Don’t you just love garden weddings?
There’s just something so romantic about getting married surrounded by friends, family, and nature.
Today, we’re going to look at everything that goes into planning the ultimate garden wedding!
From how to dress the entire bridal party to decorations to garden-inspired favors, we’ve got you covered!
FYI, this post contains affiliate links. We earn a commission if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you.
Check this comparison table for a quick guide. Read the review for further details.
Let’s check it out!
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Your Guide to Garden Weddings
Invitations
While you can get away with sending e-vites for things like the engagement party, shower, and bachelor/bachelorette parties, etiquette still dictates that you use paper invites for the actual wedding.
Even though email invites are out, you still have plenty of options for garden weddings. Here are a few of my favorite ideas.
1. Simple yet elegant nature’s greens
I love the simplicity of Nature’s Greens wedding invitation from Minted. To me, it says “casual yet classy.” When you buy invites through Minted, you get a free wedding site to help you keep track of everything. You also get unlimited proofs at no extra cost, so you can tweak them away until you’re happy with your invitation.
2. Floral Ampersand
Another fabulous choice from Minted, this one is ideal for casual garden weddings. You can customize the colors of the ampersand to better match your wedding colors.
3. Amazon Handmade Invites
Amazon Handmade is a great place to get invites on a budget. You can find everything from wedding scrolls (pictured above) to customized sets with complementary “save the date” and reception cards, often for under $100.
4. DIY Wedding Invitations
If you’re on a tight budget, you can make your own invitations that are just as classy as anything you can buy.
Garden Wedding Attire
For the bride
When it comes to picking out a garden wedding dress, the same rule applies as when picking out a dress for any other venue! What is that rule? It’s so simple: if you love the dress, then it’s the perfect one!
Seriously, it’s YOUR day. If you want to wear a super formal dress with a 16-foot-long train, go for it. Want something a little more casual? That’s fine too!
The only thing I suggest is that you keep in mind that your garden wedding is, obviously, outdoors! If you’re planning a July wedding, for example, keep in mind that it may be scorching hot outside.
For your guests & bridal party
Again, it’s your call whether you want your guests in their finest dresses or just in casual dressy clothes. Just make sure you tell them ahead of time!
As a former bridesmaid at a garden wedding, I do implore you on behalf of your wedding party and guests to think about their comfort! Yes, I know it’s your big day, but asking people to wear heavy dresses and tuxes when it’s 95 degrees outside is a surefire way to cut your reception short!
One really cool idea that you can go with: let your bridesmaids pick out their own dresses within a certain theme. My sister-in-law just asked that all of our dresses be silver/gray. For a garden wedding, you could go with a floral theme. I love this dress as a starting point:
Decor Ideas
The great thing about garden weddings is that they practically come pre-decorated by nature! If you want to add a few extra special touches, here are some ideas.
1. Sparklers
These heart-shaped sparklers look cute grouped together in a vase filled with sand on your tables until it’s time to light them up!
2. Bird Cage Lantern
If your reception goes into the night, light things up with these adorable birdcage lanterns! They look beautiful during the day, too, and fit perfectly into your garden wedding decor.
3. Tissue paper lanterns
Tissue paper lanterns can really up the wow factor of your reception tent. You can find them in colors to fit your wedding theme!
4. Hanging bud vases
Elegant bud vases hanging from trees can showcase your sense of style to your guests.
5. Photo Backdrops
Why not put together a gorgeous photo backdrop for your guests to capture their memories against?
Wedding favors
What’s a wedding without favors for your guests
Related: Zoo-Themed Wedding Favors
When you’re deciding what to give out, consider getting things your guests can actually use (rather than shove in a box somewhere collecting dust). Even better, give them things they can consume! Everyone is trying to be more minimalist these days and consumables don’t take up space once they’re gone.
Here are a few of my favorite garden wedding favors.
1. Cherry Blossom Soap
Cherry blossoms just scream “romance,” don’t you think? I love these little Cherry Blossom soaps. They’re pretty enough to use in a guest bathroom without taking up a lot of space.
2. Honey
How cute are these personalized honey favors? Honey is a must for tea, which is a must for a garden wedding!
3. Personalized jam
Another favor that just says “garden party,” these personalized jams are so darling!
4. Lip Balm
I love these personalized lip balm favors because I’m constantly looking for balm in my purse. I go through it like crazy! You can choose from a ton of designs and customizations to create the perfect favor.
5. Chocolates
Just about everyone loves chocolate, right? You can never go wrong with this Oreo chocolates!
Final Words
Whether your garden wedding is a simple celebration or a more elaborate commemoration of your love as a couple, there are really no limits when it comes to planning the perfect day with this essential guide to garden weddings.
Our Top Pick
Have you ever been to a garden wedding? What did you love about it?
I’m a freelance journalist/writer/content marketer with BA Hons in Journalism.
Last update on 2024-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
