. Opt for digital Invites
Food & Beverage
$7,500-$12,000
With a destination wedding we recommend choosing a venue that has a food and beverage option verses trying to organize outside catering or local food trucks, etc. Planning an out of state (or country) wedding has enough curve balls as it is, so keep it simple by allowing the food and beverage to be in one place and with t he venue team you already established trust with.
The estimate above is for $150–$250 per guest for full dinner and open bar. Mojitos, margaritas, and other fun drinks in the sun are our pic for the signature cocktails.
Photography/Videography
$5,000–$9,000
Our estimate includes travel costs if they’re not local to the destination.
Vendors we love for this look: Tisa Studio, I mean look at that photo. COME ON! 😍
Entertainment
$2,000–$5,000
Lara recommends beach acoustics or a romantic evening DJ set.
Vendors we love: Music and Sound
Cake & Desserts
-Simple coastal-inspired cake or dessert table
$500-$1500
**This may be included in the menu cost.
Transportation (Local)
$500-$1000
For your guests or bridal party to get from place to place, you need to think about transportation in advance. Car rental, shuttles, etc. A great start is to ask your venue for their recommendations as well.
Finding the budget for travel to be too much? You can create the beach vibes right here in NYC. See the photo above from one of our sister company’s (THE PRIVILEGE IS MINE) weddings that we planned in Coney Island!
Welcome Dinner or Brunch
$2,000-$5,000
Okay, so this is totally optional, but is common for destination weddings and something we recommend. Your guests are investing more time and plane ticket costs to celebrate with you. Similar to our Hot Take on Holiday Weekend Weddings, we say make it perky for your guests if you can.
Have scheduled planned events that guests have the option to RSVP for and attend.
Comp a night stay for them.
Make an Uber code for the weekend so people can get around for free.
Lara also noted that the welcome dinner or brunch would typically take place at the venue, which keeps it easy for everyone.
Travel & Accommodations
$1,200-$2,000
Okay so while this cost is typically paid by guests, we do think it is important to consider. Elopements have grown from the idea of literally just the couple to more of a micro wedding style. It essentially means an intimate guest list ranging anywhere from the folks getting married to about 50 people max.
So, when choosing your destination and venue, definitely take into consideration the travel and hotel costs for your guests. Like we said above in the welcome dinner suggestion, being aware of guest experience is crucial to this process because they are often investing more to be there. Just something to think about, but in no way a deal breaker to make this board a reality.
Also, this couple from TPIM didn’t have to go too far to enjoy the magic of the beach wedding of their dreams; they were right near the city in New Jersey!
Total Estimated Budget
$33,700 – $68,500
For this Moodboard to feel breezy and beautiful, we estimate a budget of $33,700 – $68,500 and note that this is not including catering, hair and makeup, attire, wedding planning, and transportation. Also something to think about with this mood board specifically is the cost will range based on the destination you choose; Mexico, Bali, St Thomas, etc. So keep that in mind when choosing where to go for your destination elopement/micro wedding.
Okay so you’re not planning your elopement but you want to use the mood board for your Vacay Goals 2026 group chat? We love that for you and have created a list of Lara’s favorite beach essentials to pack to make your trip feel fabulous.
Lara’s Beach Packing List 1. Kindle *with a cute case obvi 2. Supergoop Sunblock 3. straw sun visor I love this cute one from Madewell that is packable, too. 4. bathing suit cover up 5. Rayban sunglasses 6. Rubber Birks (trust her on this one- they are the best for the beach! I love these in Eggshell!)
Where would be your dream destination elopement spot? Be sure to comment below.
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