Start your beach bash with a tangy take on the martini. Dip the glass rim in powdered ginger and raw turbinado sugar, then combine freshly squeezed blood-orange juice, triple sec, and vodka. Cocktail, by Cafiero Lussier, cafierolussier.com. Cocktail glass, from TriServe Party Rentals, triservepartyrentals.com. Letterpress napkin, from Lunalux Art & Design Workshop, lunalux.com.
Let the raw beauty of the day's setting dictate your decor—rattan ottomans, straw runners, and bamboo candles dress beach umbrellas in palm-frond covers. Ottomans, from Ikea, ikea.com. Umbrella cover, from the Lucky Clover Trading Co., from luckyclovertrading.com. Straw runners, from Pearl River Mart, pearlriver.com.
Brilliant idea: One way to get your guests in the mood is to ask them to kick off their shoes on arrival. A decorated sign or flag posted by a footwear-holding pen (a big basket works well) should do the trick.
Hot-colored gingham napkins and bright lemon chargers continue the summer theme. Napkins and customized canvas tablecloth, from Indigo Moon, 914-712-2690. Champagne flutes, by Jasper Conran for Wedgwood, wedgwood.com. Chargers, from European Sources Direct, europeansourcesdirect.com. Vase, from Planter Resource, planterresource.com. Dinner plates, by Jasper Conran at Wedgwood, wedgwood.com. Bamboo-handle flatware, from Murval, murval.com. Place cards, from Lunalux Art & Design Workshop, lunalux.com.
Keep ocean breezes from upending your feast by dressing tables in sturdy canvas. The fabric will stay in place and pick up on the seaside motif when accented with sailor-worthy details like grommets and twine.
Play off the built-in palette provided by sand, sea, and grasses by accenting with sunset hues of yellow and red. The colors will intensify as evening falls, adding to the romantic air.
Flags bearing your names or initials will signal to your guests that they've arrived at the right place. Boat, from Electric Launch Co., greenportlaunch.com. Custom flags, from The Sailbag Lady, sailbaglady.com. Lettering, from Monogram Designs, monograminc.com.
Flowers take on an Impressionistic air when immersed in water. Place a small bowl inside a larger one, and fill both with water. Using a bamboo skewer, gently push flower heads (de-stemmed dahlias are ideal) into the space between inner and outer containers. Fill the smaller bowl with full-stemmed flowers. Footed urn, from Carnevale. All flowers, by Pat Divello.
Lounge chairs at the ready make perfect perches for soaking up the sunset. Deck chairs and serving tray, from Loose Ends, looseends.com.
If you're outside, fans and footwear will protect guests from soaring temperatures and hot sand. Willow baskets, straw slippers, and bamboo fans, from Pearl River Mart, pearlriver.com.
Sunset is sure to lure romantics down to the beach. Make their duneland-amble a safe one with a path of oil-burning copper torches. Copper torches, from Gardendance, gardendance.net.
An ideal cooler: a ginger-lemonade cocktail, spiked with vodka and dry vermouth and sweetened with honey. Cocktails, by Cafiero Lussier, cafierolussier.com. Cocktail glasses, from TriServe Party Rentals, triservepartyrentals.com. Skewer flags, from Lunalux Art & Design Workshop, lunalux.com.
A trio of cocktail choices: Watermelon, ginger-lemon, and mango-lime coolers for parched participants. Drinks, by Cafiero Lussier, cafierolussier.com. Pitchers, from Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com.
Brilliant idea: To bring the beach style indoors, have your servers dress island-style. Orchid leis, sarongs, and Hawaiian shirts set a tropical theme.
A sculpted ice bowl holds shrimp and glasses of tilapia seviche topped with avocado-lime puree, and is centered in a "sandbox" crafted by wiring split bamboo around a rental table. A few bucketsful of sand make a nest for the bowl. Ice bowl, by Ice Fantasies, icefantasies.com. Custom bamboo apron, from Roy Galadday.
These catfish tacos with chipotle aioli taste like they're straight out of the fantasy Mexican village that everyone plans to run off to someday. Seafood, by Cafiero Lussier, cafierolussier.com.
Brilliant idea: How to bring the beach wedding indoors? By serving your guests clams, oysters, and seviche at a raw bar, surf 'n' turf, even an indoor clambake complete with lobster, steamers, corn on the cob, and baked potatoes.
For an Italian twist, serve a rustic grilled pizza topped with shaved potatoes, pear tomatoes, Taleggio cheese, and white truffle oil. Pizza, by Cafiero Lussier, cafierolussier.com.
Echoing the airiness of sea foam, an orange soufflé is just right for dessert, by Cafiero Lussier, cafierolussier.com.
Create favors that pick up on your seaside theme; simply use raffia or another natural fiber to affix sand dollars to bamboo-molded candles. Bamboo candles, from Pearl River Mart, pearlriver.com.
Get your cake ready for the beach with a sun-proof cloak of fondant icing. Awning-striped dahlia cake, by Gail Watson Custom Cakes, gailwatsoncakes.com. Canvas tablecloth, from Indigo Moon, 914-712-2690.
Here's a currency that's on the rise: sand dollars that ornament stemware. Flutes, from Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com. Rattan charger, from Wisteria, wisteria.com. Sand dollars, from Loose Ends, looseends.com.
Instead of taking off in the traditional getaway car, wave "sea" you later from a hired launch or lobster boat. Boat, from Electric Launch Co., greenportlaunch.com. Custom flags, from The Sailbag Lady, sailbaglady.com. Lettering, from Monogram Design, monograminc.com.
