Luxury Tips for Planning a Coastal Inspired Celebration from St Brelade’s Bay Hotel, Health Club & Spa in Jersey
The South of France, the Amalfi Coast or the Balearic Isles all have an unmistakable sun-drenched pull for couples planning a destination wedding, but what if there were a place closer to home with all the benefits and feels of a wedding overseas, right here in the UK?
Situated on a sweeping golden bay, with a temperate Mediterranean climate and refined coastal décor, St Brelade’s Bay Hotel, Health Club & Spa in Jersey has everything you could wish for in a destination wedding – minus the travel stress (and you don’t even need to pack your passport).
Caitlyn Lambson from St Brelade’s Bay, Health Club & Spa is fully adept in creating weddings that have that desirable destination vibe, having worked as wedding and events manager at the beachside property for over four years. Inspired by the Hotel’s beachside setting, here she shares her top tips for emulating an elegant destination wedding. From Riviera inspired colour palettes and coastal motifs to seafood feasts and sun-soaked details. Proving that when curating an elevated “abroad-but-not-abroad” wedding experience, the key is in the detail.
Embrace a Riviera-Inspired Colour Palette
A classic subdued colour palette of ocean tones, sandy hues and pops of coral pink will bring the destination feel to your wedding.
Create an ombre effect of ocean, sea glass and riviera blues, fading into ivory, driftwood and sandy neutrals. Layer tones across table linens and stationery, bridesmaid dresses in graduating hues or glassware and chargers with a subtle tint.
Pops of bright coral or citrus shades can act as accents to bring the scheme to life. Utilise them in classic seaside stripes on chairs, loungers or oversized parasols dotted around for shade.
This overall effect is a cohesive, high-end look that mirrors the tones of the sea which, for me, is especially powerful when set against St Brelade’s Bay Hotel, Health Club & Spa’s private lawn, which overlooks the bay and offers direct access to the sandy beach.
A Coastal Dining Experience
It’s hard to beat the food at a destination wedding, fresh seafood, locally sourced ingredients ripened to perfection by the sun and temperate climate. Lean into this and elevate the menu with a coastal theme. Create a seafood and Champagne station or elegant Fruits de Mer sharing platters with fresh oysters, langoustines, lobster, prawns, mussels and dressed crab. The aim is for a relaxed yet refined feel.
For dessert citrus or sea-salt caramel flavours and exquisitely made mini-French patisserie will continue the theme.
A wedding cake that brings in designs inspired by the sea will complete the menu. Use starfish and shells to adorn the sides of the cake, with tonal blue icing to mirror the ocean.
Playful, Sun-Soaked Details
A destination wedding is more than an event. For many guests it signals that sun-soaked holiday feeling, so bring in small thoughtful touches that will instantly put them into holiday mode.
Style invitations like vintage travel tickets or send passport holders stamped with the wedding date. Serve frozen margarita lollies (with mocktail versions for non-drinkers). Offer personalised sunglasses and add embroidered pashminas or parasols for shade.
Keep the finishing touches playful but polished—luxurious rather than gimmicky.
Tablescapes Elevated with Coastal Textures
Create beautiful tablescapes with natural, ocean-inspired textures. Add driftwood accents, coral and shell details (used sparingly and sourced sustainably), then layer them over soft linens. Finish with coloured and textured glassware, crystal and candlelight to elevate the look.
Shells – best practice: Avoid removing shells from beaches or seabed as this can disrupt ecosystems and is restricted in some areas, always source from ethical, sustainable suppliers or use high-quality decorative alternatives.
Blend the Lawn and Beach Experience
Create a destination-wedding atmosphere by blending a lawn or garden ceremony with the beach beyond. Picture a sunset drinks reception set to the sound of the waves, with live acoustic music drifting through the evening. Then, move into a late-night al fresco, candlelit wedding-breakfast supper under the stars. It creates an unforgettable moment your guests will remember.
At St Brelade’s Bay Hotel, Health Club & Spa, you can host your ceremony on the beachfront private lawn and then move to the Rosiere Suite where the panoramic bay view is your backdrop to your reception—naturally and elegantly bringing the beach inside.
You can also weave the beach into the day in simple, thoughtful ways. Suggest a golden-hour stroll for photos, or a relaxed post-ceremony wander along the shoreline. Give guests a heads-up about the sand (six-inch stilettos and soft ground don’t mix!). Set up a personalised flip-flop station by the beach so they can feel the sand between their toes—perfect for a twilight walk or to give dancing feet a break later on. Finish with small, elegant brushes so guests can dust off sandy toes after their stroll.
And finally …
Ultimately, a destination wedding is defined less by geography and more by atmosphere. It’s about creating relaxed moments where guests feel completely transported by their surroundings. When the details come together, the result is a celebration that captures the romance and ease of a destination wedding, while still feeling personal and close to home.
Contact details:
St Brelade’s Bay Hotel, Health Club & Spa, La Route de la Baie, St Brelade, Jersey CI, JE3 8EF
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 1534 746 141
Fax: +44 1534 747 278
View the Gallery 
