Festival wedding

Go outside

We know, for the season that’s in it we’ve been dying to get you all outdoors for a beautiful garden wedding, despite Ireland’s reputation for rain in July. However, with these top tips for outdoor weddings, you should be well prepared and nothing says festival like an outdoor affair. To help you deck out your outdoor wedding have a look at these ideas for a garden wedding and to add a bit more of a festival feel, check out these top details.

Festival stationery

Make sure you let your guests know about your festival-themed wedding with your save the dates and invitations. Send them a festival ‘line up’ invitation, send out VIP passes for save the dates. Add plenty of colour and information just like a festival programme to really make your guests feel like they’re heading to a gig.

Flower crowns

For a festival wedding, you have to rock the festival look, so what better way to do this than with wild floral crowns and festive headbands for you and your bridesmaids? Tone down your bouquets to wild garden bouquets and emphasise the flowers on your head. Opt for a gorgeously relaxed boho flowing gown to really give into the festival feeling. For more floral crown inspiration check out our favourites.

Festival bride

Add wellies

Wellies don’t exactly scream wedding but they do scream festival, and while as the bride, you might not want to don a pair, they might be the perfect accessory for your bridesmaids. You can give your wedding a real floral festival feel with cute girly wellies. If you like the idea but you’re not feeling them for your footwear, consider adding them to the décor.

Festival wedding signs

Have we mentioned before how much we love wedding signage? Feel free to add plenty of chalkboard and rustic signs to your wedding day, especially if you’re giving your special day that authentic festival feel. From bar signs and direction signs, to signs that are just there for fun, they’re the perfect piece of décor for a festival wedding, especially an outdoor affair.

Decorate your tents

If you’re having an authentic outdoor festival-themed wedding, then you’ll probably be looking at tents and marquees for the meal. Be sure to decorate them appropriately for added festive feel. Lanterns, hanging pom poms and lots of bunting are perfect additions to a festival wedding.

Festival wedding marquee

Good music

Most couples will be aiming for top notch music at their wedding anyway, but if you’re going for a festival theme, this is where you’ll really need to put the work into choosing your wedding band or bands. You might swap the late night DJ for another band after the first one, or you might go for less well known bands and have a number of different acts. Whatever way you choose the music, make sure you choose wisely for a festival wedding.

Have a chill out area

This is a definite must for a festival wedding. Whether it’s indoors, outdoors or both, make sure you have a nice chill out area set up for your guests. Set up bean bags, blankets and rugs for your guests to relax and chat with a few drinks.

Light it up

Make sure you keep your outdoor area well lit for the evening’s festivities. Whether you do it with fairy lights or lanterns, make sure there’s plenty of them to keep your guests out of the dark when the sun goes down. We can’t decide whether we prefer lots of tiny fairy lights around your garden venue, or colourful lanterns, so maybe you should have both!

Get colourful

Speaking of colourful lanterns, don’t be afraid to get colourful at your festival wedding. Festivals are all about colour so make sure you bring plenty of brightly coloured lanterns, flowers, streamers, bunting and whatever other décor details you have. Above all else, your festival-themed wedding must have colour.

- Jenny Darmody

Image credits: Barn: Pinterest | Invites: Etsy | VIP passes: Pinterest | Bride: Sara & Rocky Photography via Green Wedding Shoes | Pink bridesmaids: Loft Photographie via Green Wedding Shoes | Neutral bridesmaids: Southbound Brides | Wellies with flowers: Polly Alexandre Fine Photography | Bridesmaid wellies: Caitlin Thomas Photography | Sign: Pinterest | Sign post: Pinterest | Maquee: Dottie Photography via Perfect Wedding | Lanterns: Pinterest | Fairy lights: Wedding Ideas | Streamers: Pinterest | Festival wedding: Jonny MP Photography