Jul 28, 2023

Coastal Grandma Aesthetic - Beach Party

by Eileen Schilly

THEME What is a coastal grandmother aesthetic? Think crisp sand color mixed with all shades of blue! Picture the view of a beach, sand teal blue ocean water and a blue sky with white clouds... there's your color palette! Its our favorite trend this year and I personally hope it stays around forever. Being an East coaster and having spent every summer growing up at a shore on the Northeast coast this aesthetic comes second nature to me. Remember, a beach party with a coastal grandmother aesthetic is all about embracing the carefree spirit of the coast while adding a touch of vintage charm.

Photos by @Meganmoralesphoto

LOCATION Let's start with location! You could say the epicenter of this aesthetic would be Nantucket, Martha's vineyards or The Hamptons. We 100% recommend those locations, but its also fun to bring the vibes to your own beach. Currently I call North Carolina home, so it was time to take a styled shoot to NC's coast. Which landed us at the beautiful Topsail Beach.

This hidden gem offers pristine sandy shores, and a charming coastal town atmosphere. With its laid-back vibe and stunning natural beauty, Topsail Beach provides the ideal backdrop for your coastal grandmother-inspired gathering. Whether you're enjoying a leisurely stroll along the beach or indulging in delicious seafood, Topsail Beach will transport you to a world of relaxation and coastal charm.

Photos by @Meganmoralesphoto

OUTFITS Channel your inner coastal grandmother with the perfect outfit for your beach party. Embrace flowy maxi dresses, wide-brimmed hats, and oversized sunglasses. Don't be afraid to mix and match patterns and colors for a playful and eclectic look. And remember, comfort is key! Opt for breathable fabrics that allow you to dance and enjoy the ocean breeze. Your outfit should scream "effortlessly chic coastal vibes" while still being practical for a day at the beach.

For our shoot we focused on swimwear. We used our Be Blue tube top bikinis and paired them with our blue floral cover up sarongs. Love this duo together! The blue is eye catching and complimentary to so many different skin tones. Honestly, I've never seen this color look bad on anyone. Fact. If the Be Blue is too bold, try our powder blue for a more subtle fresh look.

Photos by @Meganmoralesphoto

Remember that once the sun starts to set the beach breeze will make it a bit chilly. That's why we brought along some pullovers. Since our party was imagined for bachelorettes we chose to use our "The Bach" varsity style sweatshirts. Between the sand colored shirt and the nostalgic vibe, we felt this was the perfect accent for those cold beach nights.

Photos by @be_everthine

ACCESSORIES Permanent Jewelry is a hot trend right now, and there are literally so many reasons why to love it! Normally you wouldn't think to be wearing jewelry to the beach... BUT permanent jewelry from Gold 'n' Girls is beach proof, making it the perfect add on to a beach party. Whether you're already sporting your permanent pieces, or you're looking to add a spark to your beach getaway, Gold 'n Girls is our recommendation!

Photos by @Meganmoralesphoto

DECOR Keep it simple! 1. it's about the beach, enjoy the simplicity 2. you dont want to drag everything through the sand. Oof that's a nightmare! Think essentials; towels/blankets, cooler, umbrella, entertainment. Create a coastal grandmother aesthetic by incorporating seashells, driftwood, and nautical elements into your party setup. Mixing floral and geometric patterns is my go to. I love a stripe next to a floral pattern. We found the cutest water floats in cream and blue on amazon, and then a storage box (which came in clutch for transporting items to the beach) from homegoods. Our beach blanket and umbrella were a neutral color which blend into the sand and allowed the blues from everything else pop.

Check out our amazon store front for all the pieces we used, plus a few extra goodies!

Photos by @Meganmoralesphoto

FLORALS I can never say no to fresh flowers. In my opinion they add the necessary touch that brings everything together. Flowers by Sol created some stunning arrangements for us. A bouquet of blue hydrangeas wrapped in kraft paper was my personal favorite! Sol's work was stunninggggg. If you are ever in the Wilmington NC area, we highly highly recommend working with Flowers by Sol. Consider me a fan girl!

Photos by @Meganmoralesphoto

DIY FLORAL ICE CUBES Incase you spotted it... Yes, we made ice cubes with faux flowers inside them. Fair warning.. we made it far more complicated than it needed to be, but I really wanted round cubes. We used magnetic water balloons (linked on our amazon store front) and faux flowers for these cubes. However, you could just use regular balloons for an easier result.

If using the magnetic water balloons, I found it easiest to have a bucket of water with water running into it. Hold the balloon about half an inch from the surface (but still submerged) positioned under the running water. place the flower in one side of the sphere and allow it to close naturally. Sometimes it wouldn't be completely full with water but having the running water coming down on it seemed to do the trick for me.

Fun fact, for clearer ice cubes use warmer water.